Notes

God, how long has it been since I've actually posted anything as neutral or unprepossessing as something called "Notes?" Truth is, it's been utter chaos for almost six months. But maybe things are actually calming down, finally. No more planes, no more holidays, no more renovating, no more nothing. Until Feb 6, when we're due for an appointment with Air Canada and San Francisco . . .

But that's another story.

Notes:

Went to Basi again last week with a party of ten for Brigitte's birthday, and let me just say, that place is KING as far as dealing with people goes. We asked beforehand, and no doubt Mauricio would have a fit if I told you, but he let us bring TWO bottles of our own champagne (expertly served to us by the waiter) and also a birthday cake, also immaculately presented and served as if we'd ordered it from him.

Plus, he allowed me to substitute my favorite gamberi (jumbo shrimp) for what they had on the table d'hôte, on top of so many special requests I'd lost count. What was the damage for the both of us, after all this, including an amazing bottle of Soana Orvieto Classico 2005?

$125, 25% tip and tax included. Damn, I was going to make it 50% tip but cooler heads prevailed. The tip, it was pointed out, was not going to go to Mauricio.

But trust me, be you a couple or be you lots of couples, this is the place to have a grand experience for a measly price. And you know me, motherfuckers, I ain't just SAYIN' DAT.

And . . . okay, so I was being cagey the other day about a certain secret I didn't want y'all to know about. Okay, the pressure is too great . . . we went to a restaurant under the aegis of Happening Gourmand (pronounced, inexorably in Québecois "'Appeningeux Gerrmain") that was amazing, for the price . . . seventeen bucks for a three-course meal. Of course, you could get away with the $17 x 2 = $35 but of course we had to have a bottle of wine plus the extras, so it added up.

We slated for Suite 701 in the Place d'Armes hotel but, it being full that night, Brigitte wangled our going downstairs in the same hotel to the rich sister restaurant, Aix Cuisine du Terroir, for the same price! So we had a fantastic dinner, me with my incredible burger and she with her Angus beef steak (regrettably, among the few things upon which we part company is how she likes hers done . . . mine still grazing tableside and hers being chopped up into lumps of charcoal for further burning) and it only cost us $100 with wine, tax and tip.

So that's the reason I didn't want to tell you . . . I didn't want you peasants CROWDING MY SPACE. Especially that corner table at Galiano's tomorrow night, where we're going next . . . if I see you there there will be HELL TO PAY.

Unless you're buying, of course.