Okay…maybe Peter Varela, the G.M. of VG isn’t exactly Ricardo Montalban (but then again, ELV ain’t no Tyrone Power either), but Nicole — definitely qualifies for our Hot Hostess Watch of the week. Showing true professionalism, she works the front bar/seating area of VG with an untiring smile, grace and skills that would make even Andalusian surstromming served on Peruvian tunnbrod with a heaping side of Sardinian lutefisk taste good.
The best bread in town…
…might be these tasty mini-baguettes at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.
More corkage controversy
This missive was posted a couple of days ago under the comments for the “Corkage is a no-no…but not so fast” article we ran last month. It was so interesting that we decided to push it front and center to give you some more Food For Thought.
From Prof. Restaurant to ELV (August 24, 2008):
I do not and will not allow anyone to bring their own bottle(s) into my restaurant. Why? Because of all of the hassles associated with it…if you don’t charge a corkage…sales suffer and the server feels slighted. If you charge a corkage…it always seems like someone “expects” to get that fee waived…plus I have had people on numerous occasions call ahead and ask if they can bring a bottle, the hostess says “sure, as long as it is not a bottle from our list” and they showed up with 3 magnums of the cheapest wine imaginable..it was embarrassing that people around them thought I served that stuff!!