Been Away

I’ve been gone a few days getting some R&R. I’ll post a new story tomorrow. Many readers have written to inform me that the story Aaron Broussard told Tim Russert on Meet the Press, which was the catalyst for my story “The God Who Drowns,” is false. It certainly...

Dreaming of Igloos

It’s a miserable summer day. The mercury’s hovering around 96 degrees and the humidity’s making it feel like 106. Our customers aren’t gonna cook in this heat so the Bistro’s packed. All the warm bodies, combining with equatorial temps and the kitchen’s blast furnace...

The God Who Drowns

I’m driving into work listening to 1010 WINS. The news coming out of the Gulf Coast is nothing less than horrific. Pulling into the parking lot I listen to a man describe how his boss listened helplessly as his elderly mother, trapped in the rising floodwaters at her...

Tipped Off

n an Op-Ed Piece in today’s NY Times author Steven Shaw argues that restaurants should abolish tipping and adopt a European style “service charge” much like Thomas Keller, the celebrity chef, is doing at his deservedly world famous establishment Per Se. “…Mr. Keller...

Did He Say MILF?

The door chimes. Three young twentysomething men walk through the door. “Good afternoon gentleman,” I say greeting them cheerfully, “How many in your party? The guys don’t acknowledge my presence and walk towards the middle of the restaurant. Annoyed, I follow behind...

And Dimed………..

It’s a slow lunch shift. I’m busy at the front window comparing the hemlines of various female pedestrians when the phone interrupts my studies. “Good afternoon The Bistro,” I say, filtering the annoyance out of my voice, “how may I help you?” “I want to speak to a...