An amuse-bouche is a single, bite-sized hors d'oeuvre. It is small, usually just one or two bites. It is the same for all guests at the table. And, it is not ordered by anyone; rather it is offered free of charge. The term is French, literally translated to "mouth amuser."
With that in mind, I launch this blog entitled...
complEAT
complEAT
No one ordered it from the menu; it is offered free of charge.
And it will be the same for all guests at the table.
And with any luck, it will amuse you.
Welcome to my civiLIZation. As you have probably guessed by now, my name is Liz. Among other things, my husband Guy and I have a passion for all things food. We love dining in all kinds of restaurants, from Relais & Gourmand to hometown diners. And when we are at home I love to cook and experiment with new recipes. We will try anything...ONCE!
Nearly 15 years ago, my husband and I were dared to visit all 50 states...in ALPHABETICAL ORDER! As of this posting we have visited 33 states. On each of our journeys we seek out both the finest dining experiences and the local favorites. I would like to share these "Dining Destinations" with you.
Our quest affords me the opportunity to collect menus, which are displayed proudly in our home.
We have also collected several regional cookbooks (81 so far). This blog will allow me to share all these treasures acquired during our travels.
In our civiLIZation, dining is not merely about the food, it's about the total experience of enjoying a wonderful meal. As I post our reviews of these food finds, you will discover that I'll be making some "complEAT-ly" unusual observations. For instance, we are often fascinated by the building or location of a restaurant. In some cases, the furniture and table settings are striking enough to sway our opinion.
We are keen observers of the "choreography" of table service. And perhaps because we are Southerners, we have had numerous conversations with very interesting members of the food service industry.
On several occasions, we have even been invited to tour these extraordinary kitchens. Silly as it may seem, we even appreciate beautiful restrooms in some of these establishments.
As in many fine restaurants, this blog will offer a
"Prix Fixe Menu"
which will include...
"1st course" - Reviews of restaurants near our home in Metro Atlanta;
"2nd course" - Reviews of dining experiences in our travels of the USA;
"3rd course" - Our favorite foods and recipes enjoyed at home.
Do you know the famous line, "I'll have what she's having" from the movie "When Harry Met Sally?" If so, then you will understand our ranking system for dining experiences. If not, allow me to refresh your memory...
**NOTE: Pause the music before viewing this movie clip, see Playlist.com below.**
Since 1989, I have used "slapping the table" for rating a restaurant. In this famous restaurant scene, Sally slaps the table 12 times during her performance. So I use 12 slaps as my top ranking for a truly ultimate dining experience. (See the list of "Superb 6 - USA" above for examples of 12 slaps restaurants in our civiLIZation.)
More commonly I use this scale:
- 5 slaps of table = Extraordinary! YES...YES...YES...YES...YES!!!!!
- 4 slaps of table = Very Enjoyable! You will want multiple visits!
- 3 slaps of table = Good! When you have to satisfy your needs.
- 2 slaps of table = Adequate! Enough to avoid a messy kitchen.
- 1 slap of table = Faking it! Absolutely no desire to return.
So, welcome to complEAT
I hope you will "have what she's having!"
So, next time we will have a "1st course" with a post about our favorite dining destination close to home...
Photos posted above are courtesy of:
And from our very own camera!
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