Thanks, Matt!

As I said, thank you, Matt, for recommending Kitchen 82. My wife and I went to have dinner there last night. We enjoyed it thoroughly. For those who do not know what I am talking about, Kitchen 82 is one of chain of classy restaurants by chef Charlie Palmer, and is one of the two eateries in this chain offering a Prix Fixe dinner for $25, with a first course, an entree and a dessert sampler. There are not too many choices, understandably, but whatever they have, it's delicious. The joint is on Columbus at 82nd street.

Friends, Romans and Countrymen, give it a shot. You won't be disappointed.

In an atmosphere of subdued lighting that is easy on the eye, our coats were taken, and we plonked ourselves in cozy seats. The maître d' and other attendants were friendly and gave us enough time to adjust ourselves. After the customary bread (served with a strange but tasty chutney), we started off with shrimp salad and duck confit. Both were very good. For the main course, we decided upon seared salmon and roasted chicken, which were presented in huge dishes. For the roast chicken, which was served cut up in slices, my wife got regular cutlery, but for my salmon, I got a wicked-looking knife that was the second cousin once removed to a meat cleaver! Armed thus, we fell to.

The salmon was unreal. The roasted chicken... um, it was a bit fibrous, not very soft. [Folks, you should try sometime the chicken dishes prepared in the Lubin dining hall, yes, our very own Lubin in the Mazer building. They usually are finger-licking good... But I digress]. I did not realize that such small looking portions could actually make me so full. So when the dessert sampler came, I had to kind of shake myself to make room for more, and it was worth it. The strawberry shortcake, the chocolate mousse and the whatchamacallit thingummy were all sw-e-e-e-e-t and delicious. Well-sated, we stepped out to run home for the Oscar telecast.

Finding parking in the upper West side on a Sunday evening was a real pain, though. I was refused by no less than two Icon parking facilities on account of no further space. Finally, I parked on street near a parking meter; only 10 minutes for a quarter is such a robbery, and don't even let me get started on finding bally quarters for putting in those silly meters! Anyway, after putting in a dollar and a half, I realized that I needn't have - since it was after seven.

Thanks again, Matt. I hope you keep recommending such good places of gastronomical delight...

Yo, y'all. Okay now. See you later, and take care. Peace.