2009.. THE FINAL WEDDING.. AND THE PHANTASM UNDERTAKER HELPS USHER IN 2010

Here, yes.. And happy new year to everyone that is still checking back here for updates. Sorry for the lack of those recently..

Finished the final wedding of the year last night--New Year's Eve.. Instead of 200 people showing up, a mere 75 did.. The bride looked like she was in a clear "I don't want to get married" panic before she went to the dance floor and kissed her husband, donned in full white tuxedo from head to toe ..

The lack of enthusiasm about their new life together may have been due to unexecpted snow that hit New Year's Eve night in the Northeast.. Or just because they invited people at the last minute. Either way, I cannot judge..

It was after all, a pretty easy night. Sure I didn't spend New Year's Eve with my wife or anynone else.. instead, I left for work in 2009 and came home in 2010, getting a shower and making a frozen pizza and watching the Twilight Zone marathon the SyFy channel..

But the whole new year thing is a little overrated anyway, isn't it? The big moment of time turning at 12:01 am.. By 12:02 am most people are beginning to feel the deep buzz of liquor and the urge to sleep.. Calling it a night would be better than staying out until 2am when the crowds really get lit. Rough faces are all around you by that point.

But yes, there is also something special about a new year. It's a new day.. turning over a new leaf.. all that stuff.

And as 2009 ended, so did the wedding season at my secondary place of employment..And as it went out, I stood in the back of the restaurant peering at the hall, looking at the faces.. one stood out. A man that looked like a dead on appearance as the undertaker from PHANTASM.. I learned a little later that he even hit on a fellow server..Scary, but somehow fitting end to insanity in 09.

Happy 2010.. I'll try for more updates. Really I will.

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Hmmm...

When a party of 45 for a birthday tells you, "just bring drinks and leave us alone," how should a server react??

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No joke: Couple Busted for Refusing to Pay Tip

Read the full story

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NYTimes: At Ruby Tuesday, Casual Dining Dons a Blazer

From The New York Times:

At Ruby Tuesday, Casual Dining Dons a Blazer

In the recent downturn, Ruby Tuesday has tried to trade up. When
people start to dine out again, the founder wants them to find his
chain transformed.

http://s.nyt.com/u/DmC

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Weird and weirder...

A Halloween wedding .. coupled with a costume party at it, and a murder mystery play after dinner. If this was a Jeopardy question, the answer would be: "What is really weird and odd, plus downright boring for all guests invited"

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MORE TACKY MOMENTS IN WEDDING HISTORY

...Three events.. First the bridal party photo shoot tonight in which the bride said she's 'so excited about losing' her virginity while the rest of the party cackled in autumnal laughter..

Next.. The bride was scene butt-first by a cook in the restroom when the bride forgot to lock the door .. no underwear. It appears she was ready to lose her innocence..

And finally, the DJ put it all over the edge when, during the whole jazz they do with the garter toss etc., he told the girl that caught the bouquet to touch the guy's "package" as a thank you. And she did.

And it was tacky... And a gross violation of garter toss etiquette..

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How much $$ should this be?

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Do you move your plate?

As a server, and also an observant customer, I see people moving their plates. The server puts them down, and the customer moves them because they don't like where the server places them. Why don't you just take the plates from the server instead of letting the server put them on your table? There are tons of etiquette for servers, but what about customers? Why are they permitted to rudely move their plates?

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LUCK OF THE IRISH AT NOTRE DAME TURNS SOUR

SHE GOT A $29,000 TIP.. NOW NOTRE DAME SUES TO GETS ITS TIP BACK..

The University of Notre Dame has a new tip for a catering employee they mistakenly gave a $29,000 gratuity check: Give it back.

A lawsuit filed by the Indiana university claims Sara Gaspar used the accidental check to pay bills and buy a new car, MyFOX Chicago reported.

Notre Dame claims the check, which was supposed to be for $29.87, not $29,387, was issued on April 17 and alleges caterer Gaspar never notified university officials about the blunder.

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FAT DUCK UPDATE: THE VOMIT ENDS

Yes, I said "fat duck"..But say it fast ten times and you're not saying fat duck anymore..

Back in March of this year, Soup on my Fly reported on some rumblings in the tumblings in Britain at an expensive restaurant called the Fat Duck -- it was prestigious and pricey. And Soup on my Fly's ending observation concluded that the food from the Fat Duck gave the most expensive and explosive diarrhea on earth..

The New York TIMES is now reporting how it all happened at the Duck: Bad shellfish and bad hygiene.

Lots of bang for the buck at the Duck..

Porcelain thrones lined with gold .. ridding the body of that Foi Gras and shrimp salad..

The HPA report from Britain concluded, " These included a delayed response to the incident, staff working when they should have been off sick, and the wrong environmental cleaning products being used"

The report also mentioned oyster problems and clams.

But it doesn't end there for the vomit lined with gold.

Fat Duck's oyster supplier, Colchester Oyster Fishery, said, "The HPA inspectors have found traces of norovirus in our oysters, and in other produce at the restaurant which we did not supply. It happened in January and February when winter vomiting disease is quite common" Graham Larkin from the oyster company also said his company was a victim too, because of water contamination at a sewage treatment plant in Colchester. Incidentally, Larkin from the oyster company is allergic to oysters...

Whether the rich and famous stop eating at the Fat Duck remains to be seen, but just weeks ago, the Fat Duck for a perfect 10 out of 10 rating from the Good Food Guide 2010 .. Maybe just about the oysters for a bit?

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