Ike n One Gas Burner....

Finally I have something in common with Tina Turner... no; not multi millionaire status, internationally recognized singing talent or legs up to my armpits... but I DO know what its like to have Ike breathing down your neck and threatening to knock your lights out...

Firstly, before you go and drop a few hundred panic buying extra packets, cans and nonsense, have a look as see what you already have and consider the nutritional needs of your family.

Chances are you'll have meat in the freezer (I always have ground sirloin), frozen vegetables, cans of beans & of course that Bogo pasta (I have a glut or Barilla wholegrain). Secondly, the day before the storm hits, get the pasta cooked, rinsed, dress with a little olive oil or other (safe) dressing (nothing mayonnaise based), Get your freezer stuff used; cook the ground beef, add a jar of marinara sauce, add the beans (Bush's maple are Dr. Dave's favorite), sweetcorn or whatever you have that'll rot with no power. This is a one pot dish that really packs a nutritional punch and so much better than munching cheerios from the box! Assemble a man sized dish of the stuff - put in the fridge and when the lights go out you'll have something you can easily warm on that one sad little camping stove you always knew would come in handy.

Naturally if you have a generator, let me know what time to stop by with my bottles of warm Korbel and my shower hat.

Brio Tuscan Grille, The Gardens Mall

I think we've been to the mall more this past week than in the past year! Something about long distance travel and knowing you're going to one of the most overpriced towns in the world that makes you stock up before you leave!

Last night we made a more upmarket pitstop at Brio Tuscan Grille. We've done the lunch thing there several times successfully but on this occasion our visit fell into the dinner category. More expensive. Considerably. Lets not forget this is the Mall.

The server delivered warm bread and a rosemary flatbread which was a nice touch; drinks were ordered and entrees put in: Pasta Fra Diavolo $14.95 for Dr. Dave, Pasta Brio $14.95 for me and Mia NEEDED a kids pizza. Both pastas seemed to have been made with the same base of creamy tomato sauce with the diavolo kicked up with some spicy heat and green onions. The Brio had roasted red peppers in the sauce and mushrooms. I went milder as I was sharing with Ceci; she's adventurous but at 10 months draws the line at chili! Both had the signature wood roasted chicken added. There was nothing offensive in either dish, nothing amazing flavorwise either and please get rid of the ridiculous herb garnish to the plate's edges; there's nothing worse than superfluous greenery, it looked like lawn clippings!

The service was on the iffy side too; the waiter was very swift to ask if I wanted another glass of wine at $8.95 *I didn't!* yet had to be repeatedly asked for more soft drinks. A simple error? C'est possible. I shan't be returning for dinner again. Why would you? Its considerably more expensive than lunch and the menu doesn't have my favorite items such as the superb 'oak roasted pulled chicken salad' on at night anyhow. Next time I'm in the mood for a $15 pasta I'm going to Vic & Angelos.