This week I am in Wilmington, Delaware for work and on Michael’s suggestion, I went to the Green Room at the Hotel du Pont for dinner.  When I arrived, I was greeted and seated by their wonderful staff.  They even offered me reading materials for dinner (newspapers, etc.) as I was dining alone.  Upon entering the room, I was in awe of the detail in the wood work.  This room which was completed in 1913 (according to the staff) screams "classy!"

For dinner, I ordered braised short ribs which were cooked for 7 hours in duck fat and drizzled with a maple sauce.  This was served over garlic mashed potatoes, roasted beets, and deep fried thinly sliced carrot strips.  This meal was nothing short of spectacular.

If you are in the Wilmington, Delaware region this place is a must try!

-Allen

Yesterday Susan and I went had the best Thai and Chinese food that I think we have ever tasted!  We went to Shirley’s parents house to see Smart (friend and co-worker) and Shirley and to meet Narawut for the first time!  Smart’s Mom and Aunt cooked the Thai food and Shirley’s Mom made the Chinese dishes.  I have to say it was absolutely amazing and the best meal that I have had in a VERY long time!  Narawut’s a very cute baby!

-Allen

The other day I was at a party and somebody spilled a drink.  The first reaction of the people there was to quickly grab paper towels to wipe up the mess.  After it was over, I did a "post-mortem" to discuss why they didn’t use rags or towels.  The reason was plain and simple…paper towels were just much easier for them.  Also, they said it’s not like them reducing their paper towel use would make a difference.  This is the mentality that we have to work to change with most folks.

Even though it was "easier" to use paper towels in this instance, this creates more solid waste that must be disposed of and uses more trees to create the paper towels.  A rag can be anything from an old t-shirt that you didn’t throw out, to old curtains.  Just chop them up and you have an absorbing machine!  These are washable and reusable.  The idea here is to reduce overall waste.  So the next time you have a mess that you need to clean up, consider using a rag or cloth towel instead of running for that paper towel roll.

-Allen

This morning at the hotel I caught this segment on the Today Show discussing Catalog Choice.  I wonder if somebody is taking suggestions from my blog.    First Whole Foods, now the Today Show….

Check out the video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22820508#22820508

-Allen

This morning while eating breakfast in the concierge lounge, I was reading Highlights for adults.    The headline on the front page of the business section stated that Whole Foods will no longer be using plastic bags at their checkout lines.  This is a major step for grocery stores and I certainly hope other chains follow suit.  Perhaps they read Green Tip #2

Check out the complete story as I read it:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-01-21-whole-foods-bags_N.htm

This article highlights a pretty astonishing fact.  Plastic bags can take 1,000 years to break down!  Please either bring your own bags or switch to paper.

-Allen