| Le Cordon Bleu Chef Shares Restaurant Secrets
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of your favorite restaurants? You know, what's common knowledge among chefs and servers, but not so well-known among customers? We have some answers for you.Earlier this summer, I spent some time at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Mendota Heights, Minn. and had a chance to interview the chef instructor there, Pierre Rabbia. He has 25 years of experience at restaurants in Europe and here in the U.S. He shared some advice about dining out.I asked him about the stories I have read about avoiding having dinner out on Monday nights. It's been reported that Mondays are the worst time to eat out because restaurants often use the ingredients that are leftover from the weekend.Rabbia chose the high road on that one and instead told me the best night of the week to dine out: Thursday."Usually Thursday is a good night because you receive the fresh produce for the weekend, and the service will be more attentive ...
Schools rethink food policies
Rising costs, stagnant customer numbers and new laws requiring healthier food choices have motivated Greenwich Public Schools to examine its food services operation.
"It was a triple whammy," said John Hopkins, food services director who oversees the schools' cafeterias.
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Too often, age is sole factor in when to start school
Dear Dr. Dobson: If age is such a poor factor to use in determining the start of the first grade, why is it applied so universally in our country? Dear Reader: Because it is so convenient. Parents can plan for the definite beginning of school when their child turns 6. School officials can survey their districts and know how many first-graders they will have the following year. If an 8-year-old moves into the district in October, the administrator knows the child belongs in second grade, and so on. The use of chronological age as a criterion for school entrance is great for everybody -- except the late bloomer who is developmentally unprepared for formal education. Dear Dr. Dobson: I'm convinced that I should stay home with my preschoolers if finances and temperaments permit.
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