Push the buttonIn a small restaurant in Soho where you can see the waitresses, although they most likely hide to avoid working, there was this small call button. We needed something and D decided to push it to get the server's attention. I thought it was rude but it was a great way to get their attention - from their hiding spot they emerged and helped us.

It is funny how in the credit crunch we have experienced consistently bad service at the last 3 establishments we visited. Each time D and I take off the service charge and when arrogantly questioned as to why we do it, he goes into a mini lecture about how 'in a credit crunch, wouldn't you want to look after your customers?' We are not in busy restaurants and we have to wait an extreme amount of time for menus, drinks, the bill and more - it is not like we ordered a bespoke souffle or some exotic fish that takes time to be fetched from the sea?!

And in the last three instances, we looked over and there is the wait staff staring into space or chatting with other wait staff. I want to own a restaurant in the UK to show how it should be done. The customers pay your salaries people, let's try not forget this minor point!

I think wait staff don't care as they are only getting 5quid an hour so they are complacent and are not bothered if the business folds as they will find another crappy job at another restaurant! There is no ownership or pride of place or even consideration for the business owner - it seems to be plain selfishness and laziness.

Itsu for sushi
Had a great fast and friendly sushi dinner at Itsu the other night with my Canadian visitors, the fashion-pharmacist is a sushi freak. The one we went to is located on Wardour Street in the heart of Soho. There we had spicy tuna and salmon sushi, sashimi, grilled chicken teriyaki, a fabulous chicken and coconut soup with ginger and I had a lovely pineapple zinger juice. Their website is funny as it has some interesting copy - I italicized the parts I think are funny/odd:

'because Itsu food is light, full of goodness and won't make you fat.'

'because it tastes amazing. You can eat lots without guilt, sorrow and pain.'

I am typing in the dark as the girls are still dreaming...they are 'carpe diem' each morning sleeping til 11am- but that is the way to do it when you are on holiday. Shopping, sightseeing and walking makes one very tired! (Carpe diem - phrase from a Latin poem by Horace. It is popularly translated as "seize the day")

Minty Fresh
If you grow mint it never stops growing. It grows tall, spreads out and the aroma is great. You can chop it and then use it for several things.

• Brew fresh mint tea: add some leaves to a cup of boiled water, let it diffuse and add a little sugar. It tastes great and is good for digestion.
  (Itsu in London charges about £3 for a pot of this = $6.90 Canadian for some minty goodness)
  

• Add it to a jug of water and drink hint o' mint flavoured water. You can also do this with cucumbers and oranges for a nice summer twist to your usual water jugs with lemon.

• Add it to your meatball/hamburger recipe. I think this is the ingredient that makes Momma Dolce's meatballs so great.
• Add a few sprigs to any other sauces you may be making or mix a little in with your pesto dish.
  
• Mince it up and use it on your bbq'd lamb
• Use in a fresh tomato and cucumber salad with basil
  

Since we have an abundance there is some in a vase by the window and a few other leaves strewn about on my desk which I am twirling about to get some of the lovely smell.

Am sure you can make some kind of cosmetic concoction but for now I will stick to the mint tea with sugar.