Christine wrote:

> This is the 40th anniversary year of Chez Panisse, and oh how I wish I
> could afford to go to one of the dinners being held this August at the
> restaurant.

At $2500 a head for the meal prepared by David Tanis, what if he served
something you didn't like, were allergic to, or were unable to eat for some
medical reason?

It just so happens that I'll be on vacation from August 21 through September
6, so I *could* attend if I so chose. But I will allow this "opportunity" to
pass, thankyouverymuch.

I'd rather prepare a "Provencal feast" using local ingredients at my own
house, thereby not only saving a colossal amount of money and following the
precepts of "California cuisine", but avoiding the pandemonian cluster-****
that is Berkeley traffic -- and not incidentally, also assuring myself of a
meal I will enjoy, in company I can choose.

Bob