I've seen some really nice menus but am not sure where I can get them. The
few times I asked to buy a menu from the restaurant I had the owner come
over and start cross-examining me about which rival restaurant I work for
(which I don't, but it's impossible to prove). If anyone knows of another
way to do it, please pipe up.

On a related note, I once persuaded a restaurant manager to sell me a really
cute ashtray. It was one of a promotional package they'd obtained from a
tobacco company and I hadn't seen anywhere else.

On Wed 09 Jul 2008 05:28:58a, The UnInmate told us...

> I've seen some really nice menus but am not sure where I can get them.
> The few times I asked to buy a menu from the restaurant I had the owner
> come over and start cross-examining me about which rival restaurant I
> work for (which I don't, but it's impossible to prove). If anyone knows
> of another way to do it, please pipe up.
>
> On a related note, I once persuaded a restaurant manager to sell me a
> really cute ashtray. It was one of a promotional package they'd obtained
> from a tobacco company and I hadn't seen anywhere else.

I don't collect menus, but we did acquire one rather beautiful menu (the
front and back) from Tavern on the Green in Central Park. We had it
separated and the two pieces matted side by side together in a frame. It's
truly like a work of art, a beautiful representation of Central Park.

I do have a collection of ashtrays from many places, restaurants, hotels,
etc, where their logo is etched into the glass. Most were offered freely.

I also have a collection of unused matchbooks from around the globe,
probably over 500 or so.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 07(VII)/09(IX)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Oxymoron: Rather Direct.
-------------------------------------------

The UnInmate > wrote:
> I've seen some really nice menus but am not sure where I can get
> them. The few times I asked to buy a menu from the restaurant I had
> the owner come over and start cross-examining me about which rival
> restaurant I work for (which I don't, but it's impossible to prove).
> If anyone knows of another way to do it, please pipe up.
>

Really nice menus aren't cheap to produce. Most of the time all I can get
is the paper "to go" menu. But on a few occasions I have been given the
real deal. I simply say I collect menus from my travels and they do their
best to accomodate my request. No one has ever questioned my motives, but
then I've never offered to *buy* their menus, either.

Jill

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
. ..
> The UnInmate > wrote:
>> I've seen some really nice menus but am not sure where I can get
>> them. The few times I asked to buy a menu from the restaurant I had
>> the owner come over and start cross-examining me about which rival
>> restaurant I work for (which I don't, but it's impossible to prove).
>> If anyone knows of another way to do it, please pipe up.
>>
>
> Really nice menus aren't cheap to produce. Most of the time all I can get
> is the paper "to go" menu. But on a few occasions I have been given the
> real deal. I simply say I collect menus from my travels and they do their
> best to accomodate my request. No one has ever questioned my motives, but
> then I've never offered to *buy* their menus, either.
>
> Jill

Hmm. Maybe my mistake was offering money for the menus. If I had asked for
them as a gift the manager would always have been free to request
reimbursement for production costs. If I ever do that again that's the
approach I'll take.

On Jul 9, 8:28*am, "jmcquown" > wrote:

> Really nice menus aren't cheap to produce. *Most of the time all I can get
> is the paper "to go" menu. *But on a few occasions I have been given the
> real deal. *I simply say I collect menus from my travels and they do their
> best to accomodate my request. *No one has ever questioned my motives, but
> then I've never offered to *buy* their menus, either.

True about the printed menus that don't change their items. But, Bob
and I have dined at many places with a fixed price and/or chef's
tasting menu that changes daily. One such place was Joel Robuchon's in
Las Vegas. The menu that was presented to us had OUR names at the top!
They expect you to take these home. I've never had an issue with any
restaurant not giving me a menu when I have asked.

I never considered myself a collector per se, but I find that in my
"memory bag" I have menus from all of our favorite restaurants that we
have been fortunate to try in our travels. My favorites are menus from
Thomas Keller's "Bouchon" and "ad hoc."

As a friend once told me, all you can do is ask and the worse they can
do is say no.

--Lin

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 10:06:15 -0400, "The UnInmate"
> wrote:

>
>"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
>> The UnInmate > wrote:
>>> I've seen some really nice menus but am not sure where I can get
>>> them. The few times I asked to buy a menu from the restaurant I had
>>> the owner come over and start cross-examining me about which rival
>>> restaurant I work for (which I don't, but it's impossible to prove).
>>> If anyone knows of another way to do it, please pipe up.
>>>
>>
>> Really nice menus aren't cheap to produce. Most of the time all I can get
>> is the paper "to go" menu. But on a few occasions I have been given the
>> real deal. I simply say I collect menus from my travels and they do their
>> best to accomodate my request. No one has ever questioned my motives, but
>> then I've never offered to *buy* their menus, either.
>>
>> Jill
>
>Hmm. Maybe my mistake was offering money for the menus. If I had asked for
>them as a gift the manager would always have been free to request
>reimbursement for production costs. If I ever do that again that's the
>approach I'll take.
>

i don't see anything wrong with offering to buy them. you wouldn't
ask the man for a free piece of cheesecake for your collection, would
you?

i have offered to buy glasses that i liked from restaurants where they
weren't offered for sale - they just said 'sure' or 'no.'

your pal,
blake
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 10:06:15 -0400, "The UnInmate"
> wrote:

>Hmm. Maybe my mistake was offering money for the menus.

Stroke their egos and ask for the chef's autograph on the menu.

On Jul 9, 5:28�am, "The UnInmate" > wrote:

> I've seen some really nice menus but am not sure
> where I can get them. The few times I asked to buy
> a menu from the restaurant I had the owner come
> over and start cross-examining me about which rival
> restaurant I work for (which I don't, but it's impossible
> to prove).

Surprising, considering that many restaurants at all
price and quality levels put their menus of their web-
sites.

You probably can't see this.