Stuzzichini By The Beach

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Stuzzichini By The Beach

Superba Snack Bar  Venice  www.superbasnackbar.com

sum up: A pastaria by the beach mixing Old World technique with New World style. Come for the extraordinary pasta, stay for the housemade charcuterie and produce-driven dishes.  Thanks to Chef Jason Neroni's culinary chops, this neighborhood joint is jumpin' jumpin'. 

looks: Sun-soaked by day, candlelit by night, the award-winning interior is cool without being cold, thanks to an open-kitchen, communal tables, and Mexican blankets to keep you warm on chilly nights.  Nab a seat on the patio to watch Venice skate and strut by.

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An American Masters Paris

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An American Masters Paris

The French must tire of their tropes (see berets, baguettes). A trip to Paris reveals their cuisine has evolved beyond the bistro, with molecular gastronomy and multiculturalism shaking the house that Escoffier built. Perhaps it's nostalgia for summers and studies in Paris, but I still cling to the classics of French cuisine. I've got a bad case of Francophilia (she writes, sporting a marinière stripe romper).

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Mess With This Tex-Mex

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Mess With This Tex-Mex

Tex-Mex and I go way back.

For my first college gig, I hostessed at a rowdy, Tex-Mex restaurant: Caliente Cab Company. Famous for their frozen margaritas--evidenced by the monster cocktail beckoning from the facade--this was where locals went to get their tequila on, downing syrupy sweet margaritas or slamming shots wielded by bandolier-strapped waitresses. The edible offerings were cheesy, cheap, and filling--food was merely fuel for more boozing.

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A Whole Lotta' Piggy In The Emerald City

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A Whole Lotta' Piggy In The Emerald City

There's something about Elizabeth Ray.

My sister noticed it first, observing how her brand-new daughter was, well, particularly porcine. Terms of endearment often take their cue from the animal kingdom; "Monkey" and "Bunny" are affectionate nicknames my friends dub their significant others. With babies, these pet names increase exponentially. Their newborn adorableness elicits even serious folk to coo "Lamb Chop" and "Chicken" in high-pitched sillyness.

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