Colleague Mary Jane Park asked a good question the other day: Had I noticed now that a lot of restaurants will remove the bread basket after appetizers have been served? She cited recent experiences at The Palm and Ocean Prime as evidence. I mulled it over for a bit and, indeed, I have begun to see that trend. You're chatting, you're nibbling your salad and--whoosh--the bread has been whisked to an undisclosed location.

Makes sense. Restaurants are hurting and here's this product they give away for free, day in and day out. Instead, give them a little at the outset, when customers are crazy-hungry (and apt to be crabby), but then let 'em fill up on the stuff they pay for. Maybe more desserts get sold this way. Anyone else seeing this?

(Photo from Forno Bravo)