Dr. Susan’s School for Dilettantes

 It’s summer and heirloom tomatoes are beginning to show up in the Greenmarket. As I make my Saturday morning pilgrimage, there is, of course, a Gershwin tune running through my head.

 At a meeting this week, I was delighted to discover that I’m not the only one who sings “You say tomato and I say tomato,” rather than I say tomahto.” Even better, the whole group burst into song!

Whatever you call them, just add salt and pepper, maybe a drizzle of olive oil or a bit of vinegar, and enjoy the season.

I wanted a nice pre-theater dinner so I wandered into Le Rivage Saturday night. That they actually found a table for me was miraculous. Within 20 minutes of my arrival, there wasn’t a single empty table.

I was instantly transported back to the 60’s and my very first theater district experience. There were a number of inexpensive French restaurants back then. The two I remember best - Pierre au Tunnel and Rene Pujol - are gone now; one perhaps decades ago, the other just last year. It doesn’t seem like there’s much demand for the sort of formal and perhaps formulaic meals they served. That Le Rivage has survived is testament to both a good chef and a tremendous amount of front-of-the-house attention to detail.

I felt welcomed from the moment I walked in. The maitre d’, who, I assume, is also the owner, treated me beautifully, suggesting a wine he thought I would enjoy and stopping by to chat a few times. The food was excellent. In my nostalgia, I ordered a classic duck l’orange. It was prepared perfectly - crisp skin, not a drop of fat beneath, and moist interior.

I watched other guests greeted as old friends and careful attention paid to each diner. Yes, it cost more that the $5 or so of my past, but then, so does everything. The meal was a great value and the feeling of comfort, warmth and care was priceless.

A spokeswoman for the chain’s Southwest region said select restaurants in the region will get McCafé coffee shops prior to the national roll-out, which is expected in the first half of 2009. McDonald’s is also testing McCafé kiosks in airports and other locations outside the U.S., said its spokeswoman.

Ahhh… that special blended aroma of grease and espresso. How could we have lived this long without it? Check www.mymccafe.com to see when one is coming to your neighborhood.

This story comes to you courtesy of New Mexico Business Weekly, via www.bizjournals.com.

And to think that Starbuck’s is cutting back on franchises ….

Sardinia is a little lower-key than some of the other places I’ve visited in Italy. It’s also poorer than some. The island has a history of being conquered and was heavily bombed during World War II. Despite this, the island is beautiful. The beaches are inviting and residents spend as much time as possible soaking up the sunshine.

Small market stands were a frequent sight in the neighborhood where I stayed. This one had inventive stands created from old tree trunks - a driftwood feel to the construction.

Our guide was very proud of the jacaranda trees. Their vibrant color lined the streets of Cagliari.

Who will run Chef Ramsey’s new restaurant at the end of Hell’s Kitchen? Who will win the Food Network Challenges? Will the Iron Chef be defeated? I’ve been out all day in the heat and humidity having meaningful meeting with clients. I need serious dreck! Private moments on national television. Drama. Tears, even.

Are you a Design Star? Or will you identify with a tearful Michael, whose exit line is, “I just want my mother.”

Why wait for the Olympics - there are plenty of competitions out there. Summer TV is full of totally mindless moments - competitions of every sort for those evenings when you just can’t spare a single brain cell for anything important. Kick back with an iced tea or your beverage of choice and root for the underdog.

Who has Shear Genius? And wait - Project Runway will be back soon!

I can’t resist visiting supermarkets and Farmers’ Markets when I travel and a recent trip to Campo di Fiore in Rome was no exception. One stand was more beautiful than the last. I was especially charmed by all these pyramids of spices. 

There were heaps of purple artichokes, tiny wild strawberries, an abundance of flowers, all intermixed with typical flea market finds - tee shirts, batteries, jewelry. People rinsed fruit at the public drinking fountains and snacked their way through the morning. 

We put together a pick-up lunch, took too many pictures, and had a wonderful morning.

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Oh my goodness! I’m a spa convert. I visited the Agua Caliente Spa and had a pomegranate scrub. After I took the waters. (Private hot mineral spring tub) Before I relaxed in the respiration therapy room - a dry sauna with wonderful chest-clearing herbs.

I just wanted to go back the next day for more - maybe a cookie dough scrub and a facial; maybe the mud wrap my friend had. Certainly, there are more spa experiences in my future.

I loved being pampered. I loved relaxing. And reflecting. And planning. I see spa retreats in my future - what a perfect setting to remind people how wonderful they already are and then help them stretch. And think of the fun it’s going to be doing the research!

Spending a few days in the country always gives me a new appreciation of light and its nuances. The sun is just rising and the newly-bare trees stand out in sharp relief.

The lingering full moon is not in view from this angle, but it illuminated our return home last night with a soft glow. This evening, we will be treated to blues and pinks, a bit of scarlet, and as yet unnamed shades of purple as the sun sets behing the mountains.

I will return to my city life on Monday and will catch a glimmer of sunrise out of my kitchen window or perhaps be treated to the harbor and the Statue of Liberty in glowing reds and oranges as I make my way into Manhattan.

It just makes me smile.

As we’re approaching Thanksgiving, opportunities to give thanks and give back abound. Today, I had two opportunities and took advantage of both. City Harvest was at the Union Square Greenmarket collecting bags of food and donations as part of their efforts to supply food to more than 600 community food programs. They also distribute a booklet called Great Food Good Hearts. It describes all the restaurants that donate to City Harvest. Seek them out - they’re among the best in the city.

I also had the opportunity to participate in a fund raiser for The Hunger Project, an initiative I knew little about. Here are a couple of paragraphs from their website:

The African Woman Food Farmer Initiative (AWFFI) at each epicenter economically empowers the women who grow 80 percent of Africa’s food through a program of credit, savings and training. Within five years, the women at the epicenter establish and run their own government-recognized rural bank. AWFFI has issued more than 83,000 loans, totaling more than US$4.7 million, and has established 15 recognized rural banks.

Women’s leadership in India’s villages: A constitutional amendment in India guarantees that one-third of seats in local government are reserved for women. The Hunger Project has seized this opportunity — more than 50,000 grassroots women leaders have taken our Women’s Leadership Workshop and have been supported through a comprehensive strategy of training, networking and advocacy.

There are so many opportunities to give a little back right now. Send your suits to Dress for Success. Donate an old coat. Drop off canned goods at a food bank. It’s one of the best parts of the holiday season!