Caviar Out, Meatloaf In for Holiday Parties

Joe Bastianich book 'Restaurant Man' comes out this week

(NEWSER) - Welcome to the world of New York restaurants, where Wise Guys drop "hundies," Bill Clinton always gets a table, and the maitre d' is usually on the take. Long-time restaurateur Joe Bastianich—co-owner of dining hotspots like Babbo, Lupa, and Eataly—dishes on the biz in a potty-mouthed tell-all coming out this week, the New York Post reports. Among the hard-to-digest details from Restaurant Man: More»

Teens inspired by film taking over homes for parties

(NEWSER) - Police are warning homeowners and parents of teenagers to ward off wild parties inspired by the destructive blowout featured in the movie Project X. Teens have taken over at least three vacant California mansions recently. Police found a DJ, drugs and booze when some 400 teens commandeered an empty $5 million mansion in southern California. They had heard about the party through Twitter. “These parties are hard to control," said a spokesman for the San Diego County sheriff. "We are hoping that parents will help us. It's a safety issue for the public and for the teens." More»

But those salads still aren't good for you, says blogger

(NEWSER) - Burger King overhauled its menu this week and is selling smoothies, wraps, and new salads as part of a push to woo women and families. The makeover comes after Burger King dropped to third place in the fast-food rivalry last year, trailing McDonald's and—for the first time ever—Wendy's, reports the Wall Street Journal . "I think all of the players are looking at ways they can compete more effectively with McDonald's," says an analyst. More»

Before Billy Crystal even comes on, you can impress your friends

(NEWSER) - Heading to an Oscar bash tonight where you fear you'll be a mere novice among Academy Award freaks? Time rounds up a few talking points that can make you look smart:

1. While opening credits roll: “I want to see how the heck Billy Crystal works Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close into his opening montage." Hosting for the first time since 2004, Crystal likes to spoof the Best Picture nominees in his opening monologue. But how to make fun of a 9/11 film?

Restaurants increasingly training waiters to 'read' tables

(NEWSER) - Gone are the days of, "Hi, my name is Tom and I'll be your server tonight." Restaurants are increasingly moving toward a less scripted approach, teaching waiters how to "read" tables and subtly mold their service to fit each individual group. The Wall Street Journal offers a rundown of the new trend, and offers some hints as to what message you could be sending your waiter:

• If you're chatting with your friends: The waiter may worry about interrupting you, and could try refilling your water glasses or placing his hand on the table to get your attention without seeming pushy. He may also assume you're there for a good time, and thus push more offers of drinks or dessert.
• If you're dressed nicely and eating early: The waiter may assume you're headed to a show, and speed up his service or bring the check with the meal as a result.