Eating around town....

Family and close friends know that it's sometimes difficult for me to go out to dinner as a civilian. Why? I rarely order what I want and usually opt for dishes that I think I should be trying.

I can't help myself. Even when it's a dinner I'm paying for. If I eat something I've had before or get something as ordinary as roasted chicken, I feel like I'm wasting a meal.

Recently, a good bud wanted to go to Toscana Kitchen + Bar and eat tortellini. Didn't even have to look at the menu. Caesar salad and tortellini.

Boom! Done.

Me? I hemmed and hawed, trying to decide if I should get one or two of the small plates and, maybe, one of the night's specials. At one point, I said I really wanted to keep it simple and eat Caesar salad and mushroom risotto, but, well, you know, I should probably be more adventurous, blah, blah, blah....

When the waiter came to the table, my pal got the Caesar and tortellini and then demanded that I get the Caesar and the risotto. There was no arguing. (Besides it was good bud's very belated birthday.)

Boom! Done.

Was it really that easy? Yes, it was. And the creamy risotto, with its earthy porcini mushroom broth, was one of the best dishes I've eaten in some time. Sometimes good friends know best.

Other food thoughts...

So where have you been watching the NCAA tournament? (And, let me brag for just one moment, who else has picked 15 out of the Sweet 16 teams? Just wondering... My dearly missed colleague Dave Hale would have been so proud. Syracuse was for you, Dave.)

We headed to Six Paupers in Hockessin on Saturday for snacks, beverages and b-ball.

Chicken wings were wonderfully hot, saucy and spicy, but a side order of Greek salad was disappointing. Hey, Mr. Chef Man, why so stingy with the feta cheese? My salad had microscopic crumbs, at the most. For Telly Savalas's sake -the feta is what makes this salad Greek.