It’s gotten a little ridiculous, but in a good way. The Bloody Mary has always been a tad flamboyant when it comes to garnishes. Back when most drinks had a simple wedge of citrus, the Bloody came to the table sporting a celery stalk and probably a wedge of lemon with a buoy of olive floating atop the spicy tomato sea. Post and Courier

Q: My mother-in-law has offered to babysit on a Saturday night so we can celebrate our wedding anniversary. However, I know that my husband will want to watch football. Can you think of somewhere a bit nicer that we could have a decent meal and watch the game? A: Congratulations! And what a great question: I love celebrations, good food and sports. Post and Courier

When I reviewed The Darling, I wrote, "It’s easy to imagine a home cook being the envy of her bridge club after serving up The Darling’s shrimp salad, a cream cheese concoction prickled with chili paste and pickled red onions." It's a phrase I forgot until chef Joe DiMaio reminded me of it. When asked to supply a recipe for The Post and Courier's cookbook project, he wisely ...