Genetically modified foods have been a hot topic as of late, from Chipotle’s GMO ban to the widespread call for GMO labeling and restrictions.
While some may have all their GMO facts straight, for those who don’t, get in the know with Bill Nye The Science Guy.
Linger Eataury, the latest Denver dining establishment to be nationally recognized for its awesomeness, was named 2015 Restaurant Bar of the Year by Nightclub & Bar Media Group earlier this month, and rightly so!
The annual Nightclub & Bar Awards, established to honor “well deserving bars, nightclubs and lounges for excellence in the industry,” announced the 2015 winners in early March following a lengthy two-month selection period. Entries submitted by industry professionals on behalf of venues across the country were reviewed by a panel of recognized experts, who then determined the finalists and winners.
According to Jon Taffer, president of Nightclub & Bar and host/executive producer of Spike TV’s Bar Rescue, “the winners are visionaries who are instrumental in setting trends and forging the way for other hospitality venues,” and Linger most definitely fits the bill.
Situated in the former Olinger Mortuary garage – thus the name, which chef/owner Justin Cucci came up with by dropping the O and substituting Mor with Eat – this wildly popular restaurant/bar is the total package, from victuals to libations to aesthetics; the kitchen serves up a salute to the street food of the world, the mortuary theme is touched on without getting too kitschy (Linger tissues available for weepers, a “Harold and Maude” photo mural hangs over the open kitchen, funeral fans hang from a wall), and last but not least, the views overlooking downtown Denver are absolutely breathtaking.
Yup, it’s pretty obvious why locals and visitors alike haven’t stopped rushing the doors since they opened in summer 2011.
And now it’s official: Linger is the 2015 Restaurant Bar of the Year. Congratulations, it’s well deserved!
If you’re one of the many that has laid their heart on the line for a date with their server only to be shot down, fear not because those days are dead and gone. Here to assist in romancing your service industry crush are a few guiding principles, that if followed will earn you some serious consideration.
Same Rules Apply
Would you ignore someone you’re planning on asking out? What about making demands before getting a name? And throwing down insults about their work?
Hopefully the answer is no (and if it’s yes, it’s time to re-evaluate your game in general). Well, surprise! The same courting rules that apply to the general public also go for your server, host, bartender, etc. because we’re people too! So avoid the brush off, any version of “get me” especially without saying please and thank you, and any insinuation that we’re not doing our jobs to the utmost of our abilities. Basically, mind your manners and treat us how you’d like to be treated, or else you’re just digging your own grave in the dating department.
For most, this goes without saying, but better safe than sorry. Pet names are generally not appreciated, even if we put up a good front about their use. Neither is gawking, catcalling, and definitely not copping a feel.
Now you may not even be aware that you’re guilty of a few of these no-no’s, because let’s face it, sometimes when we’re not trying to be on our best behavior, things slip through the cracks. So, to counteract a few of the misses, don’t pass up an opportunity to show your appreciation of the work we’re doing so that you can enjoy yourself. Basically, do your best to be respectful because just that goes a long way.
If You’re Interested, Act Like It
Working in the service industry, specifically in the front of house, means that we literally serve others all day long. As far as dialogue, there’s very little in the way of engaging conversation. So it’s quite refreshing when we’re asked questions that go beyond the drink menu, perhaps even venturing outside of life at work, and getting a chance to actively participate in an exchange. Not only does this clue us in to your attraction, but may also ignite one of our own!
A word of caution: even if a conversation is going well, don’t guilt trip us if and when we have to attend to our other customers. It is our livelihood, after all. Instead, graciously let us go and leave us wanting more!
Love Don’t Cost A Thing
Sure, a big tip is always appreciated, but be careful about throwing around your money, credit cards included. Attempting to impress with the promise of cash bonuses is in most cases considered solicitation and, excluding special circumstances, is no way to gain affection, literal and otherwise. Even dressed up with promises of tomorrow, all you’ll get for tooting your own horn is payback. And you know what they say about payback…
Impress us with the immaterial, like your great sense of humor, infectious laugh, or even your total lack of coordination (sometimes it’s cute!).
Take A Hint
If your attempts at wooing go wayward, and even a bat can see that there’s no future (at least for the moment), then bow out with style. Don’t skimp on the gratuity, make a scene, or talk trash because no one wants to date a sore loser and, who knows, there may be a chance at redemption next time.
Know more secrets about charming your server (or any service industry employee for that matter)? Let us know here, or @gosirvo.
The universal sign for work- coffee. Be it physical, formal, collaborative, or leisurely, there is coffee to be consumed, often multiple times per day and on occasion free of charge. Even electing a new pope requires the diverse drink, The reason why? Well, energy of course! Actually, while this is the most commonly associated by-product of coffee-drinking, there are other reasons why more than 400 billion cups are consumed each year.
Surprise! Coffee keeps you alert. Caffeine, the most commonly consumed psychoactive drug in the world, is a stimulant. It blocks the adenosine receptors in the brain, which lets the neurotransmitters like epinephrine and dopamine that are associated with alertness run wild. There are many studies showing that ingesting caffeine helps workers perform better, especially if they’re working when their circadian clocks say they should be sleeping. Researchers studying night-shift workers found coffee is effective in counteracting any “sleepy effect,” and caffeinated shift workers made fewer errors than their decaffeinated colleagues.
Coffee eases the pain of working at a desk. There’s a reason why computer programmers are so wired: Consuming caffeine has been found to ease pain in the neck, shoulders, forearms, and wrists that are often experienced by those of us who are chained to our keyboards.
Coffee is a social lubricant. Researchers from MIT found that employees who take coffee breaks together are more productive. The study tracked a group of workers in a call center and found that when coffee breaks were scheduled so that co-workers could take them at the same time, their performance improved.
Even without the coffee, coffee shops are good places to work. A study in the Journal of Consumer Research explored the effects noise has on creativity. They found that a low to moderate level of ambient sound, like the one found in your favorite coffee shop working spot, improves creativity. A tech startup in Virginia developed Coffitivity, a coffee shop noise simulator.
Coffee may be a life saver, especially for older workers. The US National Institutes of Health found a link between coffee-drinking and lower risks of death. People in their 50s and 60s who drink three or more cups of coffee a day have a 10% lower risk of death compared to those who don’t don’t drink coffee at all.
It even works with decaf. The same NIH study found that removing caffeine didn’t change coffee’s life-extending aura.
This article originally appeared on Qz.com.
Why do you drink coffee? Let us know here, or @gosirvo.com.
Airline food can be hit or miss nowadays. And with sky high prices (pun intended), making a good choice is necessary. Here to help are the top foods on 9 major airlines chosen by the professionals that also know the airplane as their office.
United Airlines Thai tilapia fillet with shrimp
“I think the Thai-style fillet of tilapia with shrimp is the best thing we serve. It’s good for a late evening meal because it’s not too heavy. You want something light on a later flight.” – Sondra Dickens, flight attendant
Virgin America bibimbap
“With our latest menu update, it’s hard to choose a favorite dish, but our Korean vegetarian rice bibimbap is definitely high on my list with its big, bold flavors. The bibimbap is a hot bowl of fresh vegetables marinated in ginger, garlic, red chili, lemongrass, and coconut milk served on hot steamed rice and finished with a Korean red chili BBQ sauce and a soft-poached egg.” – Mariella Guadarrama, inflight team leader
JetBlue sea scallops
“When customers on the plane hear we have seafood options, they are generally leery. But in our Mint Experience we offered a hot sea scallop entree with a blackberry Sauternes sauce and foie gras mousse and it was to die for. JetBlue truly brought the freshest seafood I’ve had on a plane.” – John Stripling, inflight onboard lead
American Airlines four-cheese pasta
“My favorite food we serve, and a definite favorite of our customers, is the four-cheese pasta with a cream sauce. It’s served in the main cabin on flights to and from South America. This pasta stays moist even in the ultra-dry air of the cabins, and it’s creamy and delicious.” – Scott Bowie, international flight attendant
Southwest Airlines Ritz Cheese Crackers
“I always like it when honey-roasted peanuts are back onboard, which happens in January every few years — and this is our year. But after 19 years of flying, I’m peanutted out. On longer flights we offer free snacks such as 100-Calorie Lorna Doones, 100-Calorie Ritz Snack Mix, and Ritz Cheese Crackers. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but you can’t go wrong with cheese crackers.” – Troy Ford, flight attendant
Delta Airlines chicken pot pie and quinoa wraps
“Traveling for a living presents a constant quest for comfort food and healthy food options. Chef Hopkins’ chicken pot pie and the Luvo quinoa wraps are delicious and meet both criteria when I’m flying.” – Julie Pearson, flight attendant
Hawaiian Airlines Loco Moco
“I’ve been a flight attendant with Hawaiian Airlines for nearly 17 years. My favorite dish is our famous Loco Moco, featuring a hamburger patty topped with a sunny side-up egg smothered in gravy, all over hot white rice. Everyone who has been to Hawaii has tried the Loco Moco at least once because it’s truly an island favorite and one of the most popular dishes in Hawaii. As a destination carrier, we are proud to be able to offer island-inspired meals like the Loco Moco on our planes because it’s one of many ways we entice our guests with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Hawaii from the moment they board our aircraft.” – Mapuana Faulkner, flight attendant
Air Canada falafel wrap
“I settle for a healthy option. From the Air Canada Café menu, I go for the falafel wrap — you get a whole-wheat wrap packed with falafel, red peppers, baby spinach, tzatziki, and red onions. On the side, I grab some fresh hummus and pretzels as well as some Vitamin Water. I never have that heavy-food feeling at the end.” – George Dias, onboard sales resource, service director, and inflight safety and service
Allegiant Air Wingz Kids Snack Pack
“My favorite menu item Allegiant offers is the Wingz Kids Snack Pack. I love the Oreos and Jelly Jets, plus $1 from every pack sold goes directly to Make-A-Wish!” – Kathleen W., flight attendant
This article originally appeared on thrillest.com
What’s the best airline food you’ve had? Let us know here or @gosirvo.
‘Opie with Jim Norton’ recently treated us to an hour of uninterrupted, unfiltered Anthony Bourdain when they had the sarcastic chef on their show. There’s a ton of great stuff in the interview, from Bourdain’s nuanced opinions on Beirut to his less nuanced opinions on chain restaurants. We pulled out seven of the wildest or most interesting findings in case you don’t have time to listen to the whole thing — but if you do, it’s available right here.
His wife is hardcore. Whereas Bourdain is known for his verbal beatdowns, it sounds like his wife Ottavia could beat you down with her fists. She’s a competitive mixed martial arts fighter who sometimes trains for six hours a day, and apparently sticks to a diet of almost all meat. Bourdain told an especially great story about his friend staring in amazement/horror as Ottavia ordered a filet mignon as an appetizer and then a porterhouse for her entree at dinner.He also has a thing for Iranian women. When the guys got around to asking Bourdain the real, hard-hitting questions (“Which Middle Eastern country has the hottest women?”), their guest had a lot of nice things to say about the ladies of Iran. He called them beautiful, fierce, and confident — and not afraid to tell you their opinion.
He has strong feelings on shark meat. While discussing Iceland with a caller, Bourdain first suggested he try hákarl, or fermented shark. But then he backpedaled. Hard. In Tony’s own (extremely indelicate) words, “I’m going to guess that if I were to dig my dead Grandma up and eat her ass — that’s what it tastes like.”
He hates comped meals. Obviously Bourdain has people begging him to come to their restaurants all the time, but he really would like you all to stop offering him free food. It makes him feel uncomfortable and he’d “much rather eat at a place where they don’t give a f*** who [he is].” Make sure to treat him with appropriate scorn the next time he swings by your establishment.
He’s had “hazardous environment” training. Since he spends a lot of his time traveling to exotic places that aren’t always the safest, Bourdain has security advisers in tow when he’s walking the streets of a sketchy neighborhood. But just to make sure he’s extra prepared, Bourdain’s advisers sent him to “hazardous environment” training in the woods of Virginia, where he learned basic triage and chest wound care, how to get through roadblocks without pissing off the wrong people, and at least one flying kick move, presumably.
He enjoys sheep balls. TMZ miserably failed to rile Bourdain up one evening when he was out to dinner with Mario Batali. A cameraman asked the guys which balls they prefer, hoping their masculinities were so fragile they’d take a swing. But instead they had a lengthy discussion about the merits of different animal genitals. Bourdain endorses sheep balls for their texture and flavor, though he also thinks chicken balls are on point.
He thinks the best cheesesteak is in Jersey. For Bourdain, it’s all about the Camden spot Donkey’s. He insists it’s got the best cheesesteak anywhere, so hopefully he’s already increased his security detail to handle the mobs from Philly heading his way.
This article was originally published on Thrillest.com
Share your favorite Anthony Bourdain tidbits here, or @gosirvo!