hotsnack: speed dial monday

Monday is January 14th. Just an ordinary day - unless you're expected to deliver a fabulous dinner on Valentine's Day. Most restaurants open the reservation book 30 days in advance, thus Monday will be your first crack at a table on February 14th. Valentine's Day is a bittersweet, love-hate kind of holiday for restaurants. They are almost sure to be sold out (sweet!) And people buy lots of champagne and don't mind paying the special prix fixe d'amour. But it takes some wrangling to convert the entire restaurant into a room full of deuces (industry talk for 'table for two') and keep to the reservations time-table as lovebirds tend to linger. Generally I avoid restaurants altogether on Valentine's Day, plus Mr. Snack is usually working anyway. Actually we avoid restaurants on most holidays, preferring to cook and eat at home. Which might be something to consider if you can't get that resy. Afterall, you have 30 days to plan.