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WTN: The 30 Second Rule

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Bill Buitenhuys

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WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Bill Buitenhuys » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:32 pm

So Lill and I went to a new local Italian restaurant this weekend. We start by trying to order a couple of glasses of bubbly and a wine for later.

Me: We’ll have two glasses of Prosecco

Him: (face all scrunched up) Huh? I don’t know what that is. You have to order by the number.

Me: Ok, we’ll have two glasses of #101 and a bottle of this wine here (pointing). I’d like you to bring the wine out now so we can open it and let it breathe.

Him: (eyes bugging out) Whoa…what is this again?

(I go through the routine again)

Him: Now which do you want first? The glasses or the bottle?

Me: Umm, I’d like them both together.

Him: (shaking his head) Can’t do that.

Me: Why not?

Him: (still shaking his head, mumbling) 30 second rule

Me: (eyes bugging out) What?

Him: (still more shaking) 30 second rule. If I bring you a drink I can’t bring you another one for 30 seconds. It’s the rule.

Me: (speechless)

Me: Ok, bring us the glasses of Prosecco and 30 seconds later, bring us out the bottle.

Me: (light bulb goes on) I can do that…(and off he goes, coming back with the Prosecco and 31 seconds (give or take) later with the bottle. )

The Prosecco (of which I completely forgot to write down the producer) was light, crisp and very refreshing, pairing nicely with some arancini di roso.

2003 Luigi Righetti Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel de'Roari (Veneto) Right out of the bottle this wine has vibrant aromas of plum and cedar. It’s extremely silky on the palate and the wine is very flavorful with cocoa dusted, very ripe, but not jammy, plums. While the wine has heft it has really no tannic structure to speak of. Overall this is a fairly easy drinking, simple but tasty wine for near term drinking.
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JoePerry

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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by JoePerry » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:31 am

Come home.
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Michael Malinoski

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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Michael Malinoski » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:41 am

What Joe said.

But beyond that, what does this 30-second rule accomplish? Were you planning to slam the Proseccos with an Amarone chaser?

-Michael
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by David M. Bueker » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:11 am

So he was saying they have a "shot clock." :wink:
Decisions are made by those who show up
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Robin Garr » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:45 am

You guys were as close to here as Southern Indiana, and you didn't even call!?
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Bill Buitenhuys

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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Bill Buitenhuys » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:18 am

Come home.
I keep clicking my heels but it's not working with sneakers on.
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Bill Buitenhuys » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:20 am

But beyond that, what does this 30-second rule accomplish? Were you planning to slam the Proseccos with an Amarone chaser?
I have absolutely no idea and given the confusion at this place, I wasn't going to ask. The table behind us ordered their entrees prior to us and were just being served as we were leaving (after leisurely having the wine with our entree and a pretty sad looking "cheese" course)
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Bill Buitenhuys » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:22 am

So he was saying they have a "shot clock."
Shots of sambucca for the buzzer beater?
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Bill Buitenhuys » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:23 am

You guys were as close to here as Southern Indiana, and you didn't even call!?
They have that rule too?
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Robin Garr » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:34 am

Bill Buitenhuys wrote:
You guys were as close to here as Southern Indiana, and you didn't even call!?
They have that rule too?

Not specifically, but they definitely have wine service that acts like that. :oops:
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Dale Williams

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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Dale Williams » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:07 am

What a bizarre rule.
I mean, I guess if they want to combat binge drinking, a time limit between sense could make sense to someone with a nanny-ish outlook. But what good does 30 seconds do? Gee, it took me a whole 5 minutes to down 10 shots of tequila!
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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Charles Weiss » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:06 pm

Bill,
I enjoyed this funny story, but want to make a preachy point
Besides sympathy and empathy I'd like to offer you praise.

You didn't :
get angry and belligerent
get huffy and deprecating
leave, stiffing the establishment.

You did
Try to understand his limitations
Help him get to where he could do what you wanted

My guess is that you even left a tip for the waiter.

Best, Charles
(from where you used to live and where I had great wine service last night :P
Charles Weiss
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Paul Winalski

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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Paul Winalski » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:43 pm

Bill Buitenhuys wrote:I have absolutely no idea and given the confusion at this place, I wasn't going to ask. The table behind us ordered their entrees prior to us and were just being served as we were leaving (after leisurely having the wine with our entree and a pretty sad looking "cheese" course)


Sounds like a restaurant I went to where the waitress provided us with datagram service.

For those not up on computer network protocols, a datagram link is one of the most primitive kinds of network connection. A datagram link may deliver data packets to you out of order, not at all, more than once, or with errors. We experienced all of the above from this waitress, regarding items we'd ordered for our meals.

She seemed to be having a bad night, so we were merciful on her. But it was one of the lowest points in restaurant service that I've ever experienced.

-Paul W.
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Bill Buitenhuys

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Re: WTN: The 30 Second Rule

by Bill Buitenhuys » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:24 am

Besides sympathy and empathy I'd like to offer you praise.
And it's not quite the Ides of March. :P
Lill and I ended up laughing alot during the course of the night. The poor waiter was just in the wrong line of work.

Here is another sample of our dialogue

Lill: So tell us what's in the Cheese Plate (listed on the menu as Assorted Fine Cheeses)

Him: Assorted cheeses.

Lill: (blink, blink) Ok, but what kind of cheese?

Him: I have no idea but I'll ask.

So at least he was trying!

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