Veal shanks and pork necks... that sounds to me like the parts you give to the dog, but I did, in the past six months hear about a trendy butcher who was attempting to follow the philosophy of a previous era when I'm not sure what the dogs ate, but humans sought to utilize every portion of the slaughtered animal.

In this era where pets of the target clientele are fed much better than children in many parts of the world, I'm not sure getting chi chi customers to eat pigs ears is a noble endeavor. Furthermore, veal shanks and pork necks just did not SOUND like something I wanted to eat, so I ordered a recognizable "snapper." Of course, there are about 100 different species of snapper, so what's that?

In the "typical male" department, I have to say, I have no problem asking for directions. But as a human being, I'm not really fond of being required to ask the waiter to explain every item on the menu, and take notes, before I can even BEGIN to think about what I want to eat. There are chefs out there who are intelligent beings, and they create culinary masterpieces that are extraordinary. However, I'm just having dinner, and I don't want to have to do homework, extra reading, or extensively consult with a waiter beforehand. Furthermore, my tastebuds can't read, but yeah, I know there's that "expectation" factor that justifies the price tag. Can you tell I don't watch the food channel?

The "snapper" was delicious. My partner had the pork neck, and I have to say, it looked much better on the plate, and tasted much better on the palate, than it appeared on the menu.

But that's not why I'm here.

I'm here to see the wedding reception venue, and discuss the ceremony with the celebrant. And all of that is a disaster. Because there's a rage! party going on in the same giant industrial building, meaning we have to talk over thumping music and it dawns on my partner that the same thing could be occurring while we're trying to have a reception in an intimate corner that's separated from the rest by mesh curtains.

Add to the noise problem the matter that the person who made all kinds of promises about the space (that there were guarantees of NOT having other loud events on the same afternoon as the reception) has not been available. Further inquiry reveals that this person "may not be back." As in... permanently. And so we start over with a new person, and consider finding a new venue if necessary.

Oh, and my partner has honored my wishes to not go the traditional Greek route of slaughtering a lamb and having the whole thing on a spit for this special occasion. Unbeknownst to me, however, it appears she has made arrangements for a whole pig to be on a spit. Neck and all.