Canvas Wall Art Prints - A Revolution in Design, Decoration and Display

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Canvas Wall Art Prints - A Revolution in Design, Decoration and Display

They say a picture paints a thousand words? We agree, and if your talking modern wall pictures for your contemporary home you cant go far wrong than considering a canvas artwork for your living space or office. There are a plethora of canvas art on line galleries small and large out there - all of them offering different services at different prices. This article is aimed at providing a balanced view of what's hot and what's not in the world of canvases. We hope these somewhat abstract words of wisdom will help you in your quest to choose a great canvas art print for yourself.

A canvas print, also known as a stretched canvas or canvas art, is the result of an image printed onto a canvas which is stretched, or gallery wrapped onto a frame and displayed. Many sellers offer canvas art either stretched or unstretched. Stretched canvas takes the hassle out of the process for the buyer. Generally the canvas will be 'wall ready' straight out of the shipping box.

However often you can save a little bit of cash buy asking for your canvas print to be shipped unframed, your print will probably arrive in a tube and you will then need to hand build a frame before hanging. I would always recommend spending a little extra of your hard earned cash on getting your canvas print framed. This way your leaving it to the experts to do what they do best.

Historically reproductions of original artwork have been printed onto canvas for many decades using what's commonly known as offset printing in the trade. In recent years the industry has exploded with the ever growing popularity of inkjet printers and digital photographic devices. Modern large format printers can print up to huge sizes upto 60 inches in width. This size and scale of canvas printing has meant an almost endless scope for design and decoration of photographic images and artwork. Walk into any contemporary restaurant these days and you can almost guarantee that you will find a huge macro focused image of the chef's latest culinary delight.

The growth of the internet in the digital age has had huge ramifications for the services that canvas art retailers can offer to their customers. Web 2.0 has meant development of many user generated software packages that allow anyone to load up photos, do basic effects to those pictures and reproduce them as canvas art prints. Some online canvas art sellers do nothing else other than produce artwork generated by users of their websites. Others have huge artwork catalogues that can be reproduced 'on demand' for customers rather than having to be pre made. We always recommend when considering which company to buy your canvas art from to check their delivery schedules before purchase. Some offer services within 48 hours others 2 weeks! Go for the 48hour option as weeks can often run unto months as the work builds up over busy periods.

The process of framing a modern canvas print takes skill and experience to achieve a professional quality finish. Make sure the print is tightly stretched over around the sides of a box stretcher frame when you receive it. Good stretcher frames will be professionally, accurately cut with a sloping profile that minimises contact with the front face of the canvas, preventing the impression marks. Without this slope you may find that over years rather than months the impression marks become so bad as to ruin the actual canvas picture. They should also be adjustable, supplied with tensioning wedges in each inside corner that can be tapped in slightly to allow occasional re-tightening of the canvas. To take the perceived risk out of the 'buying canvas art' equation look for sellers that offer no quibble money back guarantees for a period of time after receipt. Not only can you check out the quality against what we recommend in this article but you can also 'live with' the canvas wall artwork for a few days to check it matches your wall decor and contemporary furnishings.

So what type of canvas art seller is best I hear you cry? Unfortunately we don't have a finite answer for that question but we have a few thoughts on things to look out for. Most wall canvas sellers come from a printing background great you might think, what could go wrong? Well have a think, and look at the actual artwork they have on offer and compare it to other canvas sellers. You will see some similarities as they will probably buy images from stock photography sellers. As a piece of 'art' these canvas prints will be worthless over the long term. They lack a little integrity as they wont be limited editions signed by the artist, as there is no artist! Look out for information on artists, limited edition numbers and so forth, this is usually a good sign for the longevity of value for your canvas wall artwork. Make sure your canvas art retailer has one foot in the printing industry and the other dipped into the art world galaxy!

Can the Nutrisystem Diet Work for Diabetics

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Can the Nutrisystem Diet Work for Diabetics

The over-abundant food selections and varieties we have today have also paved the way for diabetes, a lifelong disease that can affect us all regardless of race, age, gender, and social status.

A person with too high blood levels instantly becomes a member of the ever-increasing statistics of diabetics that unfortunately grow rather than diminish. The swift rise of obesity all over the world has become alarming needing stricter measures when it comes to unhealthy food selections and an inactive lifestyle.

Diabetes has two main types:

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition wherein the insulin-producing cells are attacked and destroyed by the immune system of the body
Type 2 diabetes is a health condition wherein an inadequate insulin is produced by the body or due to the bodys non-reaction to insulin

Between the two types of diabetes, type 2 is the health condition that has become commonplace the world over.

People having above-normal blood sugar levels are not diagnosed right off as diabetic. However, they are now in the pre-diabetes area with a bigger chance of eventually becoming a full-blown diabetic.

The only way to counter this health condition, whether in the pre-diabetes or diabetes stage is to drastically change the lifestyle. Going from sluggish to active and opting for foods rich in fiber and protein are the best ways to reverse or avoid altogether the devastating effects of diabetes.

Diets have come and go with little or big success, depending on a persons attitude. Some diets went against the grain when it comes to health such as the liquid diet, the one-a-day eating diet, etc. They were flash-in-the-pan diets that were so extreme and unhealthy as well.

A good diet does not have to deprive the body its basic nutrients for it to achieve weight loss. A good diet means getting all the benefits from nutritious foods that can sustain the energy levels throughout the day.

The Nutrisystem Diets arrival on the scene to claim weight loss as much as 5 pounds in a week while improving the health of the body is too good to be true. Can this finally be THE diet to help diabetics lose weight and lower down their blood sugar levels at the same time?

What is the Nutrisystem Diet and what does it claim to have?

Meal planning and portion control is what the Nutrisystem diet is all about. Blood sugar has been found to be the first to be affected by the various carbs taken into the body. There are good carbs meant to be slowly digested such as whole grains and veggies that are high in fiber and protein. Filling your digestive system with full-packed protein and fiber carbs keeps you full longer, thus stabilizing your metabolism and blood sugar.

The prepackaged meals created by Nutrisystem not only pack in the nutrients needed by the body, it also leads to weight loss. Shopping, purchasing, and preparing foods that include all the healthy carbs to curb your appetite and make you lose weight need not be a time-breaking chore when the prepackaged meals can be delivered right to your home.

Losing weight can now be achievable and doable with the new Lean 13 plan of Nutrisystem that claims to make women lose 7 inches and 13 pounds on the first month of the diet, with men losing as much as 7 inches and 15 pounds for the same period of time.

The D Plan from Nutrisystem aims to lose weight, control and maintain the weight loss, and control and prevent diabetes.

Whats the D Plan and how can it manage diabetes?

The D Plan is Nutrisystems answer to the burgeoning health problems of obesity leading to diabetes. The plan aims to:

Sustain normal levels of blood sugar while promoting weight loss
Provide a balanced prepackaged meal for an effective, yet safe, weight loss
Provide frozen foods that are delectable and top-of-the-line anytime you need it
Prevent blood sugar level spikes by keeping it steady with snacks and meals every 2-3 hours
Provide a total count between 1,200-1,500 calories of nutritious meals a day to keep you full for longer periods
Feel happy with the meal choices while maintaining the stability of your blood glucose

There are three diabetes plans to choose from with the Nutrisystem D:

Diabetes Basic

For $9.82 a day the diabetes basic plan gives you:

A Nutrisystem Blueberry Muffin to start your day
Fresh berries with nonfat yogurt for a mid-morning snack
Nutrisystem Chicken Noodle Soup garnished with sliced veggies you can quickly heat for lunch
Almonds and Orange to instantly lift you up mid-afternoon
Nutrisystem Chili with Beans for a satisfying and fulfilling dinner
Nutrisystem White Chocolate Chunk Cookies as a delicious and nutritious snack to end your day

Diabetes Core

Expect these amazing meals offered by the Diabetes Core Plan starting at $10.54 per day:

Break the fast with the filling Nutrisystem Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Rev up the energy level with the mid-morning snack of fresh blueberries with low-fat Greek yogurt
Enjoy a lunch of instantly heated Nutrisystem Cheese Tortellini garnished with sliced veggies
Pair cheese and whole grain crackers for the afternoon snack
Bon apptit with the delicious Nutrisystem Santa Fe Style Chicken for dinner
Sit in front of your TV while deliciously ending your day with Nutrisystem White Cheddar Popcorn

Diabetes Uniquely Yours

Get on the bandwagon with this top-rated meal plan starting at $11.96 per day:

Start the day right with the appetizing Nutrisystem Buttermilk Waffles
Lift up flagging spirits with a healthy dose of apple slices with peanut butter dip
Heat and enjoy your lunch of Nutrisystem Broccoli & Cheese Melt
Get going with a mid-afternoon healthy snack of cheese and whole grain crackers
Celebrate pizza night with a dinner of Nutrisystem Italian Sausage & Turkey Pizza
Treat yourself to a decadent snack of Nutrisystem Ice Cream Sandwich

In closing

Nutrisystem seems to have hit the mark with their meal plans that cater to weight loss and diabetes issues. The convenience of home delivery with the option of choosing more delicious meals from a wide assortment of nutritious foods is mind-boggling. Yet, the thousands of customer reviews that only have high praises for Nutrisystem tells you the success story of the company.

The best thing about these meal plans is their 30-day money back guarantee. This is one offer few, if none at all, food service companies can ever beat, hands down.

Can a Hyperthyroid Diet Make a Difference If You've Got the Disease

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Can a Hyperthyroid Diet Make a Difference If You've Got the Disease

If you been diagnosed with hyperthyroid, most doctors don't think about what you eat as part of your treatment. That's because most doctors think of hyperthyroid only in terms of medical treatment. They'll tell you to take iodine therapies, prescription medications that will regulate your thyroid, or may prescribe surgery in severe cases.

Why is a hyperthyroid diet a good idea if you've been diagnosed with this disorder? It's a good idea to follow a hyperthyroid diet because it gives your body what it needs, and it'll also help you normalize your energy so that you have better days. In addition, people who suffer from a less than efficient thyroid can suffer from weight gain; if you're suffering from hypothyroid, a good diet can give you a much more efficient metabolism.

If you're suffering from hyperthyroidism, the symptoms that will send you to the doctor are very uncomfortable. You may feel tired and will lose weight without wanting to. You may eat a lot only to find that you can't gain weight, or you may eat a lot, which actually results in some weight gain. Hyperthyroidism often leads to depression and irritability.

These treatments may certainly be necessary, but following a hyperthyroid diet and making sure your metabolism functions optimally can help ease your symptoms and make your life a lot more comfortable. If your thyroid is "hyper," or overactive, a holistic approach to treatment can certainly help at least supplement to treatments the doctor gives you.

What would a hyperthyroid diet include? You'll need to make sure you're getting the proper nutrition, in just the right amounts. For example, you can switch from what you may normally eat to something more wholesome. Some examples of these types of switches include:

* Drinking water or plain tea instead of high calorie sugared drinks.

* Eating fresh fruits and vegetables instead of high sugar snacks.

* Reducing consumption of fatty meats and making substitutions with lean proteins like lean ground chicken or turkey.

* Eating whole grains instead of white, refined grains.

A hyperthyroid diet isn't difficult to follow at all. You just need to begin to think about what your body really needs and which foods will give you proper nutrition. If you know some food is going to be low in nutrition, make better choices, which will also be better for your thyroid.

One of the best ways to get these essential nutrients is with natural supplements. There are more than 104 necessary supplements included in a perfect diet, which can be pretty time consuming to get. Instead, you can get these essential nutrients in multivitamins and protein shakes from Shapeworks. Shapeworks' products contain essential minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients, all available in one easy to consume food source. Instead of having to carefully construct your next meal, you can make sure you get everything you need with one healthy shake.

Bone Broth and Stocks

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Bone Broth and Stocks

There is nothing like a stock pot simmering on the back burner of the stove during cold weather, it warms the house while cooking and when ready for consumption, it warms the body while providing a powerhouse of nutrition to help deal with everything the cold has to throw at us. The base of good soups, sauces and gravies is a flavorful broth and any cook-chef whose intention is to create that umami flavor in the foods they prepare, understands the value of producing and having good broth and stock on hand at all times. Bone broth, traditionally prepared using loving methods that have stood the test of time are delicious as well as highly nutritious. One way to know you have created a good broth is by how firm the stock is after its been prepared and refrigerated, the more gelled the stock the higher the gelatin content and that is what we are looking for, for health benefits. Even good quality commercial broth purchased in tetra packs or cans doesnt always have this quality to the stock.

With our speedy lifestyle, bone broth has seen a decline of use in the last generation or two and since gut health has declined as well in recent years, our North American population, is re-discovering bone broth. Although it takes little preparation, it does take time to coax the full flavor and nutrition from bones. Dense bones from beef and large animals will take anywhere from a half day to three days, where chicken and poultry ranges from 6 to 24 hours. When we do take the time to create such food luxuries and store it away in small amounts, it becomes an essential ingredient to our everyday meals adding a gourmet flavor dimension to the dish; it simply produces a final product with extra flavor and nutrition.

When food is flavorful it is consumed and bone broth is an ingredient with many healthy benefits. When someone comes down with cold or flu or even recovering from surgery or chemotherapy, plain true chicken broth or beef bone broth is often the only nourishment a body feels up to eating. Other foods can be difficult for an ailing body to break down and digest but real bone broth provides high nutrition in a form thats easy to swallow, soothing to the digestive system and more easily assimilated into the body.

My grandmother was known to say, You have to eat bone broth to have good teeth. I dont know where she got that idea from all those years ago but science is demonstrating there is some truth to what she spewed along with many other healthy side effects. A properly prepared broth is high in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorous and potassium to name a few, all of which help to build and rebuild our own bone density, support heart and digestive health, circulation and nervous systems. Nutrients like hyaluronic acid, glycosamine, collagen and gelatin, are also present in quantities that help support and regenerate joints adding strength to the cushion between our own bones. They have also been shown to form and rebuild other connective tissues that give rise to easier body movement, cell rejuvenation and maintaining skin elasticity along with helping to restore gut health. This may be the reason why a diet that includes real bone broth on a regular basis helps in the healing of leaky gut syndrome, colitis and Crohns disease. When our intestines are overly permeable from a diet that does more damage than good, all kinds of substances get into the blood stream that shouldnt be there. It only makes sense to me that this could cause reactions of many sorts allergies and other health issues. Restoring gut health aids in rebuilding and supporting immune function and anti-inflammatory response in the human body. Heal the real problem and many other things will take care of themselves. It may not be the whole solution but it certainly wouldnt hurt.

Making Bone Broth

Marrow and knucklebones make the best broth but any type of bone can be used including raw or previously cooked bones. Knucklebones add generous amounts of gelatin and collagen, marrowbones add flavor and nutrients, and rib bones add flavor and meat if still attached. Start with a basic bone broth from raw bones and as you start to understand the process, expand from there. Bone broth can be made without herbs and mirepoix but in most cases we are after flavor, the simple addition of onion, carrots, celery and herbs adds another dimension of flavor.

Beef Broth in an 8-liter Stockpot
(Use the same procedure for lamb or venison.)

3 to 5 pounds of various beef bones
4 to 6 liters waterenough to cover the bones well
cup apple cider or wine vinegar (sometimes I use herbal infused apple cider vinegar)
2-3 onions peeled and quartered
2-3 carrots peeled and cut into large chunks
3-4 celery stalks or half a celery root cut into large pieces
A few sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary or a teaspoon each of dried

Bring to a boil over high heat and with a slotted spoon skim the scum that comes to the surface. When there is less scum, add the vegetables and herbs, bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for a minimum of 12 hours. If the heat is too high and the volume of liquid becomes reduced too much before 12 to 24 hours is up, add more water to the pot bring to a rolling boil and reduce the heat to a lower temperature. It is best for dense bones to cook longer, if you dont feel confident about leaving the pot to simmer on low heat over night, turn the heat off just before slipping into bed, leave it right there on the burner, the nutrients will continue to leach into the liquid despite no fire. Upon rising, turn it back on first thing, bring to a rolling boil then reduce the heat to medium low to continue simmering. (Ive strained some of this broth into a mug and drunk it up as my first nourishment of the dayespecially when feeling a little under the weather)

When the broth is complete, remove the bones from the pot with tongs or a slotted spoon. Strain the remaining liquid through a fine mesh strainer into another pot or container with a lid; after it has cooled to room temperature, refrigerate. When completely cold, remove the congealed fat from the top of the broth (reserve for stir-fries or sauting vegetables for soups) and what is left is an amazing stock that will add oomph to any dish or make a fabulous soup. To keep for longer periods of time, portion out into smaller containers or preserving jars and freeze to use within 3 months or up to a week in the fridge if not using immediately.

Chicken Broth

1 whole chicken
4-6 liters water
cup vinegar
1 onion
2 carrots
3-5 celery stalks or half a celery root

Put all ingredients into an 8-liter stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. If scum rises to the top skim it off and discard. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for a minimum of 6-12 hours. Remove the chicken from the pot. Strain the stock through a fine mesh strainer into a second pot or large bowl and refrigerate. When cold, skim the solidified fat off if desired, portion and store the stock in covered containers in the fridge or freezer. The meat off the carcass is great to add back into a chicken soup, chicken fried rice, enchiladas, vegetable stir-fry or chicken sandwiches.

Uncooked turkey parts will make a similar stock

Other suggestions for making stock: After a meal of roast chicken, turkey or other poultry, reserve the bones and discards of cartilage, etc., place all in a pot, add water to cover about an inch over the volume of bones, add a couple tablespoons of vinegar, some herbs if desired and simmer 6-12 hours. Strain and refrigerate until ready to use. This doesnt produce the clear high quality stock of raw bones or chicken but it does have a full range of flavor as well as the benefit of nutrients. When bones from chicken have barely anything left to them, they get so soft they will crush down into a paste and make a very good dog food.

A similar stock can be made from a rack of ribs after a barbecue, either pork or beef. Bones that have been cooked for a short period of time, have plenty of food value and flavor left that we can still take advantage of. Bone broth from pork ribs is a wonderful addition to dried beans.

Once you have the idea, there isnt much left for the dog

Bobby Flay- Chicken Grilling Tips

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Bobby Flay- Chicken Grilling Tips

Grilling chicken is one of the best meals in the world which can be a healthy and tasty meal. So if you are looking for the right answer to cook your chicken perfectly you can look up to some experts to spice up your grilling. Chicken lovers know that good barbeque is much more than just spanking some meat on a grill. For preparing the grill and using right kind of methods to cook you can refer to grilling guru like Bobby Flay and there are many others to look up to which will help you to start cooking like a pro. You can also choose to read from various books of Bobby Flay where you can easily find various Bobby Flay Grilling Chicken techniques and recipes. Following are the tips that you can use for grilling chicken.

1. According to Bobby Flay grilling chicken method, wood chips should be used in your grill in addition to charcoal or gas. You can sprinkle them at the top coals or place them within a small smoker box in a gas or electric grill, and when they will create a smoke it will present a distinctive aroma and appealing taste to all of your grilled meats.

2. No matter what you use, whether its a charcoal, gas or electric grill wood chips will always add an authentic barbecue flavor. There are smoker boxes available that you can place in your gas or charcoal grill which will help you to attain that wood smoke flavor. However, you should always read the instructions before you try anything like this.

3. When you use wood chips, make sure they dont end up burning too much because too much smoke will spoil your food with an unpleasant taste. According to Bobby Flay Grilling Chicken advice, you should always soak your woodchips before you use them for around 15 minutes and then make them dry for another few minutes. So make sure your wood chips should be moist and not waterlogged.

4. In cases where you are using a smoker in your grill, it is not important to soak woodchips before using them. However, if you do it will help to burn them a little longer. However, if you're cooking a steak, you probably
don't want a long, slow grilling.

Using wood chips will certainly bring a new taste in your food and they are available in large range of varieties that cater to all tastes. When you do to buy these, you can take advice from your local vendor who will be able to give an opinion on pairing a wood chip with a particular meat. In cases where you find that your meat is lighter, you should go for a milder wood chip for the flavor. If you choose to try heavier flavors with lighter meals, using a few wood chips instead of a lot can do wonders to your flavor. To add more flavors you can try fruitwoods that includes apple, cherry, peach and plum, poultry and pork to add an interesting taste to grilled vegetables.

Best Panini RecipesGreat for your Parties

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Best Panini RecipesGreat for your Parties

The next time you have people over for dinner; try turning the food preparation into the party. Panini parties are one great way to let your guests be involved in making their own food.

Panini is the plural form of panino which means small bread roll or sandwich in Italian. It is a hot sandwich made from a panini grill. When you put the sandwich in the grill and press down, you cook the sandwich twice as fast and make attractive grill marks on both sides.

Best panini sandwich recipes use ingredients that can definitely be appetizing to everyone. There are cheeses, sliced meats, veggies and perhaps even fresh fruits. For parties, you can set aside variety of meats, cheeses, green veggies together with choice of breads. You can have thick slices of Italian or French breads, ciabatta style or rolls. Generally, there are no condiments on the best panini sandwich recipes. Instead, you can use a pastry brush to coat the bread with a high quality olive oil. Let your friends do the preparation of their own sandwiches according to their preferred tastes.

When your guests have been busy placing together their sandwiches, start heating the panini grill. Once it is heated, call your guests over and ask them to put their sandwiches inside. The heating time will depend on the size of the bread or rolls; usually it's about 3-6 minutes.

At parties like these, the fun part is the preparation and eating time. Do not thing about everyone sitting down to eat at the same time. Get your drinks and let everyone enjoy their sandwiches that they've prepared. They may even want seconds because they're having so much fun. The best panini sandwich recipes will save you from worrying about the menu for your party. Just have a recipe book or several loose recipes available for your guests to choose. Better yet, allow them to use their imaginations and get creative.

Panini can also be dessert sandwiches. They have recipes that will surely make you crave for more. You can purchase a panini recipe book or browse through web sites that have best panini sandwich recipes, they are very easy to make. You can get ideas from there and start to experiment on your own. This can be helpful in suggesting new variety to your guests when making their panini later on.

Panini grills are not limited to heating panini sandwiches. You can even use it to grill veggies, hamburgers and steaks. Try getting some of your favorite green veggies and place them on the grill with a little olive oil. Grill them for a few minutes and there you have it, nice grilled veggies that you will surely love.
So when you plan to invite your family over for dinner, gather them to make their own panini sandwiches. Everyone will surely have a great time with it. It's a great alternative to a formal dinner party or a fondue party!

Sabrina Rocca
Author: Easy Panini Recipes
Visit http://www.easypaninirecipes.com for free gifts and recipes. For more great panini recipes and tips, visit http://www.easypaninirecipes.com. Easy Panini Recipes contains over 50 easy to follow, step-by-step panini recipes that will make anyone look like a gourmet chef!

Bad Customer Service Example Set by Restaurant Manager

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Bad Customer Service Example Set by Restaurant Manager

Learning experiences are everywhere, and in customer service, you can learn from the bad experiences as well as the good. I had a bad experience the other night, while having dinner at a favorite restaurant.

Even if you are not in the restaurant business, dont stop reading bad service can strike anywhere. Just consider the lessons here and think about how they can apply to your own business.

As I mentioned, I was having dinner at a favorite restaurant and I ordered a favorite menu item, a pasta dish Ive had many times before. But I got a surprise when my meal arrived. The dish contained peas. Lots of peas. After that initial surprise, I rechecked the menu to see if the description of the dish had changed. Nope, no mention of peas. I pointed out the mistake to the server and she was more than willing to correct the problem. However, before she could remove the dish to the kitchen, the manager stepped in. He had a completely different attitude about the problem. No apology, he simply told me that one of the chefs likes add peas to the pasta dishes. He insisted that many people consider it a pleasant surprise.

Unfortunately, I hate peas. What may be a pleasant surprise to another customer was an unpleasant surprise for me. The manager just stared at me as I nicely told him this. The server was visibly uncomfortable, but she was stuck the manager had taken over and created a bad situation.
The manager asked if I would like to try another pasta dish. I said no, what I really would like was the dish I ordered, without the added peas. He finally gave in and removed the plate.

We can learn several lessons from this experience:

1. The server was doing her job well. The manager actually interfered with a process that was working properly.

2. Managers should set the example for those under their supervision. This one did not. Whereas the server had an enthusiastic attitude and projected care and concern for the customer, the manager didnt even apologize.

3. While the manager argued, the problem remained on the table literally. If possible, quickly remove the problem (in this case, the dish of pasta) from the customers sight. Then begin the recovery process.

4. Its okay to offer an explanation, but dont make excuses. You can often tell the difference by what accompanies them explanations come with an apology, but excuses are generally accompanied by defensiveness, or even aggression.

5. Listen to the customer. Although I made it clear I did not want peas in the pasta, the manager defended the chefs decision to add them as a pleasant surprise. For those not in the restaurant business, that could be called changing a process.

6. Always strive for consistency, because without it there is a lack of confidence. In the past I could order this pasta dish with confidence, but now I will have to make a special request that it not include peas. I may have to inquire whos cooking that day to ensure that my meal does not come with any surprises pleasant or otherwise added by a chef who takes liberties with a dish that I have loved for years. A dish, I might add, that I had confidently come back for again and again.

The restaurant where this happened is still a favorite, and I will be back. This isolated incident isnt enough to undo all the good experiences Ive had there. But, what if I were a new customer? With all the choices out there, would I choose this restaurant again if this bad incident was my only experience with the establishment? As my friend Tom Baldwin, former CEO of Mortons Steakhouse says, Great service is mistakes handled well. Thats great advice for any business.