Image Grenade

Times may be tough economically, but for a lot of us, pinching pennies has become an issue of researching the best deals before we spend money as opposed to living a Spartan existence and not spending a dime.

Let’s face it, birthdays and celebrations still happen and occasionally you’ll still want to go out for a good meal, but you may not want to walk away from the table with $200 less in your wallet. I mean if you’ve spent a bundle on concert tickets and want to enjoy a dinner out, should you need to take out a personal loan to do it?

The  answer is a resounding no if you dine at the JNA Institute of Culinary Arts

This restaurant is the training ground for the culinary school so you’ll have the chance to sup on four star cuisine without the three star Michelin rated prices.

 A 3 course dinner is served fresh daily, Tuesday –Friday: $25 price fixe. For those of you who do not dine without wine, the restaurant also offers a wine list, or you can BYOB. The menu also changes quarterly, so you frequent the eatery, you can enjoy new options when the season changes.

I was invited to dinner there last evening, my husband is an alumnus, and now I’m their biggest fan. From gorgeously glossy homemade rolls with aromatic sage butter, to the poetic tilapia in a lemon caper sauce, to the slices of homemade mozzarella that graced the cheese plate; the entire meal was as good as anything I’d ever eaten at the erstwhile Brasserie Perrier.

I was incredibly impressed, but just assumed this feast had been created for our small group. When I learned that this gustatory celebration only available to me, but to anyone willing to walk in or make a reservation, I had to spread the word. So whether you’re celebrating, or simply can’t suss out an answer to that age old question “Honey, what’s for dinner?” try JNA Institute of Culinary Arts.

Can’t do dinner? LET’S DO LUNCH!!– Friday from 10:45 until 2pm. I have a personal day at the end of the month and I know where I’m going for a mid day nosh! YUM!!

JNA Institute of Culinary Arts

1212 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19146

Lunch Tuesday – Friday 10:45 -2 pm

Dinner Tuesday-Friday 4:30-8:00 pm

(215) 468-8800

No, I don’t mean a bovine of cloven hoof, I mean Jade Goody.To be honest, I’m not a fan. She became a celebrity only because she was the rudest and most vociferous non-celeb that ever entered the Big Brother (UK) house.  Upon her return to Celebrity Big Brother, she posed ignorant queries to Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty’s living accommodations, wondering aloud if she lived in a mud hut and referring to her as Shilpa Pappadom. When accusations of racism were levied, she apologized but based on her upbringing. I doubted if she had any idea why she was apologizing in the first place. Although of mixed race herself, her parents weren’t role models. Her father was a criminal and her mother was an addict whom Jade was caring for from the age of nine. She was crass and angry and was publicly pilloried and vilified on a daily basis. Despite her vulgarity and because of her controversy,  he managed to become one thing; marketable. She managed to sell two fitness DVDs, become a regular on a slew of reality television shows, hawk a cookery book, launch a fragrance and make it on Heat’s list of the 25 most influential people in the world. Britain had a love/hate relationship with her and generally couldn’t get enough of her. And then she was diagnosed with cancer. And suddenly as she began her battle with cervical cancer, a  struggle that has been as public as everything else she’s done since she burst on the scene, the very people who wanted to see her and hear whatever vile comment rolled out of her gob, the country seems to want her to sit down shut up and go away.   I really don’t want to be in the position of rushing to her defense, but I do think she’s being treated rather shabbily. If there wasn’t an audience for it, Jade would not have become working class lass cum pop culture icon. Is she right for exposing her life and the disease, that may very well be killing her, to an audience?  I can’t say, but I know she’s doing it to ensure financial security for her two sons. So while there are many who very publicly in columns, or seemingly more privately make snide comments on Twitter, I’m not going there. It’s not fair and it’s not good form. I don’t think anyone at 27 should have to expend all of their energy on establishing trusts and wills to ensure their children’s future. She may be a sarky cow, but when it comes to further castigation, she’s a sacred cow. 

Technology is a fabulous thing but sometimes, as we get older, we become afraid to embrace it. Failure to do so, especially in the digital age, can be incredibly deleterious so when blogs, and social networking sites became available, I was quick to get on board.

Now I’ve discovered this silly and incredibly addictive network, Twitter.

Now my lonely phone has plenty of messages and I feel slightly more loved, at least by a handful cool and cutting edge members.

For a better explanation, including a video describing Twitter and it’s features, visit: www.twitter.com