And in today's news shockers

"TV Chef Rachael Ray: I Don't Diet"

It's no secret, of course, that the fat, little hobbit has porked up like a pig ready to go to the butcher's since she first appeared on the Food Network. Ray's remark reminds me of a line from Seinfeld.

Fat, naked guy on the subway: "I'm not embarrassed about my body."

Jerry: "That's the problem. You should be."

The article also mentions her upcoming hour-long talk show. God. Please, please just go away. I like Emeril, but I never watched his stupid, gay, lame-ass sitcom. And I used to like Rachael Ray--before her shows started airing on the Food Network for 14 hours a day, and then her idiotic magazine came out, and now this. Seriously, all you celebrity chefs, just stay in the f*cking kitchen.

Review: Mill River Inn

My meal there predates the blog, slightly. For some reason, I never got around to reviewing this place earlier. So, just a few thoughts.

Don't go on a Friday! The dining room is tiny. We had reservations for 8:00. I think we finally got seated around 9:30. And by then they were out of the lobster appetizer my wife wanted. She had to settle on a nondescript salad. My appetizer was two fairly large slices of foie gras--really a huge portion. But it was cold. And, no, it wasn't supposed to be.

My entree was duck--breast and confit of the leg/thigh. The breast was good, but it was served over mashed potatoes. Who cares? The confit was marvelous, however. Really, meltingly tender. The best I've ever had.

My wife's entree was a steak, topped with a dollop of goat cheese. She loved the goat cheese but wasn't too impressed with the steak. (I rarely order steak, personally, because I can always do it better at home.)

For some reason I forget what our desserts were. They were obviously not memorable.

For several years in a row The Mill River Inn was #1 in Zagat's for food. I don't know who's doing the voting, but, folks, it ain't the best food on Long Island. The food is good, solid. But it doesn't have the flare and complexity of flavors as the better LI restaurants.

I will say that one of the restaurant's attractive qualities (to me) is no valet service. The worst offender is Mirabelle, where the valet walks 5 feet to your car. And you're supposed to tip the guy? Give me a break.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.