The reason for this article's title was my observance of fellow diners at Leunig's last week. It was a heavy couples crowd of all ages.

We arrived early Friday evening at The Bearded Frog for a birthday dinner: Matt's, not mine. We had our pick of tables on the porch, under the thoughtfully placed awning that kept the sun's rays at bay and allowed for a refreshing breeze.

Sitting on the veranda of the Inn at Shelburne Farms, overlooking the rolling lawns and shoreline of the lake is in itself something of a magical experience. Couple that with the anticipation of having dinner served in that setting and the effect is wondrously compounded. That feeling was shared among my dining companions the other evening.

The only time I could be assured of being able to sit down and chat with Mike Poirer, the general manager of Marco's Pizza, was before the restaurant's dinner rush. And so, at 4 p.m. last Wednesday, I did just that.

Call it insider information. Last week I was thrilled to be privy to a sneak peek at chef/owner David Hoene's spring-inspired offerings before they were printed on the menu at Pauline's Café. Although by the time you read this, these plates will be available for you to savor too, if not as a standard offering, then as a special for the day.

An unusual set of circumstances found me at the Kitchen Table Bistro in Richmond very early last Friday night. My original reservation was for later that evening, but Sarah McGarghan, the woman whose photos grace my reviews, had scheduled her photo shoot at 5 p.m. to avoid the dinner rush, and asked if I wanted to join her. That proved to be a great idea on a few different fronts.

I remember going out to dinner as a youngster with my parents when, more than once, my father would chide me for ordering the "wrong thing." This could be translated to mean, "This is a steak restaurant; why are you ordering the lamb?" I felt a little twinge of similar guilt Thursday night at the Windjammer when we were faced with a menu made famous for choice steaks and seafood, and I ordered the pork tenderloin. You would do well to follow my lead, but more on that in a moment.

Growing up in New York, we were fortunate to have good pizza and an Italian restaurant in every neighborhood. The food was consistently delicious, everyone knew everyone else, and the owner walked from table to table to make sure all the customers were happy. Many years later, I am in bucolic Vermont, far away from the city. Once again, there is a great neighborhood spot, where I know many people, and the owner is friendly and familiar with all of us. And surprisingly, the food (and pizza) is just as good.

Calling it a soft opening, owner Cris Peck put out a sign on Falls Road in late January announcing the arrival of Shelburne's newest eatery. Over the last two weeks, word has spread and the Shelburne community has started walking through its doors to welcome The Shelburne Kitchen to Town.

Last week students at Vermont Commons School (VCS) in South Burlington celebrated the end of exams and the start of the second semester by participating in the Winter Encounter Week program. These students spent their Encounter Week in the kitchen, learning from local chefs who have a passion - and a talent for cooking with local foods. The cooking class featured a visit from Eric Warnstedt, executive chef and owner of Hen of the Wood restaurant in Waterbury. "I'm so excited that VCS students had a chance to work with Eric," said Jordan Romm, director of development at VCS and organizer of the cooking class.