I have to make an effort while the experience is fresh to jump in and SAY-- "THANK YOU BOB!" for the dininng tip in St Louis. Looking for a affordable adn enjoyable source of nouriashment post symposium Bob C was quick to advise me ( and opthers) to check out the St. Louis Airport Diner. After a very LONG weekend full of lectures , set up, take down and educational information - I strolled over to get some sustanence before my returning plane trip to NH. We were advised that the Airport Diner a short walk for the hotel was a good place to eat. Lo and behold we found a pleasing location to recline in padded booths for a meal. Chink, tink, tink ... a sound that will stay embedded in my mind for a time to come. Chink, tink tink, I settled into our booth with a compliment of ferret folks after the long event-- craving a home cooked hot meal. Chink, tinmk, tink. I gazed the menu and decided this night would be a great time to eat a wholesome meal and attempt to restore the fuel I expended with long days this week. Grilled Beef liver & onions - sure to boot the red cells was my choice to be followed by some rest and comfort. THANKS BOB - no greasy items to clog the arteries-- my red blood cells will be refreshed! As we awaited the meals we had time to relax adn reflect- we chatted with friends we may not see for a long time other than through our mutual FML list. Drinks arrived and we chatted on. How awesome to finally have comfort, companionship, reflections adn a hot home cooked meal . We are certainly blessed for the expertise of our friend Bob in guiding us to this last meeting place in preparation for our trips to distant locations. The meals arrive - one at a time. Chink, tink, tink. Sometimes the meals separated by as much as a 20 minute wait, arrive at the table -- and we think so what?? -- afterall a little delay gives us greater time for fellowship. One by one the meals arrive - the Philly cheese steak on my right - resembling a fimo delight! Finally arrives my grilled beef liver & onions a topping of gravy piled high on top. Hmm piled high on top? I thought gravy would run? Oh well it looks pretty darned good as does the baked potatoe as compliment and a genrous serving of sour cream. Chink, tink tink. I cut into the slice of grilled beef liver-- and with my fork lift it to my salivating mouth - anticipating the enjoyment of this healthy meal which will invigorate. Once I savor the first piece-- sigh... it lacks the warmth of the hot meal... it looks cooked... ah well, I ask the waitress as she delivers another meal-- "please , will you ask the cook to warm this up? and Thank you. " ( Hey Bob?) Okay,more friends receive their meals and 22 minutes later my meal returns from the kitchen. I prepare to savor this meal again, cutting a large piece of liver with gravy atop- raising the fork to my lips I pop the food in and chew.... Not hot-- no and whats more A sharp edge causes me to choke - it seems a spot of this meat is charred . I flip the meat over , not believing this could be anything else but a small spot that was over heated, and to my dismay -- chink , tink, tink is the sound of my fork tapping the grilled liver - which is now no more than a cindered slab. Chink, tink, tink as my dining partners roar with laughter..... and in the end when the waitress returned her remark to my exclamation of dismay at my evening meal is ... "I don't like that anyway." ????? This is St Louis customer service? Huh BoB? I was not the only person tonight that went without a hot home cooked meal, it seems others in the group were also somewhat dismayed--- alas our waitress felt we should be more than happy to pay the check-- and as I took the pile of bills and wadded them up in my fist to allow her ample time to think about how she did not service her paying public well--- the waitress returned with a plate of dinner rolls. "Here are your dinner rolls", she remarked at the close of our 90 minute adventure in eating. I did reply they perhaps would have been appreciated at the beginning of the meal -- and she then informed us she had waited herself a good 30 minutes to get the from the cook. Aye -- Bob is this the best meal the heart of St Louis has to offer? If so, I commisserate with you! While my disappointment was for nary a meal - - you poor fellow must delight more in the mice your coveted fur children consume! Though we , and I certainly appreciate your kind direction - you can bet the NEXT TIME I will consult another source for guidance on the evening meal. It was GREAT seeeing you agian -- your compromised taste in dining is not a direct reflection on you it surely must be a result of excess humidity of the St Louis swamp environment, but- and I surely do now hope the recently trimmed beard you sported on Sunday was not amongst the salad bar fixins at the St Louis Airport Diner! Fondly in ferrets, Alicia drakiotes [Posted in FML issue 4865]