Points for Buca.

Sweet and simple. I adored the fact cutlery was placed on the plate as opposed to on the table.

The perfect amenity.

I found this in my room at the Hotel Le Germain in Toronto. A perfect welcome for the Hygiene Hunter. If you are not fluent in French, Google Refermables.

Bare hands okay if ...

I watched The Cheeseman for three hours and he did not once touch anything he wasn't supposed to. Like his eyes, ears, nose or nether region. Those are places others unfortunately do venture -- even with food prep gloves on. Kudos to The Cheeseman and his co-workers at Buca. If I witness an infraction at a restaurant I ask for the food to be remade. Obviously this only works with an open concept design.

Pizza Scissors.

Not to be confused with nose hair scissors.

How I fight the flu.

Instead of opting for a flu shot, I increase my Kale Shake intake by one, continue to avoid unprotected interaction with doorknobs and hold my breath for two months.

What a relief!

My freeze-dried raven IS allowed to dine with me.

Antipasti at Buca.

As long as it doesn't touch my glass, I can most certainly appreciate the view.

... but not necessary.

Seriously, do we need more people talking on their mobile phones? In washroom stalls? Think of the germ trail. And the sound effects.

Call me old-fashioned ...

Duck? Duck? Goose?

I am not a good Canadian. Yes, I know the men's hockey team won Olympic Gold on Sunday. Yes, I know the words to our national anthem. Yes, I know Céline Dion is desperately trying to have another baby. But I did not know immediately that these were Canadian Geese. Actually, I still do not know what they really are. I know they are not canaries. An ornithologist I am not. These birds meanwhile knew exactly who I was. When I stopped to admire them on the shore of Lake Ontario they immediately started cleaning themselves. And nothing impresses the Hygiene Hunter more.