An hour ago, I ate a tablespoon of peanut butter on a rice cake. So healthy and responsible, I thought. Part of my Weight Watchers strategy. I hadn't checked to see if my brand was on the FDA's death-by-peanut list. But the concept of food-as-dangerous has now become part of my everyday consciousness.   

Named after George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life,' G. Bailey's is a new venture by the company that operates the Golden Lamb in Lebanon and carries the tagline "It's a Wonderful Place." If you're looking for a cheap place in your neighborhood that has good, fresh food and lets you take a trip back in time with the music and some of the food choices, check it out.   

As you might have already heard, Jean-Robert at Pigall's will be closing on Feb. 28. So if you really want to impress your date on Valentine's Day take her (or him) to Pigall's for one last fling; after all, Cincinnati might never get another four-star restaurant again. Enjoy it while it lasts. Also recommended: Primavista, The Summit, The Cincinnatian and 20th Century Theatre.  

Post-inauguration, inundated by videos of my favorite president dancing with his wife and smitten as a 16-year-old pouring over 'Bride' magazine, I try to write this month's column with only one thing on my mind: Not what will he do, but what will he eat?  

If there's a heaven for hairdressers, fashionistas, people on first dates and older women from Miami recovering from cosmetic surgery, Bootsy's Produced by Jeff Ruby would be it.  

According to The Food Channel, the second-largest dining trend this year will be virtual food communities, which explains why I got an invitation to a virtual cookie swap this season. Has it come to this? I fear that soon food will exist solely in our imaginations.  

Bailouts, cash infusions and unemployment lines. These are scary words for scary times, and scary times call for … comfort food. We’ve just been through a season of belt-tightening and the new year looks like we might need to take it in another notch, but I had an epiphany over a plate of potato gnocchi and veal and ricotta meatballs.  

We all have them, even if they’re left unstated. Even if we’ve refused to come up with any this year, they lurk in our subconscious, coming out in mysterious ways like guilt for blowing $50 at your favorite restaurant or for eating a bar of Chocolove for breakfast (welcome to my world).  

With its window display of brightly colored plastic entrées, a la Japan, iZen puts the play back into food. That's not to say they don't offer up serious cuisine. They do; they just deliver it playfully. Like the Cheese Burger Omurice ($8.95), an all-American burger paired with a Japanese fried-rice omelet, or Cheese Fried Rice.  

While Hyde Park Tavern underwent new ownership last year and has a new fall menu with several wonderful gourmet options (including a great wine list), it's still very much a pub. There are the loud TVs, the loud talkers and the visceral, sports-inspired.