I recently opened a Chase British Airways credit card to earn an unbelievable 100,000 frequent flyer miles. This action has put me on Chase's radar. Last week, I received a targeted offer for a $200 bonus to open a Chase checking account. To avoid penalties and fees, I need to keep a balance of $1,500 for 6 months, then I can close the account hassle-free. That equates to about a 27% interest rate as opposed to the 0.84% I typically earn on my Ally savings account. Sold. I was also offered an additional $150 to open a savings account, which I availed myself to as well. Unless I'm offered an incentive to continue banking with Chase, I'll likely close these accounts in 6 months, but I'll reassess the situation then. For now, I'm happy with just making $350 for an hour's work. Just another example of your (good) credit working for you.
Miles Update: 225,189 (+71,632 since July 7)
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
dineLA Restaurant Week!
Today kicks off dineLA Restaurant Week, where you have the opportunity to dine at some of Los Angeles's best eateries for $25, $35, or $45 (and even less for lunch). Being we live about an hour from Los Angeles, we'll be making a weekend of this. I used a mere 3000 Starpoints (for a $189 room!) to book us at the Four Points Los Angeles Westside, which is within the epicenter of this gastronomic mecca. During our two-day trip, we will be dining at Bouchon, Bizou Grill, and Lucques. While Bizou is one of our favorite restaurants (in no small part due to the $2 corkage), Thomas Keller's Bouchon and Suzanne Goin's Lucques will be new experiences. Based on the chefs' reputations and the rave reviews I've read, I don't think we'll be disappointed.
Usually I would use my Citi Forward card to pay for these meals because I receive 5x points on dining, but instead I'll be using my American Express because they are offering $5 statement credits for spending $21 at dineLA restaurants during Restaurant Week. You can read the full details and register for this promotion here.
In between meals, we plan to see The Dark Knight Rises, explore Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, and spend a few hours at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Apparently, this is the summer of weekend getaways. This is our fifth so far and we still have four more left. Vegas is on deck!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Le Chene Follow-up
Two days after sending my scathing missive to Le Chene, chef and owner Juan Alonso replied with this message:
"Hello Andrew
I have to apologize about the foie gras, our e-mail was a little too successful we did sold much more than anticipated some order were left Saturday for the people that reserve them.That was not in Amadeo control, for the potatoes we don’t normally serve them but on Sunday for brunch and diner not during the week except if we make them for an event.Yes Amadeo is young he has been working here for while first as a bus boy and as a waiter while he goes to college, perhaps when he is in a situation that he does not know how to control he clams up, again sorry for a disappointing evening and for not fulfilling your expectations, let me know if I could anything for you.
Thank you"
Taking into account my previous injurious statements, I'll refrain from submitting a syntactical critique of his response and instead focus on its content. While I am happy to receive an apology on many counts, I would prefer they not be appended with excuses. His response should be providing solutions, not justifications. I was also a bit mystified when I found no voucher or coupon affixed to his apology; however, his closing sentence did leave that possibility open, with a little goading from yours truly.
And, Lo and behold, today a $25 gift certificate arrived in the mail. I would have liked to see at least $50 from such an expensive restaurant, but Le Chene did redeem themselves with this tacit admission of guilt. I suppose I'll give them one more shot...
"Hello Andrew
I have to apologize about the foie gras, our e-mail was a little too successful we did sold much more than anticipated some order were left Saturday for the people that reserve them.That was not in Amadeo control, for the potatoes we don’t normally serve them but on Sunday for brunch and diner not during the week except if we make them for an event.Yes Amadeo is young he has been working here for while first as a bus boy and as a waiter while he goes to college, perhaps when he is in a situation that he does not know how to control he clams up, again sorry for a disappointing evening and for not fulfilling your expectations, let me know if I could anything for you.
Thank you"
Taking into account my previous injurious statements, I'll refrain from submitting a syntactical critique of his response and instead focus on its content. While I am happy to receive an apology on many counts, I would prefer they not be appended with excuses. His response should be providing solutions, not justifications. I was also a bit mystified when I found no voucher or coupon affixed to his apology; however, his closing sentence did leave that possibility open, with a little goading from yours truly.
And, Lo and behold, today a $25 gift certificate arrived in the mail. I would have liked to see at least $50 from such an expensive restaurant, but Le Chene did redeem themselves with this tacit admission of guilt. I suppose I'll give them one more shot...
Saturday, July 7, 2012
I'm actually paying to fly...this once
Yesterday's 8-hour Virgin America sale (celebrating their 5th year in a row as best domestic carrier) impelled me to actually pay for airfare for the first time in...well, who knows. The point is, I shelled out a whole $99 base fare for two round-trip tickets from Los Angeles to San Francisco. On a regular day, LAX to SFO is about $200/person round-trip on Virgin America. The sale brought that price down to $100/person, but then I used to my Elevate (their frequent flyer program) discount code and bam: $50/person! I then used my Virgin America credit card to pay for the aforementioned tickets, which will net me about 1000 frequent flyer miles (including the actual trip). I think I'm making money on this flight!
Not leaving for a few months, which will give me plenty of time to map out a hotel strategy.
Miles Update: 153,557 (+55,588 since June 13).
Not leaving for a few months, which will give me plenty of time to map out a hotel strategy.
Miles Update: 153,557 (+55,588 since June 13).
Monday, July 2, 2012
An Open Letter to Le Chene
I just dispatched one of my aforementioned "dreaded letters." The unfortunate recipient: Le Chene restaurant in Santa Clarita. In my hurry to voice my disapproval, I just quickly drafted a straightforward letter rather than authoring a whirlwind of penetrating prose.
"To Whom This May Concern:
My most recent visit to your establishment has been my second unpleasant experience in as many times. Firstly, we specifically dined at Le Chene because of your advertisement:
"Last 2 Days for Foie Gras before California Ban takes effect on July 1. To enjoy this wonderful French delicacy, please join us on either Friday, June 29 or Saturday, June 30, 2012. After that, we will no longer be able to have it on the menu! Make a Reservation!"
Now, despite being the very first guests on the day of June 30 (with 5:30 reservations), we were informed Le Chene no longer had foie gras -- how displeasing! We could have dined at one of the dozens of other restaurants in Los Angeles holding foie gras dinners that very evening. To compound the situation, our waiter, Amadeo, was less than apologetic and accommodating. When we attempted to order potatoes to go with our steaks, he also informed us Le Chene was out of that culinary staple as well. And, once again, his attitude bordered on disrespectful. We had the misfortune to have had him as our waiter on our last visit as well -- another special occasion -- and his service then was well below par if not unacceptable. We figured he was new since we'd never seen him before but excuses cannot be made for his service this time around.
As a consistent patron of Le Chene, I've come to expect better from a restaurant of your caliber and price point. These recent events have cast serious doubt upon your restaurant's once good name."
Their responce will determine if they are to continue receiving my lucrative business. On a related note, I don't like being force fed morality. If I want fatty duck liver, fatty duck liver I shall have.
"To Whom This May Concern:
My most recent visit to your establishment has been my second unpleasant experience in as many times. Firstly, we specifically dined at Le Chene because of your advertisement:
"Last 2 Days for Foie Gras before California Ban takes effect on July 1. To enjoy this wonderful French delicacy, please join us on either Friday, June 29 or Saturday, June 30, 2012. After that, we will no longer be able to have it on the menu! Make a Reservation!"
Now, despite being the very first guests on the day of June 30 (with 5:30 reservations), we were informed Le Chene no longer had foie gras -- how displeasing! We could have dined at one of the dozens of other restaurants in Los Angeles holding foie gras dinners that very evening. To compound the situation, our waiter, Amadeo, was less than apologetic and accommodating. When we attempted to order potatoes to go with our steaks, he also informed us Le Chene was out of that culinary staple as well. And, once again, his attitude bordered on disrespectful. We had the misfortune to have had him as our waiter on our last visit as well -- another special occasion -- and his service then was well below par if not unacceptable. We figured he was new since we'd never seen him before but excuses cannot be made for his service this time around.
As a consistent patron of Le Chene, I've come to expect better from a restaurant of your caliber and price point. These recent events have cast serious doubt upon your restaurant's once good name."
Their responce will determine if they are to continue receiving my lucrative business. On a related note, I don't like being force fed morality. If I want fatty duck liver, fatty duck liver I shall have.
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My first foie gras: Le Procope in Paris, France.
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