Leah, Dick and I start with a fine meal at Rio's D'Sudamerica in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood -- and then progress into conversations about why fresh pineapple screws up Jell-O, the amazing fact (at least to me) that all canned food has actually been cooked, and a brief discussion of why I don't eat rabbit. (It has to do with when I was a kid and our standard-size French poodle, Suzette Francesca da Rimini, got ahold of Carrot, my pet rabbit, and you can guess the rest.)

Speaking of canned food, ever since I was little, I've known that "No. 303" is a common can size. I probably remembered this because growing up in Colorado, that number was our area code, too.

Besides, I like the idea of a recipe calling for a No. 303 can of peas instead of for 2 cups -- or, God forbid -- 480 milliliters. It just feels more comfortable, sort of like those trusty old Wratten filter numbers.

Leah's review of Rio's D'Sudamerica.

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