BETTER THAN ALIMONY? Just days after the celebrity website TMZ reported that Billy Joel was looking to buy his wife Katie Lee an Italian restaurant in Sag Harbor, the couple acknowledged that they were ending their five-year marriage on amicable terms. The Foodies were prepared to venture an educated guess that the Joels were looking at Grappa. But now, who knows? Perhaps a new restaurant is part of the divorce settlement. Katie Lee, 27, was the first host of Bravo's "Top Chef" TV show and is the author of a cookbook, The Comfort Table, published by Simon & Schuster.

PASS THE SALT: Don’t utter those words at Panama Hattie’s (872 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station 631-351-1727). At a banquet there recently, the guest of honor’s wife asked those at her table if anyone saw the salt, to please pass it. Not only was there no salt shaker to be found on the table, there wasn’t one at any of the 10 or so other tables. A waitress confirmed our diner’s worst fear – that there wasn’t a salt shaker in the house. The owner/chef feels his food is perfectly seasoned and needs nothing added at the table, she said, then headed into the kitchen to see what she could scare up. Bearing sea salt in a double espresso cup and a demitasse spoon, our waitress returned to a hero’s welcome.

REDUCE, REUSE, DRINK COFFEE: On a recent trip to Chestertown, Maryland, one of us Foodies stopped in a delightful coffee shop for a latte and a bagel. In this college town where environmental consciousness is akin to Godliness in Rome, even those environmentally friendly Java sleeves get recycled. Those cardboard bands that reduced national cardboard consumption by allowing Starbucks to stop double-cupping… there’s a bucket on the counter where customers can toss the sleeves for presumed reuse. If the health department doesn’t have rules about that sort of thing, we love to see it done here. And then we could talk about that stack of beverage holders in our office that seems to grow taller every day…

PIAZZA di PANINI: The newest eatery on Huntington’s bustling restaurant scene, La Bottega (9 Wall Street, Huntington 631-271-3540 www.labottegaofhuntington. com), recreates the feeling of Italy with al fresco dining. A handful of tables with big cloth umbrellas and a few potted palms have transformed the patio behind newly opened La Bottega into a little taste of Italy in Huntington village. They should call it Piazza di Panini!

NESTLES BRUNCH: Sally’s Cocofe (273 Main St., Huntington 631-546-7541) is now serving Sunday brunch, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning on Father’s Day, June 21. Check out the menu at www.sallyscocofe.com.

PRIX FIXE REUGE: If there’s a silver lining to be found in this mushroom cloud of an economy we’re in, it’s that there are dining deals to be had. Currently high on our must-try list, Chef Guy Reuge of Mirabelle Restaurant at the Three Village Inn (150 Main Street, Stony Brook 631-751-0555) has introduced a new three-course dinner prix fixe menu.  At $48/pp, it’s on the pricey side of prix fixe offerings on the island, but Chef Guy never disappoints. Trek to Stony Brook, see what he’s done with the place and make a day of it. And tell Chef the Foodies sent you.

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