Even in the world of serious food, where dainty portions are de rigueur, the chef David Ruggerio always projected an air of abbondanza, the generous spirit of hospitality so ingrained in the Italian-American culture of his native Brooklyn.

Carrie wailed as she stared down at her pretty plate with such dainty' portions placed neatly in a circle.

This despite the fact that they were literally worshipped and adored at the temple, and had their pick of the daintiest portions of the kills and sacrifices that went to feed the dragons.

A delicious smokiness permeated the flesh of chicken grand-mere, the generous pieces served, as were some other entrees, with wild mushrooms and dainty portions of haricot verts, baby carrots, red cabbage and a timbale of wild rice.

Besides, he was very small, and of the daintiest portions you can imagine in a donkey.

(In silence put aside the most dainty portions of the still unroasted animal.)

My favorite entree was a duo of New York strip steak with a classic bordelaise and a dainty portion of braised short rib.

But even as humans are serving dainty portions of Armillaria with Scandinavian crackers and cool chablis, the fungus sends out a few more rizomorphs - tentacles - in search of wood.

The owner, Milan Franko, guards against overindulgence by serving the food, cooked by his wife, Miloslava, in dainty portions.

Menolly ate hungrily and quickly until she realized that the girls were all taking half-spoonsful and breaking their bread and cheese into dainty bite-sized portions.