Do You Like To Fine Dine?

I'm a casual girl.  I love my pizza, hotdog, nachos, wings and beer just as much as the next person.  Plus, I don't even need a football game or sporting event to consider the meal extra-special. 


I am also known to frequent McDonald's for coffee or Taco Bell for three crunchy beef tacos.  I cook at home nearly every night of the week.  Eating out is a pleasure, certainly not a necessity, in our household.  Kirk and I usually only eat out once every seven days.  We go to a place that accepts coupons too. 


But... there is something to be said for fine dining.  Even if that fancy meal occurs only once a year for a special occasion.  Although when that meal check arrives, you have to blink twice over the hefty price.  So if you're like us, you work a little overtime or set aside for that kind of enjoyment - an establishment where a coat, tie and shoes are required.


Kirk and I saved our nickles and visited such a place on our recent anniversary getaway.  We had the pleasure of indulging in a three-course meal with a wine pairing of each dish.  The entire experience took two hours.  And let me tell you, it was an "experience" that both of us are still dreaming about.


For starters we had our before dinner drinks - Me with my usual Long Island Iced Tea and Kirk with his Johhny Walker Black scotch.  Our gracious waiter let us sample a Parmesan Risotto mini-appetizer before bringing out the Caesar salad for two.  This salad was made fresh at our table complete with oils, peppers and anchovy paste.   We also tasted a freshly baked bread trio -- pumpernickle, wheat and white baked together with a parmesan-tomato dipping sauce.  Can you say yum!? The Sauvignon Blanc wine that accomapied our salad was delcious and cleansing to our palettes.


The rain poured down outside and we enjoyed a grand view of the grey skies and clouds from our glass window seat in the restaurant.  While we sat, a piano player moved his fingers like a sculptor chipping away at his masterpiece -- one glorious song after another.  Kirk and I each tried to 'name that tune' as he magically went on for two hours straight, no pause and no signs of fatigue.


Our main entrees arrived much to our delight since the aroma preceded it by several minutes.  Kirk loved his Lobster Ravioli while I bit into heavenly slices of my Sea Scallops Wrapped in Prosciutto.  Both of us admired our beautiful plates and took our time savoring each bite because it tasted OH....SO....GOOD.  A glass of Pinot Grigio helped us wash down the delectable main course. 


(Please note that we opted to try something unique and different from the menu.  The restaurant also had steak and chicken dishes which I can imagine might be the most mouth-watering slices of meat you'd ever have.) 


Then came the dessert -- the most scrumptious dessert ever made.  I ordered the Triple Chocolate Threat, but of course.  This trio included a chocolate banana bread pudding, a chocolate-coffee flavored truffle and another type of cocoa delicacy that I can't begin to describe.  I nearly licked the bowl clean like a hungry dog.  Kirk ordered a trio of citrus desserts which included a pineapple creme brulee and a fruit filled mousse (that tasted like Jell-O).  I can't remember the other delectable he had since I was so preoccupied with my own triple threat.  I wish I could recall the wines that were paired with our desserts because they were, by far, the ones we adored most of all. 


Now the fine dining atmosphere can be intimidating, even for me.  I suddenly become Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman, not remembering what fork goes with what meal.  "Is that the salad fork?"  The daunting tasks of not leaning over my meal and placing my silverware at eleven o'clock to indicate that I am finished hang over my head.  Yet the anxiety is worth the end result - a quality meal of epic goodness.

Not everyone around us was dressed as nicely as you'd expect either.  In fact I noticed one father and son both wearing shorts.  Even though it seemed odd to me, I commend the father for sharing the fine dining experience with his son who looked about age 12.   Perhaps the boy wanted to be eating chicken nuggets instead even though he seemed content.  We also spotted a quiet, elderly couple who hardly seemed to say a word to their waiter or to each other throughout their three-course meal.  Perhaps when you've been around that long, talking just isn't necessary. 


Kirk and I marveled at our food and surroundings.  We spoke kindly to our waiter, Mike, asking him questions on the differences of growing up in Maine (his hometown) versus raising his family of five children in the gulf south area.  Kirk and I reminisced about our past -- bringing up a few things about our courtship and how we have gone from dating to eight years of marriage.  Therefore not only did we have wonderful food but also stimulating conversation (without our two year old diva daughter around).


With all that food, you'd think we'd be so stuffed that we could not walk.  However that was not the case.  In fact, when the meal was over and we tipped our waiter and piano player, Kirk and I found the nearest bar and indulged in after-dinner drinks.  He had his favorite - Crown Royal with 7-Up and I sipped on a Toasted Almond which was a cross between a White Russian and a Mudslide mixed drink.  When you eat that amount of food over a two hour time frame, your body can digest it more easily.  You leave feeling satisfied, not like a pig in a blanket. 
  
I wish everyone could experience fine dining at least once.  It truly is an art form -- the food, the atmosphere, the presentation, the pampering and the taste.   I've only been introduced into fine dinning within the last decade and mostly thanks to my husband.

The funny thing is that as a child, I thought Red Lobster was fine dining. Hahaha!  During my teenage birthday years, my parents would ask me where I wanted to eat and I'd say, "Red Lobster" which was a two hour drive to Baton Rouge, from our home.  So off my parents would take me (because they're awesome like that) for an overpriced, probably-not fresh seafood plate of shrimp and fish. Instead we could have EASILY found a local Boudreaux and Thibodaux type place located just ten miles down the road from us.  Oh well, I wanted the experience of dining!  And that was fine dining to me at that young age.  As as kid, I suppose Red Lobster was my Chef Bobby Flay or Emeril Lagasse's restaurant!


As Vivian grows up, I hope that we can ask her where she wants to dine and take her to some fine establishments if she so chooses them.  I can't wait to see her face and hear her comments when she eats a truly superb meal. 


Food is such a wonderful thing and I'm learning to appreciate it more and more.  Both the grilled hotdogs with potato chips and the sea scallops over creamed spinach with rice. 

What is the best meal you've ever had?  Name a fine dining restaurant that you've visited and loved OR one that you hope to visit oneday in the future!