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Date Night Gone Right—While Breaking All the Faux Paws Dating Rules!

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I did it people! I went ahead and broke my own rules, to some extent, with regards to online dating, over this past week! I have written a few prior posts regarding dating hints and tips, and rules of the thumb that should always be followed. I am pleased to inform you that I completely adhered to my “Three Easy Online Dating Tips I’ve Learned” article; which you can click the link that I have provided above to see what that post comprised.

In that article I exemplified several ways to be successful with online dating, such as the following: Use Recent Photos on Your Profile, Write a Concise & Clear Bio About Yourself & Don’t Get Discouraged by Those Who Don’t Respond. But…the story ever so thickens because I wrote another article following that which was entitled, “Four Dating Don’ts You Should Never Do!” (Click the link to see this article on online dating.) But yet, somehow, even by breaking a rule or two, it was just a magnificent date, my friends!

So manning up to the rules I broke, here we go! I stated as rule number one to, “Never talk about your ex. I cannot emphasize this enough. This is such a bad thing to do. One, you are on a date to meet them and learn more about them, not rehash negative and bad experiences you have had with love. That is a major turn-off and a big time no-no!” But the gal I met was lovely, smart, sassy and successful—and she started off the whole ex conversation. I tried to veer away from it by changing the subject, but we ended up sharing a laugh or two, finding some very special common ground, and really getting to learn more about each other. In hindsight, you should try to veer away from this, but then again, I did it and it worked this time around!

Mind you, it usually has disastrous results, however!

Rules number three and four in that article were easily followed, and worked like a charm. Those rules being, “Three” Chivalry is not dead. Guys, I know that it is not the 50s anymore, but have some class. Open the doors, get the drinks, and be attentive and focused on the girl. Always offer to pay the full bill, even if they argue otherwise. Girls have it easier than we men when on dates, that’s for sure. But playing your cards right is always smart. Four: Open your ears, not your mouth, and mind your manners. Most commonly I hear the women I know fret over men never listening to them. So this one is a no-brainer: Listen up. Then talk. Also, be mindful of your manners and the way that you present yourself; don’t talk with a mouth full of food or ask your date if they want to go heads-to-toe with a burping contest!”

So while I did break a rule here and there—and rules are generally made to be broken once in a while—I have to admit that it was the best damned date I have ever had! We are meeting up again this weekend to hang out and have some fun, too!

In summation: Go for it!

Just make sure you try and adhere to some of the rules of dating and online dating, because in my experience, it has always served me well,

I just got super lucky this time around!

The Bad and Good of the Chain Restaurant

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There are a lot of good things to say about dining out in a chain restaurant, and there are a lot of dreadful things as well.  Let’s start with the good.  Let me think…oh yeah-average, lackluster food and automaton service.  Now don’t get me wrong, the service is great in some of the chains, but it is usually because the server is brand new with a personality that hasn’t been tarnished by the banality of the job, is passing through to better things, or a company drone with a 401(k) that is just biding their time until they are fully vested in the company and can one day reprieve themselves from serving the same dull food day after day after day, like a beat cop waiting for the day his pension kicks in.

And then there is the food.  You can’t blame the cooks and chefs for the dreary fare that is taken from box to plate and prepared with all the imagination of a factory worker on valium.  They bake, broil and grill whatever the corporate goons sitting behind desks 300 miles away decide.  And it is usually a trend or three behind the culinary curve.  If anyone remembers the great pesto obsession of the early 90’s then you know what I am talking about because it is probably on some chain restaurant’s menu right now..  They don’t create food trends they just copy them, and the chef should not be blamed for that.  Most chain restaurants are a great training ground for those just starting out in the culinary field, a boot camp for those out of culinary school who believe they will be an executive chef in Switzerland with a six figure income at a 5 star hotel when they graduate.  I know quite a few that ended up at Applebee’s or Denny’s to learn how the real world works because it wasn’t explained to them in school that there are long hours and you might just get your chef coat dirty while waiting for a phone call from the Food Network.

 

I recently moved to an area in Minnesota that has one of the largest malls in the metro area, and there are chain restaurants far and wide.  My wife and I have eaten in our share of them, because it is difficult to find a unique restaurant or bistro, and convenience is always a huge factor.  But we are bored and almost in tears to find a place that will excite us and make a distinct impression.  After eating breakfast at a place that must have had a job fair at the local trailer park, we both said “enough” and are on a quest to find decent digs at which to eat.  Hence I am writing this story to exorcise the demons.

 

Give me a chef driven restaurant that uses local produce and out-of-the-box ideas in the kitchen, with servers that labor for their tips out of love for the industry and the food.  Give me a ponytailed chef with tattoos and a lip ring that has figured out a new way to prepare calamari or a tapenade, and can make caramelized onions and a béchamel sauce without looking in the standardized corporate cookbook.  Give me a chef that has worked 12 days in a row, but still comes in to work because this is where they belong.  Give me a server that loves their customers and can do their job well without the benefit of the company manuals to show them how.  All of us would benefit greatly.  Especially the culinary field.

 

 

 

 

Pleasing a Vegan in a Restaurant

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The grill is full of chops, steaks and hamburger patties and the waitress comes back into the kitchen and tells you there is someone out in the dining room that doesn’t eat meat and would like to know what you can make for them.

Here are some questions the chef should ask:
-Are they lacto ovo vegetarian? Lacto ovo vegetarians exclude meat fish and poultry, but include dairy products and eggs, which means they eat eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt and foods made with these ingredients.
– Lacto vegetarians? This is the same as above but they also exclude eggs and all foods made with eggs, but still can eat cheese and dairy.
– Vegan? These people avoid eating and using all animal products and their by-products.
-Pollo vegetarian? They avoid red meat and fish but eat chicken.
-Pesco pollo? Avoids red meat but eats chicken and fish.
-Some other examples include fruitarian (fruits and nuts) and a raw food diet is an adaptation of vegetarianism; eating only raw uncooked foods.
So once you are knowledgeable of the needs of your customer, you should be able to prepare a delicious and nutritious meal, as most restaurant s are well supplied with an abundance of alternative foods that will suit any classification of the above.
Some examples would be a fruit and cheese platter, vegetable Kabob, most salads, chicken breast with grilled vegetables, or fish and barley risotto. You being the chef should talk to the customer if you have the time, to be sure you are doing it exactly right and they will certainly appreciate your concern and extra effort.
Depending on the skill and experience of the chef, and the time factor, you will be able to have a happy customer leave full and satisfied, with the promise of coming back again.

Four Dating Don’ts You Should Never Do!

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Being a single fellow over here, following a very lengthy relationship that spanned just over the edge of twelve years and that had some ups and downs, but was for the most part grand, I find myself on the dating scene again. Oddly enough, this has been a learning lesson for me as I go on date after date with stranger after stranger. I have heard about—and have been subject to—some dates from hell. This led me to be intrigued to look up some classic don’ts that you should always stray far, far away from when on any date. For me, I commonly see these ‘don’ts’ exhibited on many dates that I go on, and am immediately turned off by them.

So for any of you likeminded daters who are out there who are looking for love, perhaps these candid tips will help you avoid the conundrum of being caught in that proverbial dating twist. You know, where you say and do things that you later regret that make or break that date. Usually, I see it from the other side. But rest assured, I myself am guilty of these as well. But I am getting more refined with each passing day; or so I fondly tell myself to stroke my own ego. Without ado, avoid these four don’ts when on a date, and at all costs!

  1. Never talk about your ex. I cannot emphasize this enough. This is such a bad thing to do. One, you are on a date to meet them and learn more about them, not rehash negative and bad experiences you have had with love. That is a major turn-off and a big time no-no!
  2. Avoid discussing politics or religion. There is this old time rule about being at a bar: You never talk about either of these subjects because they open the doors to much debate. In par with that notion is when you are on a date. Rather, focus on the person, their likes and dislikes, and who they really are. The other stuff can come later, if you enter into a relationship with them.
  3. Chivalry is not dead. Guys, I know that it is not the 50s anymore, but have some class. Open the doors, get the drinks, and be attentive and focused on the girl. Always offer to pay the full bill, even if they argue otherwise. Girls have it easier than we men when on dates, that’s for sure. But playing your cards right is always smart.
  4. Open your ears, not your mouth, and mind your manners. Most commonly I hear the women I know fret over men never listening to them. So this one is a no-brainer: Listen up. Then talk. Also, be mindful of your manners and the way that you present yourself; don’t talk with a mouth full of food or ask your date if they want to go heads-to-toe with a burping contest!

A Night at Billy’s Burger Barn

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Recently my wife and I stopped into one of our favorite restaurants (let’s call it Billy’s Burger Barn for now) to enjoy a comforting meal and perhaps a cocktail or two after a rough Monday at the office. As we drove into the parking lot our first thought was “Uh Oh, they look busy tonight” but agreed that we should stay because it was getting to be dinner time and no matter where we went it would probably be as hectic and busy as this.
Not one to like to wait in line, and having been in this environment as a restaurant employee, (it makes me edgy and I feel like I need to help out) I sighed and opened the door for my wife like the gentleman I was raised to be.
Yes indeed, the place was indeed packed to the rafters, but there was only one couple ahead of us and they were being led off to be seated.
“Table for two?” inquired the hostess”
“Yes please, a booth if possible” said the lovely and fetching Mrs. Politte.
“We have one in the back, please follow me” replied the young lady as she gathered our menus and graciously took us to our booth in the corner away from the children who were playing soccer with salt and pepper shakers in the aisle as the wait staff tried not to trip over them and their parent looked on with pride and admiration.
Out of nowhere popped up our server.
“Hello, may name is Debbie and I will be taking care of you tonight. Our specials are gorgonzola stuffed chicken breast with baby red potatoes and grilled asparagus, or a bacon and parmesan cheese frittata served with a Caesar salad. May I get you something from the bar?”
“Why yes please, do you have Sam Adams?” I queried
“Draught or in the bottle?” “We have both”
“A bottle please, and my wife will have an E & J Brady and diet in a chimney.”
“Great, I will be right back with your drinks, and I will let you decide what you would like for dinner.”
As we sipped our drinks and watched the hustling and pandemonium of dinner service, I couldn’t help but think how it is like a perfectly planned military assault. If you are prepared and trained for the battle, you will make a busy dining room hum along as precisely as the New York philharmonic. If you are not, carnage will consume the service. Luckily we were here on a good night.
Our food arrived a little later (a good sign the kitchen was in synch also), and it was fantastic. I had the Osso Bucco with Wild Mushroom Risotto, and the earthiness of the mushrooms in the Bordelaise sauce went perfectly alongside the tender pork shanks that were expertly braised in red wine. My wife had the Chicken and Fettuccine Alfredo that was so rich and velvety you could anchor a cruise ship with it. She usually lets me partake in what she cannot finish, but I received a fork to the back my hand as I tried with no success to take her plate from her.
Being too full for dessert, we order the triple chocolate cake to take home, paid our bill and said goodbye to Debbie and the busboys who were cleaning up the cracker crumbs and straw wrappers from the food fight at table 13.
As I reflected on our drive home, I thought to myself how sometimes we don’t appreciate all the things that have to go right in order for us to get a great meal and exceptional service, and how one little thing can ruin a night out-if you let it.
We should always remember those who take care of us when we do eat out, whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, drive through or delivery. They work hard, very hard, and sometimes don’t get the thanks they deserve.
So thank you Debbie, cooks, busboys and bartenders. Thank you hostess, cashiers and managers, we had a great meal and we are glad you made it come to pass. We will definitely be back again.
But right now I am going home to have some cake and put Neosporin and band-aid on the back of my hand.