We decided to eat out last night after mentioning we just might venture out for Eye-Talian food in one of yesterday's posts. But we decided to forgo the "best wine in the house" thang, opting instead for a Fat Tire before dinner and a glass of house Merlot with our meal. We dined at Vines last evening, P-Ville's one and only Italian eatery, and we have posted about Vines before. We opened up that post with this:
Time was when we dreaded dining alone, which is to say back in the day when (a) we were younger and (b) spent a considerable amount of time on the road in the course of making our way in this world. There's nothing quite like the "table for one" experience for announcing to the whole frickin' world a certain social inadequacy... most specifically one's inability to find a suitable dining partner... regardless of the circumstances. We made do back in the day but we didn't like it. Not at all. Times change and our attitudes change with them, thank The Deity at Hand. It doesn't bother me at all to dine alone these days. One of the better things about reaching "a certain age" is the ability to say "fuck 'em!" whenever circumstances warrant. So... that said, we ventured out to Vines on the Courthouse Square this past evening. Alone.
Sigh. While it's still true that I don't mind the solitary dining experience I sometimes take exception to the stoopid-ass inquiry one gets when entering a restaurant alone, i.e., "Table for One?" Last evening I replied to my perky inquisitor with my usual, customary and reasonable "Yep. Just Me." but the NEXT time this happens I'm going to affect a shocked look, look behind me, and exclaim "Where'd she GO? She was RIGHT behind me!" And walk out. I'll wait a moment or three before going back in, at which time I'll announce "Well so much for THIS marriage." Or something like that. Just to see what happens.
Dinner was great. We had the Blue Plate Special, which was a variation on chicken scallopini with green chiles added to the white wine/cream sauce and prosciutto. This IS New Mexico, and we have a tendency to add chiles to nearly everything. The result was quite tasty, even tho the prosciutto contained about six times my weekly salt allowance; we left the greatest part of the prosciutto uneaten as a result. We finished off our meal with a big-ass slice of chocolate cake laced with liqueur (I forgot exactly which liqueur, but that's not important) and strong Italian-style coffee, leaving the restaurant well and truly stuffed to return home and collapse in a food coma.
>>>...look behind me, and exclaim "Where'd she GO? She was RIGHT behind me!"
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think. I'm a gonna steal this idea next time I'm dining alone.
Collapsing in a food coma - it's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm known as the krusty anti-social old fart at work. It never fails that when the office goes out to lunch, there is only enough room at the table for everyone except one person - me.
ReplyDeleteI look at the bastards, determine that I would not like to eat with two of them in my space, so retire to a nearby table where I can stretch out.
Same comments every time - hey! you eating with your friends?
I have long ago stopped caring about the "cavemen surrounding the fire" form of eating. I determined that I had already heard all of their conversation subjects at least 12 times already. Usually having to do with some bodily function, or someone in the office who is this months moron.
Bah humbug! :-)
Your night out sounds very nice. If you were in Italy, the night would have started late and continued on even later with the meal being the main event. I can live without the cigars or cigarettes after the meal. Although my parents were of that age, it is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteOne of the better things about reaching "a certain age" is the ability to say "fuck 'em!" whenever circumstances warrant. I guess I haven't quite got there yet. I HATE dining alone and the after dinner cognac and cigar ommission is tragic. Glad you went tho', it sounds like it was delicious.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your "One of the better things about reaching a certain age, is the ability to say
ReplyDeletefuck'em!" I try keeping my image up of being a grouchy old man best I can. I don't suffer fools easily in restaurants!!!!
While it is true that one can no longer partake of the cigars and cognac *at table*, there is nothing to stop one from imbibing at one's own home, after returning from the venue... Whereupon one can don one's smoking jacket, and enjoy one's favorite libations until the either (a) the cows come home, or [2] one runs out of steam, smokes, or booze. (and I saw your post about your stash o' sticks, so I know you are well-provisioned on that count!)
ReplyDeleteI know it's not the same... And I am old enough to remember a time when cigars and brandy were the norm, and not the exception to the rule.
Perhaps you could start a Renaissance in P-ville?
Inno: Thank ya, Sir!
ReplyDeleteKris: Well, sorta. But falling asleep directly after dinner kinda plays havoc with the rest of your night and early morning. Then again, I don't have anywhere to be first thing in the mornings. ;-)
I have long ago stopped caring about the "cavemen surrounding the fire" form of eating.
You just need better company, Anon.
Lou: Dining late is a very Euro kinda thang, not just Italian. One wonders if Euro Seniors eat early... or not? I'd be thinkin' about those Golden Corral Senior Early Bird discounts and the like, which I shall NEVER indulge in. But I do tend to eat earlier of late.
Deb: I understand, given that you're 40-something. It sounds trite, but I didn't come to my current state of mind until I was in my 60s. Before that I only ate alone when absolutely, positively REQUIRED.
I try keeping my image up of being a grouchy old man best I can.
Heh. Yup! One HAS to maintain standards! ;-)
Perhaps you could start a Renaissance in P-ville?
There are those pesky state laws to deal with, Thimbelle. Then again, there might be a private club exemption; most states have that sorta thang. And you're right: it's NOT the same.