Dinner Date

"Where are we going?"

"O out."

"We've been driving for almost an hour. Is it in another state?"

"Maybe."

"There you go again. Sometimes I want to smack you."

"Ow! Not when I'm driving."

"Frederick, Maryland?"

"You said you wanted somewhere different."

"Cute clock."

"Shut up and pose."

"You've been carrying this for thirteen years--when do you deliver?"

"We're eating here?"

"I got reservations."

"Did you rob a bank?"


"Only the piggy kind. Been years since we went somewhere nice for our anniversary."

"But the money--"

"I say we splurge. We can eat pan de sal and sardinas every day till next payday."

"Open kitchen--that's hard to do."

"I'll move aside" 

"Rather have you front and center." 

"Shut up take the pic."

"What's this?"

"Arctic char on cream cheese and chives on uh I think pate choux."

"Like lox and cream cheese on bagel, only lighter."

"Only more expensive."

"This wasn't in the menu!"

"Think it's extra. The chef improvised last-minute."

"Shut up and eat."



"Salsify blended with local oysters, topped with Perigord truffle."

"Creamy. Briny. And what's that scent, like uh...you know?"

"That's the truffle."

 "Squid ink conchiglia with Maryland blue crab and fine-chopped tomato."

"The pasta's chewy, like shumai dumpling dough."

"Sea urchin custard with white asparagus."

"Didn't think urchin mixed with egg."

"Actually makes sense, creamy on creamy."

"Shut up."

"Pork jowl with fennel on grits."

"Look--placed my fork on top and it cuts into the meat!"

"Don't be cheeky."

"Shut up."

"Ow! Don't hit me, people will stare."

"Shut up."

"Ow!"

"Lamb loin with fingerling potatoes."

"Sh. Not talking to you."

"What's the difference between American wagyu and Japanese?"

"The same breed, only I doubt if they feed their cows beer or massage them with gin in wintertime. Think it's still good. Tastes...beefier somehow. The crisped greens are nice."

"Shut up. Still not talking to you."

"Wonder how they got this tender and medium rare? Sous vide?"

"Shut up."

"Basil and chocolate truffle with pistachio ice cream."

"Tastes dark."

"Try the ice cream."

"Tastes light. I keep going from one to the other."

"I think that's the point."

"Radish cake with cultured butter ice cream."

"The ice cream is very very fine."

"Should be, it's cultured."

"Shut up."

"Ow!"

"Pretty plate. What's all that?"

"Um...mint chocolate truffle; lavender-scented macaroon; Concord grape jelly; caramel."

"Delicious. What's wrong?"

"Forgot to take a picture."

"You're a bad food blogger. Bad!" 

"Ow! Ow!"

"Isn't it true?"

"Okay, but you didn't have to repeat yourself."

"What's this?"

"Cinnamon cake."

"Didn't order this either. Another little extra?"

"I guess."

"It's good."

"And when we get home do I get a little something extra too...?"

"Ha! Are you thinking maybe you might get lucky?"

"Won't I?"

"What do you think?"

"Wasn't the food good enough?"

"It was."

"Isn't it our anniversary?"

"It is."

"So?"

"You behave yourself"

"Okay--"

"Till we get home."

"Okay?"

"And I'll think about it."

"Yes ma'am."