Every now and then my friend Prince Charming takes me to dinner. The experience is magical, just like a fairy tale. It really is. He's a food and drink writer so when he comes to DC, the chefs and restaurant owners do all they can to impress him. He - and I by default since I'm his guest - are treated like royalty. The chefs and restaurant owners come over and shake our hands. They want to know if we're enjoying the dinner. They are so sincere!
It's always a lot of fun - also slightly overwhelming - to taste so many delicious things, perfectly prepared and presented. But I'm not there for the food. Oh no. By far the best thing about these fairy tale dinners is the chance to connect with my old friend.
I met Prince Charming almost thirty years ago when we dated briefly. Since then we've been fast friends, even during periods of time when we haven't been in touch. I joke about the title "Prince Charming" because of the way the restaurant people suck up to him, but the truth is, he is genuinely charming. Also: smart, witty, handsome, stylish, thoughtful - and tender, too. And he smells good.
OK I'll admit I will always have a crush on Prince Charming. Who wouldn't??
34 comments:
N.B. - Prince Charming has been happily married for decades to a wonderful woman.
His happy marriage is part of his charm. The kind of crush I have on him has nothing to do with actual romance. Hope this makes sense.
Perfect sense. Now: the food, Reya. Tell us about the food! :-)
OK. The food.
We tasted scallops ceviche and a cute little crab appetizer set on a bed of tiny watermelon cubes.
After that, sweetbreads with peas in a little pastry shell, snails and mushrooms in some kind of great sauce.
Then, tuna seared rare, then the tiniest little porkchop stuffed with something delicious.
Next, a tiny square of steak. Three tiny onion rings were stacked on top.
Then dessert - the most perfect strawberry shortcake ever, a "banana split" - roasted bananas coated with dark chocolate, set in a creamy sauce, espresso with a dollop of ice cream, and what Prince Charming called a "candybar for adults" - chocolate covered peanut butter bars.
They did not expect us to eat full portions of this food, btw. It was like a dinner made for the fairies, all these tiny, beautiful dishes.
We also had house specialty cocktails to go with each course. The first one was something with gin and cumquats - very refreshing - then - damn can not remember the second one. Then a mezcal sangria with an edible pansy floating in it, then a rose wine I actually loved - a syrah rose? Fabulous.
With desert a scalded milk with sauterne and spices cocktail.
Needless to say, if I had finished all those drinks I would be dead now.
The restaurant is PS 7 in Chinatown, on I street between 7th and 8th. I HIGHLY recommend it. The food was delicious.
It's a charming story, & the note you added does indeed make sense. The rose pictures are lovely, especially the petals strewn along the walk!
Thanks, John. The scattered petals are meant to symbolize Cinderella racing home after the ball. Kind of.
Sounds just magical. A wonderful kind of friend to have in all aspects.
Yes, it does; and how lucky for you to have such a relationship. Do tell us about the food. Never mind, I see an explanation. Yes.
love love the last photo and what food!!! wow! Food made for fairies :)
Those kinds of crushes are the best - you get all the joy & none of the reality LOL.
I would like a friend like that. I have plenty of old friends, none of them are food writers. That would be heavenly.
I think that's great .. to have a male friend ... and one who takes you out to eat. That's even better.
The photo of the rose petals ... my roses haven't opened yet. I'm on delay over her in this WA.
Thanks ...
By all means! I'd have a crush on him too! And yes, your first comment does make sense. There are people whom I love & find charming that has nothing to do with romance!
I'm happy you had such a wonderful time! I think you must be a "charmer" too!
If I ever get to DC I'm visiting this restaurant!
Cheryl if you're ever in DC, we will go together, yes?
Bug? OH YEAH!!
Lovely man, good friend, fabulous food...how wonderful on a lot of levels sans the drama and aggrevation. Thanks for sharing. I have a friend like this, too.
Sorry to bring up the purely superficial but did you solve your clothing conundrum?
I'm trying to get the mental image; the handsome sophisticated gentleman, the divine dishes, the fawning waitstaff, and...?
i do and i have no idea who he is
love u so
Yessss, to fabulous dinners. We ate at Marcel last night in Foggy Bottom. Admittedly, had to use my iPhone to translate some of the French menu. Almost ordered seabass thinking it was some kind of pasta. Eeek, and I am not a seafood person.
You didn't say what you ended up finding to wear . . . (what a fabulous feast!)
thank (I swallow my saliva) you for the description of the food. Think I'll go back and read it again.
Two people have already asked. I am the third: what did you wear?
Charming story of a magical evening. The fallen rose petals perfectly capture the essence of Cinderella. The gustatory descriptions were sensual, beautiful and oddly erotic. Thanks for sharing your evening with us.
Hi, Reya: Came over by way of Bee Drunken. I love your writing and your approach to the subjects posted. I will be back again - soon.
Best,
ExpatFromHell
The whole experience sounds divine. And I love the scattering of rose petals . . .
Girl,
We all have our secret Prince Charming!
My secret PC is a happily married man who is a gourmet chef. He is handsome and handsome.
Thanks for making me smile.
BTW,
What does he smell like?
Have fun. My husband has friends that are women. I never worry about it. If I have to worry then it's time to move on.
Perfect sense. And I knew the perfect man had to be taken. Why would a woman let a man like that go once she married him?
niiiice ! Now i have to eat plain old ghulosh, and maybe chocolate chip cookies for desert...talk about living high on the hog, you got it going on!
Tom, I got it going on for one night only! Today it's back to bread and water for me. Not really.
I wore the MOST BORING OUTFIT in the world - wheat colored linen pants and a navy blue tank top. It was raining buckets when I left the house, so I also had to wear my ratty old raincoat. Drenched and disheveled is how I looked when we met. Like I said, though - he's charming - and never once referred to my terrible clothes.
We took a walk this afternoon. He told me about a Dolce & Gabbana suit he bought in NYC last year, marked down from $3000 to $300 - but he got it for even less than that.
No matter how hard I try, I could never, not EVER, look as good as he does. I gave up on the idea years ago, but still I stress out when I know he's coming to town. For heavens' sake.
Hard to describe the secret elixir Prince Charming wears that smells so good. It's definitely not domestic men's cologne. It's subtle. Fantastic.
Sounds like a wonderful time.
Sounds like a wonderful evening.xo
that's real joy!!!!
steven
AND HE SMELLS GOOD! Completely charmed....both of you.
Reya, love comes in many forms. It's nice to have good friends to go out with.
The food sounded wonderful, and from your descriptions I could almost taste it.
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