Set the mood, wow with food

Tennesia Malcolm

Tips from Ten

SO, YOU have that special event coming up. It's good that you planned it for the coming week because, guess what? It coincides with the Gleaner-sponsored Restaurant Week (RW), and that translates into easy on the pocket and sweet on the taste buds.

Today, I want to speak specifically to the men, because, let's face it, they are the ones who will be expected to foot the bill - most of the times.

But before I get to them, ladies, let's talk. The high-school reunion might be upon you and, yeah, guys might be there, but they don't care about the same things that girls do. When it's time to decide on which restaurant would be best for that grand affair, be discerning in your selection. Your selection should say that, even though the waistline may have expanded, so too has good taste.

Remember, being made to feel inadequate is not only confined to high school, and it has left a bitter taste in many an adult mouth. A fitting venue for a reunion meal would be open-air and spacious, allowing interaction among all present.

making a first impression

Now men, you don't get a second chance at a first impression. So if it's the first date, don't scrimp on the spending. Before you even think of picking up that girl, make sure you have enough money to buy the most expensive thing on the menu. Hopefully, it won't have to come to that. But if your lady likes to keep up with the Joneses, she will believe that the best means most expensive, and will order accordingly. So please pack a tidy sum to ensure that you are not left with egg on your face when the waiter brings the bill.

And, please, don't play smart and try ordering (a cheaper item) for her under the guise of being romantic. You really don't know her like that and will only come across as cheap. No sharing of desserts; you have to be prepared to go the extra mile, if only this once.

What about those who are farther along the dating chart. If you plan to pop the question, what better way to do it than to convince her to get all dressed up for Restaurant Week? Before she knows it, you'll be on your knees in an elegant setting, and she'll have her fairy-tale story to tell her friends. "He proposed to me at my favourite place during Restaurant Week."

She would be smiling all the way to the altar and you would have saved a few bucks. It's win-win really. Are you in with the in-laws? The ones who swear they don't know what their princess sees in you when she could do so much better? Perhaps not, right? RW has a remedy for that, though.

Take them out for a fabulous meal at one of the high-end restaurants participating in RW. Like I said before, make sure the money's right. If you have no idea about fine dining, do your homework. Brush up on your dining etiquette; learn which wine goes with what; engage them in intellectually stimulating conversation. Give them reason for pause. At the end of the night, you should have them eating out of your hands.

When deciding on a dining-out experience, think location, think occasion, and think about your pocket.

Tennesia Malcolm is a subeditor and freelance reporter. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tennesia.malcolm@gleanerjm.com.