Valentine's Dinner Out

We waited till tonight to go to our favorite restaurant for a Valentine dinner.... we knew that yesterday would be too crowded there. Our friends J and S tried to get reservations there for dinner last night, but J waited too long to call them, and the restaurant was booked solid. They decided to go tonight instead, and called us to see if we were still going. So rather than make reservations for the two of us for tonight, I called and made the reservation for four.

We met there at 6:00 and we didn't leave the restaurant till after 10:00...... such interesting conversations with J and S every time we see them. Especially J...... he's a retired medical doctor who is very well-read in so many subjects-- from medical to spiritual to emotional and everything in-between. No matter what J is talking about, and whoever his audience happens to be, he makes a connection with his listeners and you just don't want to miss a word of what this gentle, intelligent man says.

Our friends K and C were working at the restaurant tonight, and both girls looked exhausted. They both worked last night, and C said that it was the busiest holiday-night they'd ever had. We also found out that the owner is planning to open another restaurant, not too far down the road from the present location. The new restaurant will be a little bigger, and that worries me. More tables means more meals being prepared, which means more chefs needed in the kitchen, which means that Stefano won't be cooking every dish that comes out of the kitchen. And that's what's so great about this restaurant-- Stefano's cooking. I firmly believe that you can give someone else a recipe but that's no guarantee that the outcome will look and taste the same.

Time will tell........ if all goes as planned, the new restaurant will be ready for an August opening. I understand Stefano's desire for a bigger restaurant, but I sincerely hope that his special magic with the food won't get lost in the renovations.