Romancing the Meal

For some reason, when we think of the ultimate romantic evening, it seems to tie into a meal of some sort. A candlelight dinner for two, some exotic fare, wine, along with a rich dessert all connotate a special occasion for lovers.

Yesterday, I got to thinking about my most romantic meals, and for some reason, I could never remember what I ate, so much as where I was and who I was with. And if I was in a relationship that ended up being a "bad romance" (to quote Lady Gaga) whatever romantic meals we may have had, I seemed to have blocked them out of my memory altogether. I guess that is a good thing!

Sometimes this memory lapse is not my fault. For instance, before my son was born, my ex-husband and I took a trip to London and Paris. In London, food wise I remember wolfing down big breakfasts in the morning and getting heartburn in the evening. The saddest thing of all, however, was by the time we reached Paris I had a bad cold...so you know what that means...no taste! WHO GOES TO PARIS AND CAN'T TASTE THE FOOD? ME! Alas, what would Julia Child have said?

I asked my husband, Steve, what he remembers as our most romantic meal. His answer was very sweet, and brought back a dinner I had honestly forgotten. Before our daughter was born we took a trip up to San Francisco. I went to college in S.F., and as the song goes, I did leave my heart there in a sense. The restaurants, the bars (cheap hangouts for a college student) and scenic vistas at every turn always give me a thrill when I visit the city by the bay.

In San Francisco there is a little restaurant called "La Felce" on an unassuming corner in the Italian section of town known as North Beach. San Francisco is a gourmet's heaven, with so many amazing restaurants, but La Felce is one of those homey places where the menu never changes and the waiters are there forever. If you order a complete dinner, the food keeps on coming -- salad with antipasto, soup, pasta and THEN the main course, such as chicken saute sec with spinach and potatoes (my favorite). Not to mention, dessert, too! I had discovered this restaurant as a college student, and whenever I made it though a semester in one piece, I would go to La Felce with friends to celebrate.

I am grateful to Steve for remembering the time we went there together before we needed a babysitter! Since having our baby, I actually find going out to breakfast to be very romantic and relaxing. I am a pancake nut, and love the pumpkin pancakes at the Egg Plantation in Newhall. Sneaking off to breakfast with my husband when our daughter is in school feels totally decadent to me!

In the movies, romantic interludes always seem to happen over Chinese take out. Perhaps it has something to do with chopsticks and long noodles. Go figure.

For Valentine's Day this year I have bought a small box of chocolates for Steve and I to share together. For my son and daughter, I have a strawberry shortcake from Trader Joe's hiding in the freezer. The red and white cake seems perfect for the occasion. Naturally, mom will have to sample a little bit of it, too. (After some Chinese take-out, of course.)