Picture a winter evening, and me descending the stairs of my condominium complex to meet a blind date waiting in the foyer. I had spoken with “Billy” a handful of times – getting acquainted and arranging the date. He was smart and funny, and I was actually excited to go. I rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs to see a 6’3” cream puff. Billy was dressed all in cream: cream linen pants (linen in the wintertime??), a cream turtleneck sweater (remember how straight men should never ever wear turtlenecks??), and tan leather shoes with a matching tan leather jacket. Wow. Cream? Linen?? Turtleneck??? Should a man dress like this?
Billy drove us towards the center of town indicating that he had tried to get reservations for this amazing Italian place, but he hadn’t called soon enough, so would I mind just waiting to see if we could get in? I was happy to sit and chat and listen to his stories for the first hour, but as the second hour came to a close, my body was rebelling – I was tired, famished, my neck was stiff from trying to turn enough in our cramped quarters to look at him while we talked (it was a VERY crowded waiting area), and my back side was screaming at me for sitting for two hours on a hard wooden piano bench which was the only place left to sit when we arrived. If there had been enough room to stand, I would have welcomed the change of position. But people just kept coming and coming.
After 2 ½+ hours of waiting, and exhausting every topic I could possibly think of to discuss with a stranger with whom I had nothing in common, they seated us. By this point, I would have happily eaten at Olive Garden – my least favorite restaurant – or just gone home to bed. While I spoke none of these thoughts and tried to be positive in my conversation, he realized the wait had been very long and assured me that it was worth it and that I would be impressed. I could not imagine any food being worth sitting on a wooden slab next to a giant cream puff for almost three hours, but I was wrong. It was AMAZING!
The restaurant is called Cucina Toscana. If you live in Salt Lake, you must go there. If you don’t, you should make a special trip just to eat at Cucina Toscana. It is a touch pricey, but the food is divine. I’ve never tasted any better.
Billy drove us towards the center of town indicating that he had tried to get reservations for this amazing Italian place, but he hadn’t called soon enough, so would I mind just waiting to see if we could get in? I was happy to sit and chat and listen to his stories for the first hour, but as the second hour came to a close, my body was rebelling – I was tired, famished, my neck was stiff from trying to turn enough in our cramped quarters to look at him while we talked (it was a VERY crowded waiting area), and my back side was screaming at me for sitting for two hours on a hard wooden piano bench which was the only place left to sit when we arrived. If there had been enough room to stand, I would have welcomed the change of position. But people just kept coming and coming.
After 2 ½+ hours of waiting, and exhausting every topic I could possibly think of to discuss with a stranger with whom I had nothing in common, they seated us. By this point, I would have happily eaten at Olive Garden – my least favorite restaurant – or just gone home to bed. While I spoke none of these thoughts and tried to be positive in my conversation, he realized the wait had been very long and assured me that it was worth it and that I would be impressed. I could not imagine any food being worth sitting on a wooden slab next to a giant cream puff for almost three hours, but I was wrong. It was AMAZING!
The restaurant is called Cucina Toscana. If you live in Salt Lake, you must go there. If you don’t, you should make a special trip just to eat at Cucina Toscana. It is a touch pricey, but the food is divine. I’ve never tasted any better.
Evidently I wasn’t a good enough sport about the wait (by the way, Billy was also bored and tired and stiff by the time we got seated), because the cream puff in tan leather never called me again, but at least I got to eat at Cucina Toscana. Go there – you’ll love it!
5 comments:
Impressive. I guess there's cream puffs and then there's cream puffs. Next time you find another six foot cream puff that likes taking random strangers out to fancy restaurants let me know.
I have tried thinking of a comment that would squash Jacob's comment, but I have failed. Therefore, I will just stick with-Great Post.
At least you got a great dinner and a got rid of the cream puff! I'm thinking I'll see about some reservations when next I'm in SL...maybe it could be a cousin thing! ;)
I've seen the place before but never eaten there. Hmm...sounds like a great date suggestion for you to hint to your NEW EMPLOYEE!!! I'm so happy to have you back in our lives!!!!!!
OK Becky I would have not been as nice as you. I would have lost it after a 1 & 1/2 hours. In my book there is NO food worth waiting for. I also would have started laughing hystericaly when I first saw him. You know me, I can't help but laughing. You win the prize. Where was your mom? That is the date she & I should have been spying on (J/K).
Love ya
Leah
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