Our first birthday date. I was twenty years old and, somehow, I'd gotten a second date with the most beautiful woman I'd ever met. It had to be low-key (didn't want to push too hard), but celebratory. It was her 21st birthday, but given that she didn't drink, I wasn't 21, and I was a poor college student, options were slim. Yes, believe it or not, getting a sundae at the local Lyons (a glorified Denny's) was how we made the most of this monumental turn of age. Not particularly impressive, but I somehow managed to sneak another date out of it. And, with a little more persistence (8 years or so), a marriage.
For the first 12 years of our relationship, Sumie and I ate out at least once or twice a week, particularly in Manhattan. Dates were regular and our quest for food took us all over the city. All this changed with the arrival of our oldest. Over the past six years we've had perhaps 12 dates, on our own, in total. As such, they've become quite special. With another monumental birthday coming up for Sumie, I wanted to do something memorable. Lyons was not going to cut it.
Sumie's birthday fell on a Saturday, which meant we'd actually be able to head out together sans kids. I secured the very kind participation of the grandparents (the kids were excited to have us gone, quite frankly) and then prepared a nice birthday dinner to celebrate the occasion with the whole family Friday night.
After a full Saturday watching kids and taking Mimi to Japanese school, the two of us gussied up (I can't remember the last time I wore a suit that wasn't for a wedding) and headed into San Francisco (it was Sumie's 7th time in a row, so I drove). We braved the rain, which eventually broke as we found parking around the corner from our restaurant, La Folie. Here are a few highlights from what was a relaxingly decadent, three-hour respite from regular food and real life.
The restaurant was small, relatively quiet, and understated. A perfect place for the two of us to reconnect and, perhaps, even share a few snippets of conversation that didn't involve our kids. Sumie looked fetching before a charred leek salad, stuffed with sauteed leek and mushrooms in a dressing that made you question if you'd ever be able to count calories again.
This was followed by a large octopus tentacle, tremendously tender, and lobster in a butter sauce that ensured you'd reach your daily recommended fat content for the month.
For main course, Sumie had the best duck breast we'd ever experienced. She gave me a piece off her plate and I, immediately, set aside the skin and said, "I'll save this little beauty for last." In return, I shared my ribeye with the woman across the table.
We closed out the meal with a series of candies...
...and a special dessert, complete with candle, for the birthday girl.
It was a rare, wonderful, and much deserved night out, but the best surprise was still waiting for us. As we neared home around ten, we received word that Mari had gone to sleep at her regular time, but Mimi and Kuri had just been put down. They obviously heard us opening the door, because seconds later we heard the frantic patter of small feet and were quickly smothered in hugs. Getting out just the two of us is tremendously special not only for the precious time we can spend together, but also for how well it reminds us of what we have here at home. All-in-all, I think Sumie had a wonderful birthday, and one that was a big step up from that first we shared at Lyons in Davis all those years ago. But like that one, I hope this last one leads to many more.
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