The beauty of a perfect meal... and making a Splash!

Photo credit: Never Cool in School via flickr

Have you ever considered the beauty in a perfect meal? I don't just mean a meal where the food is delicious, either, though that is the most important requirement. I'm talking about a meal that lights up all of your senses.

Over the weekend, my love took me to a restaurant a few blocks away that we've been meaning to try for nearly two years, and we enjoyed the most wonderful, leisurely 2 1/2 hour dinner. We walked in to this little intimate restaurant and it was as if the world just melted away - quite an accomplishment for a place located on a busy street with plenty of sidewalk and car traffic out front. It was old-world, in the best possible way - one of those places that embraces the oddity of its space and architecture and claims it as an attribute. The beautiful linen tablecloths on candle-lit tables, gorgeous furniture and well-dressed wait staff all welcomed you to come in and dine - something we don't do enough of in this country. We're all too busy eating on the run so we won't miss whatever our jam-packed schedules have waiting for us to do next. And ambiance is something too many of us don't ever consider when eating.

But this place had ambiance to spare. You had no choice but to surrender to the beauty of the surroundings and the peacefulness the restaurant exuded. So we did. We drank wine, ate good bread and talked. We drank more wine, ate good bread and enjoyed the best calamari we've ever tasted (no, it wasn't fried), while continuing to talk about everything and nothing. We drank wine, ate more bread and then dined on our main course. (Yes, you've picked up on a theme here. Good wine and good bread are two of the four most important foods in living well in my book - good cheese and good chocolate being the other two. What can I say, I'm a woman of heady experiences.) We talked all the way through dinner and after, enjoying our wine and just being together in this beautiful place. As we debated dessert, our waiter came over with a free creme brulee because they felt the kitchen had been a little slow that evening. I honestly can't say we noticed; we were too busy enjoying ourselves. The dessert was as delicious and perfect as the rest of the meal and we walked out as content with ourselves and the world as two people could be at that moment, since naturally we had solved all of our own and the world's problems over that bottle of wine at dinner. Come to think of it, maybe the world wouldn't have so many problems if everyone could sit and talk like that over a delicious meal in a beautiful setting on a regular basis.

So, dear readers, I implore you - find some place fabulous to dine in the next few weeks and take your favorite person with you. Leave the rushing to and fro behind for two or three hours and just enjoy the beauty of good food, good wine (if that's your thing), good company and gorgeous surroundings. Leave your watches and cell phones at home. Trust me, you'll be amazed at the good a perfect meal can do for you.

Bon appetit.

*****

I am delighted to have received The Splash Award from Kathie at my net finds, which is one of my favorite blogs. The Splash Award is given to "alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs." What can I say but "Wow!" It's so heartening to hear people actually enjoy my meanderings. So, thank you, dear Kathie.
Now, on to the rest of it. Here are the "rules" when you receive this award. When you receive this award, you must:
- Put the logo on your blog/post.
- Nominate and link up to 9 blogs that allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you.
- Let them know that they have been "splashed" by commenting on their blog.
- Remember to link to the person from whom you received your Splash Award. So, in no particular order, I pass this award along to:

Aimee at A Garden to Remember - She makes beautiful pillows and has an amazing personal story.

A-M at Armchair Trader - I just love her taste.

Craftypagan at Craftypagan Designs - Her designs are beautiful and fun and they always cheer me.

Penny at Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen - Love her recipes.

Penny at The Comforts of Home - Her blog is so beautiful and inspiring it made me want to blog. And she's quite a talented artist, too.

Manuela at The Pleasures of Homemaking - Her blog is so inspiring and she has more energy than I thought humanly possible.

Maggi at Just Add Glitter and Stir - I know Kathie already gave this award to her, but I'm giving it to her, too, because her blog ALWAYS makes me laugh out loud. She's hilarious.

Sam at My Carolina Kitchen - I love reading about cooking, I love the Carolinas and I love newspapers and newspaper writers. In short, I enjoy her blog.

Melissa at So about what I said... - Just a great and interesting read.

and... I'm sending this right back to Kathie, too. :) Go visit her at my net finds.

I have not gone around and commented on all these blogs, yet, letting them know I think they make a "Splash," but I will before the day is over. To the awardees, whether you post about it or not, please enjoy the award with the blog love intended. :)