Company For Dinner

Tantalizing. Tasty treats to tempt the palette. Paint and the one in my mouth. We used to go to a really fine restaurant, Louis The Sixteenth in the Quarter. Not in its present location, but in the old Marie Antoinette Hotel. John, our Welsh waiter, all in crispy white, would greet us happily. Dinner there was a conversation. A well tuned interplay. We were his guests. After drinks were served and a fresh baguette brought to table, he would ask what we were "feeling like". We rarely used the menu. Lamb or veal always my first choice. And would we be wanting the Grand Marnier soufflé or chocolate? Or how about half and half? It cooks while we are dining. Well half and half of course. Usually we would ask him to have chef make us what he wanted.To have some fun with it. We would only say fish, or morelles or what is fresh tonight? Never disappointed. Always a good time. And John would always bring us a little treat. A tiny surprise. One time it was gold wasser, or it might be a fresh amuse bouche. No matter, an evening there was a favorite. Soft ambiance, good food, a table set so well. Time for just the two of us. A bit of a reward. We were company for dinner. Happily. Willing to play along. It has changed. Moved. And we are no longer there. But it still lives among the finer things in my memories. Don't we all cherish them? Those good dinners we have dined. At a friend's or Harry's Bar, or pick a place, fill in the blank. Aren't we very lucky? To have so many willing chefs create an experience. It isn't really eating. It is much more than that. Company for dinner, brings friends in for a chat.