Mystery Meat

A Four Course Guide to the Blind Date

At some point in the journey through Singledom, a friend is bound to suggest another friend that might be a good match. You hear about how great they are, and that they are just like you, and that they also shares a love of cooking and hiking and watching movies on cold blustery days. So you agree to go out with them; why not, you don't have a packed social agenda (this week).

Appetizer course: The Phone Call

This call is your appetizer to the full meal of your blind date. The appetizer sets the tone for the rest of your dining experience, predicting how you’ll feel as you feed your way through each course. This first phone call carries the same weight, so you want to place your order carefully. Bruschetta can burst with the flavor of sun-ripened tomatoes and crisp basil, delighting your senses to crave more. However, it could be soggy, and stale with regret. You have two bites maximum to make a stellar impression, so try not to make a mess. Mix together a perfect measure of fun, a dash of depth, and a witty sprinkle of salt to bring out your flavor. The phone call should be short and sweet, making a connection without ruining your appetite. The conversation should leave you hungry and excited for the second course.

Soup or Salad course: The Pre-Date
I’m a big fan of the Pre-Date; that brief meeting over coffee, or ice cream, maybe a cold beer to decide if there is enough fodder to move toward a full dinner-length date. It’s like the soup or salad option that accompanies many restaurant entrees: not everyone adds it, but those who do really appreciate that it arrives before the meal. If you like the soup, savor the flavors as they interact over your tastebuds – is there enough spice to your conversation, or is it unbearably bland? How’s the temperature – hot and steamy, or cold and awkward? For those diet-conscious readers that prefer to order the salad, evaluate what’s on your plate. Were you served a generous mixture of crunchy fresh veggies that stimulate your belly and your brain, or did a plain plate of iceberg lettuce land in your lap? Was dressing slopped all over the plate, drowning you in its overpowering acidity? Or was the dressing served neatly on the side to add to your own taste, contributing and complimenting your plate? It’s important that your pre-date doesn’t overload you so much that you don’t have any interest in the next course, but that your hunger is satiated until your entrée arrives. If it’s bad, pay your tab and pass on the next time. If you enjoy yourself, order the next course and plan on a full meal.

Entrée course: Your First Date
The main entrée is the true test of a meal, the point that leads the taster to return again for seconds or to leave a half-eaten plate for waste. Your Blind Date has made it through the screening process and isn’t so blind anymore. Over a candlelit table for two, you can clearly see each other in all your glory. A perfect entrée is balanced and filling, but leaves a little room for the sweet taste of success after the meal. The plate should be colorful and carefully arranged to impress the person just enough for him to want make a mess of it. Just like the variance in your meal, your conversation should include an array of interests. Talking only about yourself, or only about him, will leave you unfulfilled and craving that certain something to make your meal complete. Undoubtedly your eyes will start wandering to other patrons' plates...wondering why you didn't order THAT instead...you develop a serious case of dish envy. So order up what you like, and be honest with yourself about if it satisfies your heart's cravings. Like a restaurant recommendation, your friends think that you'll really like this guy; but in the end you are left to decide if the meal meets your expectations or not.

Dessert Course: The Follow Up Call
It's time to decide if you want dessert. There are a lot of choices on the menu....from custard and mousse to pie and cake. Do you stick with your friend's recommendation and follow up with your dinner date? Do you venture back out to the menu and choose something sweet by yourself this time? If you got your fill on that first date and aren't interested in taking it further, then don't order dessert. If you liked the meal and need something sweet to top it off, take the lead and call him to set up the next encounter. The follow up call should be like the perfect end to a meal. Sweet, full of taste, and not too heavy. Wait long enough that your entree's digested, so neither of you will be too full and consequently very uncomfortable. No gushing, no lingering over the last drops of creme fraiche. Remember, you aren't committing to eating the same thing every night, you just think that you like the diner and hope that it's open the next time you want to go out to dinner!