Date Night

Ah Valentine’s Day.

I don’t think I’ve ever celebrated V-day in a big way until last year. Last year, my best friend whisked me away to a hotel room where we got Chinese food (I also remember getting yelled at by the restaurant for not tipping enough on Chinese New Year) and watching Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift concert movies on Netflix. This year, I celebrated self-love in a big way.

I had big plans for Friday night. I really wanted to go to the local bar for a beer and chat up the bartender who I’ve made conversation with a couple of times. After I got home from work, I went for a quick run and my big plans turned very quickly into lying on the couch. The dinner setting was pyjamas, a new Bollywood movie and my favorite quick meal – Turkish Eggs. I didn’t even have a glass of wine! The movie (Gehraiyaan) was surprisingly intense and gripping for what I assumed was going to be sappy love triangle drama. It was sappy and did have a love triangle but there was also a real estate scam and mortal peril.

Saturday was all about the baked goods. I baked whole wheat bread because I bought way too much wheat flour and I didn’t know what else to do with it. I did not realize that wheat flour from different regions tasted and felt different. I assumed the generic Whole Foods bran flour worked for chappatis but it doesn’t. Every time I made chapattis, they were rigid and tough – dough consistency didn’t matter. The bread was great though. We’re having some yummy sandwiches this week as a result.

I then began my journey through Love is Blind Season 2. I started this weekend with the objective of watching all the Valentine’s Day content that was advertised to me. I remember being obsessed with Love is Blind Season 1 so I had high expectations for this season. I also baked some brownies to consume in consort. I love trashy TV so much and the brownies make a great accompaniment. I’m eating a piece right now as I type so I guess that makes this blog trash.

I transposed my Friday night solo bar ambitions to Saturday and made reservations at Farra, a wine bar by me that seemed to have nice wine and artsy fartsy foods. I tried to manifest a cute bartender but wasn’t specific enough with my manifestations. She was really cute but she was a she. Nevertheless, I let her pair wines with everything I ordered and we had a great time.

I started with burrata, cucumber, kiwi and pistachios – a love, refreshing salad that she paired with a Portuguese white wine. That is definitely a combination I plan on trying at home. The sour kiwi, fresh and cold cucumber and creamy burrata with what I’m sure was balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top worked so well. The thought of that first sip of cold white wine is making me thirsty now.

I was doing Saturday’s Wordle while I gradually consumed the rest of my salad and rationed my wine. When I was done with the Wordle, it was time to order my next dish. The couple next to me was just wrapping up their meal. It wasn’t a first date, but it wasn’t well into the relationship either. They were being cute and just a little awkward. His knees definitely moved closer to hers by the time my next course arrived. He paid the bill and they walked out as the bartender poured me a glass of red wine this time. I ordered the zucchini dish which was a blob of Romanesco sauce, hazelnuts, sliced zucchini and truffle oil. Between the zucchini and the Romanesco sauce were the juiciest tomatoes I’d ever had.

I switched from the Wordle to my book. I tried to focus on the book I was reading but so many thoughts distracted me. How many covers does this wine bar do? They have one stove. How many bottles of wine does a standard issue wine bar need to have on hand for every night? Oooh is the man in the white shirt, the chef? Oh wait, where did he go? These tomatoes are so juicy. The last time I had tomatoes like these was in Berkeley, CA. Should I get dessert? No, I have brownies at home. Is this zucchini cooked? It’s gotta be. Raw zucchini is not this soft. Maybe it’s boiled. Oh look another couple has walked in! They have their vaccination cards out. I did not have to show my vaccination card because they were pre-occupied with complimenting my coat. It is a good coat. You get the picture.

All my thoughts got me to the end of the meal. I paid my bill and walked out. I should have gone to the bathroom before I left but as usual, grossly underestimated my bladder control. Luckily, the Mediterranean place 3 doors down let me use the bathroom so I could continue on my journey without worry. It also allowed me to stop at the mecca – Whole Foods – on the way home, I wanted to make Mac and Cheese on Sunday but forgot to buy cheese so a stop was necessary. Gruyere is my favorite mac and cheese cheese. I also bought some olives because “Treat yo self”. I honestly cannot think of a more perfect night.

I returned home to the warmth of my couch and continued the Love is Blind marathon and subsequently fell asleep to it. It took me way longer than usual to get out of my outfit because I was so cozy in my new bright red coat (that I was previously complimented on by nice lady at Farra) and was having a great hair day.

Sunday was devoted to chores. Nothing special but I have clean clothes and yummy lunches this week. I also watched the Marry Me (yay JLo) and I Want You Back (funny-ish) to continue on my mission to watch everything advertised to me. I recommend everything and I have no regrets. This year’s Valentine’s weekend reminds me of one of the years at grad school. It was a Tuesday and I finished up work at the Writing Center at 9 PM. I called the pizza place by my house and ordered a large pizza with pineapples and jalapenos. I picked it up on my way home and at the whole thing before bed while watching something silly. I distinctly remember this night because I remember feeling sorry for myself. This weekend was, in essence, the same experience, just adjusted for the fact that I’m not poor anymore. I should try to do something radically different next year. We shall see, stay tuned.