{LOVE}3: More than a "meal"

Gary & I {in Rio} at the BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL wedding of our dear friends, Mike & Marina.  

Food can look beautiful,

taste exquisite,

smell wonderful,

make people feel good,

bring them together,

inspire romantic feelings.

- Rosamond Richardson

There is something fabulously romantic about the {event} of eating.

Something wonderful happens when two people allow themselves to slow down and {savor} not only food and drink, but each other's company.

Dining--REAL Dining involves the lost art of {conversation}.

Too often meals together become routine. We stuff our faces in front of the TV, computer screens, cell phones, morning paper before running off to the next thing in our busy lives.

I am guilty of this. Sometimes you can't help it--you have not choice but to rush.

But we need to make a better effort of slowing down and {lingering} over breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The memories of meals that I treasure {with Gary} are many.

Noisy corner booths in crowded cafes for Sunday brunch

Cooking together--at home and enjoying our efforts {together} at the table. No TV, no hurry to clear off the table and do the dishes...often times opening that second bottle of wine...

Dressing up and dining out...not at Applebee's. A {splurge}. Maybe for a celebration, maybe just because.  Heels, perfume, lip gloss and the diamond cross necklace he bought me for my birthday.

Grabbing coffee...or even better, gelato--and not rushing away to drink or eat on the go. Sitting down, enjoying small pleasures...dragging out their rich, sweet flavors with long laughter-filled conversation.

A chocolate milk shake with {two} straws.

A huge hunk of chocolate cake too rich to eat alone.

Make everyday eating an {experience.}

Be adventurous.

If you go out, try that new place. Go somewhere for the atmosphere. Sit outside and enjoy the fresh air or sea breeze. {Splurge}, slow down, and savor the moment...

If you stay in (recession-friendly option), eat off of your good china, buy or pick colorful flowers for the table centerpiece, light the candles and dim the lights--challenge yourself with a new recipe, bake your sweetie's favorite dessert...turn the television OFF and the music of your choice ON...

Here's a challenge for me and, if you are up for it, you (whoever you are that is reading) :

Treat at least one meal a day like an {occasion}.

Wherever it may be, {make} it special.

This will take extra effort, like getting up early with your spouse so you can enjoy a hot breakfast together before you rush off for work...or maybe syncronizing your lunch hours so you can steal way to a cozy diner for a bowl of hot soup...or taking a risk on a challenging recipe, and shutting off all outside noise leaving only talking, laughing and the clanking of silverware on your good plates.

Go ahead, make your meal more than a full tummy.

Make a {memory}.