12 Things {To Consider} In Preparation For A Romantic Dinner And A Show On A First Date in NYC.

​           There is no doubt that careful consideration must be given when selecting a romantic restaurant for a first date.
         Candlelight, semi-private table nested beneath an elegant canopy exudes a romantic backdrop for the ultimate first date. Add the additional element of a unique show, and the experience will leave your date with a lasting positive impression. Casa la Femme will no doubt exceed your expectations. 

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           For the most of us, dating is neither an art nor science; it is most likely an impulse. Our experience and our personality dictate the majority of the choices that we make during the course of any date.
           Preparing for a first date is vastly nowhere near as complicated, exhausting and crucial as preparing for your wedding. Never the less, with your dinning venue selected, you next need to plan wisely and check off your list or priorities for the perfect date out.

    1. Whom  you date and what is the minimum you need to know about her/him?

​If Knowledge is power, then the most you know about your date the best you can prepare for your evening out. Is your date allergic to some ingredients? If yes; that can limit your choice of venue you can dine.  You don't need to grill her/him about her/his dietary needs, but it won't kill you to delicately drop hints about stuff that could massively backfire, just to make sure you are both on board. In today's world of social media and google, there is very little under the sun that we do not know about each other. Put the knowledge to good use without seem like a stalker.

    2. Walk on the safe side.

​Lou Reed was not singing about first dates with his iconic song. Being unique is a virtue most of the time and so, be selective on the choice of venue and plans you have for your date. Not striking the bull’s eye on the choice of restaurant you bring your date is not a fundamental fault. Been on a different planet all together with your  choice of dinner venue, than the one your date may anticipate is!

     3. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

​Enjoy the moment in the process of preparing for your date with realistic expectations that will make your night fun, delightful, and a bit adventurous if possible. It is more than OK to get excited before you go out with someone new, on the end, you will take away what you bring in. 

     4. Success rate of 90% is nothing to laugh about.

.You probably have heard the politically correct phrase of “Be open to unexpected first date ideas” as Glamour magazine may have advice. Well, you can take a chance on something new and electrifying on your first date if you dare, but 9 out of 10 couples on the first date, said that they got their expectation accomplish by going out to dinner at a romantic restaurant. There is always time for experimentation later if there is a second and third date.

      5. “Don’t go somewhere overflowing with eye candy” sounds like bad advice to me.

​The majority of people are looking for a self-assure, independent, inward beautiful person that is secure with what they are and portray just that. Even if your first date turns into a disaster because he/she was more interest in the surrounding eye candy then you, would you rather know sooner than later?

       6. Make sure you come prepared.

​While bringing a prophylactics along on a first date might strike some as arrogant, in reality, it is just called being prepared. On the other hand, even if you do note plan to shed your clothes, your Agent Provocateur  lingerie will give you confidence and self-assured though out the night. 

      7. Confidence is not just muscular on a man, but more importantly is beautiful on a woman.

​How can you inject some additional confidence just before your date start? Call a comrade. You closer friends and even your mother will smother you with compliments as to why your new partner to be, will be the luckiest person in the world to share the night with you on a dinner and a show. That ought to boost your ego a bit. Do not underestimate the power of conviction either.

       8. Don’t drink and drive. Period. However do drink and date.

An evening out with a first date is the introduction to the soul of that person. The impulse may be to be concerned about what you portrait externally, so you do not open up too much of yourself. If you do drink socially and you are not driving that evening, do allow yourself to be more at ease with your date and let them take a pic of the real inner you. I’m in no way suggesting on going on a rampage of shooting down one Qui tequila shot after another by all mean, but do enjoy the moment with a bottle of wine or a marvelous Qui tequila cocktail (this is probably the best tequila you ever had, trust me).

      9. Attitude, it can make you or break you.

​I have not met one person with a positive attitude that I did not like, and I have met tens of thousands of them over the years. I am sure you agree with me on that. Now you know that sometimes anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Keep your cool and make the best of it if for no other reason but to salvage the night and display the better you to your date. The restaurant may be too busy and have you wait to be seated even though you have a confirmed reservation. Have a drink at the bar and get to know your date. Your water may unintentionally delay to approach you with the menu. That may be a perfect time to discuss yours and his/her preference for the type of cuisine you most identified with when you are cooking for your self at home. My point is instead of trashing the venue or the staff even though they may even deserve it, find a positive spin and go with the flow. You are the better person at the end.

       10. ​Money is not an issue.

​It is easy for me to say. Right? Well, you get what you can afford, and nothing more. No one can stop you from it. In any metropolitan city (no offense to any small villages out there and I reside in one) your choices of restaurants at all price range are plentiful at least or countless at best. Your choices should not be “Can I have both an appetizer and a dessert at this upscale highly chic restaurant that I do not have the funds for.” Your choice should be “What amazing restaurant represent me the most in term of my budget and romantic personality.” Research and planning will go a long way on having a carefree night without the stress of money. By the way, your budget should include the cost of the evening out for both you and your date; even if you think that your date will pay for both of you or at list, you will split the bill. Better safe than sorry. 

       11. ​If everything else fells, run like a bat out of hell if you have to.

​No one wants to spend five hours of any day with a date that is the equivalent of waterboarding torture. Just feeling that way though does not justify as a reason for not committing the time and effort your date deserve and expects. Do act interested in what your date is saying, and if anything play devil’s advocate if you disagree with his/her point of view. What that will achieve, is at the very list you both will have a passionate exchange of ideas that you can learn from. The alternative is to allow being bored to death. If you do not like the way the date is going, end it early. Nevertheless, if you tired, upset about your day at work or your workload the next day, do not let it affect your time together. Talk. Ask questions. Make eye contact and even flirt if you up to it. 

       12. ​Follow some of the rules of etiquette when possible. (From: The Art of Manliness)

​Eating is instinctual. Moreover,  like many instinctual things (ahem, the bedroom) men often go on autopilot when there is food in front of them. Now that is all fine and good when you’re standing over the sink eating cereal by the handful and straight from the box, but if you are out with a woman who got all dressed up for this, it’s time to change gears. The meal you are about to share is not a necessary chore for survival. It should be an event. In addition your attention to a few key details will help make it one. Mastering the art of the dinner date is not hard, and it not not all about proper etiquette like which fork is for what (start at the outside, work your way in), or when you put your napkin on your lap (just do it when you sit down), although that certainly helps. Remember these simple rules before you head out to that fancy restaurant, and she might even be excited to share a dessert with you.

1. Make Good Use of Your Napkin. Place your napkin in your lap immediately upon sitting down. Unfold it while it is on your lap.
2. Use utensils on the outside first and work your way in with each new course.
3. Keep personal items (including cell phone) off the table.
4. She goes first. On everything.
5. Chew with your mouth closed.
6. Cut your food into only one or two bite-sized pieces at a time.
7. When at a dinner party or restaurant, proper table manners dictate that you taste your food before seasoning it.
8. Turn off or silence all electronic devices before entering the restaurant. If you forgot to turn off your cell phone, and it rings, immediately turn it off. Do not answer the call. Do not text and do not browse the Internet at the table.
9. If you have more than a few words to say, swallow your food, rest your fork on your plate, and speak before you resume eating.
10. Items are within reach if they are within easy reach of your arm when you are leaning only slightly forward. Do not lean past the person sitting next to you.
11. White wine glasses are held by the stem, not the bowl. Red wine glasses may be held by the bowl.
12. Scraping a plate or loudly chewing is unpleasant to listen to and considered impolite. Smacking and slurping foods are major mistakes and a sign of bad table manners.
13. The "no elbows on the table" rule applies only when you are actually eating. When no utensils are being used, putting your elbows on the table is acceptable.
14. Start by selecting a wine in the category you are interested in and find a wine at the price point you are comfortable with. Show the sommelier your selection and ask for his opinion, but place your finger on the price, rather than the name.
15.  When sneezing or coughing at the table is unavoidable, cover your nose or mouth with a napkin and proceed as quietly as possible. Except in an emergency, do not use a napkin to blow your nose. Leave the table and use a handkerchief instead.
16. Call for a reservation as many days or weeks ahead as possible. Reconfirm the reservation by calling on the day of your visit.
17. To show you are ready to order, close your menu and place it on the table.
18. If you decide that you will pay for the dinner, inform the waiter or maitre d’ that you are to receive the check. Once the meal is finished, ask the waiter for the check.
19. In tasting another person's food, either hand your fork to the person, who can spear a bite-sized piece from her/his plate and hand the fork back to you, or (if the person is sitting close by) hold your plate toward her/him so that she/he can put a morsel on the edge.
20. If you drop a utensil, pick it up yourself if you can and let the waiter know you need a new one. If you cannot reach it, inform the waiter and ask for a replacement.
21. Do one thing at a time at the table. If you want to sip your wine, temporarily rest your fork or knife on the plate.
22. Do not gesture with a knife or fork in your hands.
23. Savor the meal and eat slowly; it encourages conversation and conviviality.
24.  Remember the following food-friendly wines that will pair well with almost anything and are generally available in several prices: If you would like to order a red wine, choose a Pinot Noir. The Burgundy region of France and California produce quality Pinot Noirs. Pinots from Washington and Oregon are also good choices. If you would like a white wine, select a Riesling from Germany or the Alsace region of France. Drier Rieslings pair especially well with most foods.
25. Most restaurants offer a smaller selection of wines by the glass. When ordering wine by the glass, you should be aware that you may be getting wine from a previously opened bottle. You might want to ask the server when the bottle was opened. If it has been open for one or more days, you may want to make another selection.
26. Egyptian, French, Italian, Chinese and other foreign restaurants may have menu items you are not familiar with. Unless you are fluent in these languages or have eaten at these types of restaurants before, you will probably need to ask questions about items on the menu or about service.

Good Luck.
Anastasi