eating out LOVE’S EXPERIENCES
BOUNTY SHARED
by billy nordmeier There are numerous anecdotes, tales and
myth that surround The Feast of St. Valentine. One popular story speaks of the reign of Emperor Claudius Gothicus II. It is said that St. Valentine would secretly marry Christian couples, so the men wouldn’t have to go off to war. Needless to say, any respectful, self-aggrandizing, demagogue, pagan Emperor would not take lightly to this. Claudius was no different, greatly affronted by St. Valentine’s audacity he decided to take action and St. Valentine was subsequently martyred. Another fun story speaks of the Pagan celebra-
tion of Lupercalia. This ancient Roman festival occurred on February 15th and is connected to an ancient wolf deity who protected herds from wolves. The festival also makes connections to the legendary she-wolf who reared Romulus and Remus, mythological founders of Ancient Rome. Each Lupercalia began with a blood sacrifice of a goat and dog by the high priest. The young men taking part in the ritual, would then run around trying to splash this blood on any nearby women, rendering them fertile. Whether Pagan, Christian, other or none, Val- entine’s Day is no longer one mired in religion or barbarity. Today, it is a time to celebrate with loved ones, platonic or romantic. No secret clandestine meetings or rituals required (or bloodshed). This year, Valentine’s Day will take on an extra special significance. It is the first Valentine’s Day since the landmark LGBT marriage ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, a major victory for Human Rights, those in love and a symbol of
hope. If you currently don’t have a love of your own, it doesn’t matter. The opportunity to celebrate with friends you love is one that shouldn’t be overlooked. We live in a wonderful time in history, marriage doesn’t need to happen in secret, we won’t be martyred for who we love nor do we need to sacrifice goats and dogs. True, in many parts of the world, this isn’t yet the case and may not be for many years to come, but the momentum is undeniable. Use this opportunity to be present in the moment with those you love and savor the experience of time together. My favorite way of celebrating with friends is dining out. Spending quality time in a beautiful restaurant with
a delectable array of food and drink and a veritable army of people there to take great care of my guests and I. Many restaurants will offer a prix fixe menu for special occasions like this. Technically, prix fixe means, “fixed price” but it has become colloquially known as a fixed menu. This menu is one that has been carefully curated and paired with beverages by the chefs, managers and their beverage team. The traditional and technically correct French term for this sort of experience is known as, “Table d’Hôte” the polar opposite of, “a la carte.” The idea behind fixed menus is closely linked to the Japanese Omakase dining tradition. Omakase roughly translates to “Chef’s Choice” and is an amazing way to experience something truly exceptional. For execu- tion’s sake however, restaurants must plan their menus to the smallest detail, so the whimsy of “chef’s choice”
54 RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2016
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