Thursday, January 3, 2008

Two Thousand and Seven

The beginning of a year does two things for me, it makes me reminisce about the previous year, and provokes thoughts of what is to come in the new year. This is a small thought sample of what’s going through the massive head of mine:


Two Thousand Seven


When it was the late 1990s I remember wondering how we were going to say the year when it was in the 2000s. As long as I could remember, we never referred to the year as “nineteen ninety eight” it would always be just “ninety eight”, like “I graduated in 98” or “I lost my virginity in 76, man what a year”. You just can’t do that in 2000s. We are now stuck with adding “two thousand” in front of everything. I miss the 90’s, but I not as much as I’ll miss the 10’s. (See what I mean? It doesn’t work.)


In the honor of the year 2007, I thought I would dedicate a top seven list to one of my favorite things to do.

Top Seven Dinners of 2007


Number Seven: Dinner at the “other” Schaaps. Sept 2007
Well Tanya, you made a top seven list. I remember having a great meal at your house where everything just worked. I mean even the goat cheese salad was kick ass. This is rare coming from a guy who normally doesn’t like salads. Wine was good, company was great. Risotto flowed like lava.


Number Six: New Year’s Eve at the Vintage Steakhouse, Calgary, Dec 31 2007
Incredible dinner, delicious company. Six of us went out for this lavishly expensive dinner for new year’s eve. I just had a remarkable time, and one to remember. Six people made for a perfect size where the conversation was as robust as the mushroom truffle soup, in an ambiance as rich as wine.


Number Five: Dinner at Gallagher’s Steakhouse, New York New York Hotel and Casino in Vegas with Jack M, Chris R and myself, Nov 2007
This one came courtesy of Chris R, and one not to forget for some time. I don’t want to break any rules about what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but man oh man, what a meal. One or two bottles of Camus and 14oz of Rib Eye.. Holy chow, sinfully overwhelming.


Number Four: Dinner at Tojo’s in Vancouver, Feb 2007
Ah Tojo’s. Sushi like you’ve never had it before. Tojo’s is like the Ruth Chris’ of sushi, painfully expensive but excruciatingly good. And, you get Tojo himself, regarded as one the best sushi chefs in the world, quick with a smile and a bow in your direction if he likes you, but even quicker with a Santoku knife hurled end over end at your cranium if you dare put his Tuna Sashimi in Soy sauce. Tojo not like you then. I know. I was warned by our server after she caught me committing this crime. “OOooo.. Tojo not like that, but it OK.. I not tell Tojo”


Number Three: Dinner at Montana’s with the Family, Oct 2007
A few months ago, after Madison’s first report card ever, we went out for dinner to Montana’s, it was Madison’s choice. For some strange reason, this was just a kick ass dinner. I say for some strange reason, due to the fact that the service industry in Calgary sucks so much lately. Well, the planets were aligned, the food was implausibly delectable, the service was faultless, the kids were very well behaved and it was just an exceptionally enjoyable experience with the family.


Number Two: Sushi Dinner at Kamei Royale, Vancouver, April 2007
This dinner was awesome. I was in Vancouver for my birthday and put together a little party. Present were My Mom and Dad, Ed and Lori, Nel and Chuck, Erica, Mom and Dad in law, and myself. The sucky part was Leona wasn’t there. The rice wine was nonstop, and everyone just had a heck of a time eating sushi and laughing. I was proud to see my In-Laws taking a chance on sushi for my birthday! What really brings this dinner to the top of my list was the feeling of fun and connectivity, we all became one of the same spirit that night.. the spirit of Sake.


Number One: Dinner on the Royal Canadian Pacific Train, Sept 2007
Due to the rules of my own blog, I can’t talk about work or work related subjects, but deliberately leaving this dinner out of a top seven list would just not be fair. Dinner on a 1st class train in the Canadian Rockies, need I say more? No, I need not, I shant not, for it was more than a mere dinner, it was a journey.



There are so many other dinners and get-togethers that have been memorable, as I write this I can think of many more than just the ones listed above. Thank you to all of you who have shared time with me in a social engagement such as a dinner. This truly is one of the greatest things we can do together, and it’s intimacy is rarely matched in other activities one can do with friends, well.. excluding Twister maybe, that can get pretty intimate I hear.
I would also like to encourage others out there that are reading this to make up their own blog, make up a top seven list, it forces you to reminisce a little, helps to chisel away a little more of that granite surrounding your soul.

15 comments:

The Big DC said...

Ahh yes - I am also happy to have enjoyed two of your top seven with you. They were as memorable for me as they were for you.

I have also tossed around the idea of starting my own blog, but recently gave up knowing that the universe is not ready for the machinations of the neurons that make up my grey matter. That and the comment from Julie along the lines of "Blogging is the male form of journaling" pretty much sealed the deal.

Mattie said...

AS,

I would be lying if I didn't hope that one of our dinners out as a dinner club would make it on this list, and secretly was hoping for it to be the little mexican restaurant Rincon Latino. Lotsa hot sauce and many margaritas make a night merry : )

MJW

Alex said...

Matt,
Indeed the Rincon Latino was a blast, and one that perhaps should have made it in the top seven. Maybe our next visit to the Rincon as the "Tequila Boys" will make it top eight in 2008?

Seriously though, we need to go back there.. and soon.

Alex said...

Darren,
Using a sentence like "machinations of the neurons" should almost make a blog mandatory for you. I would really enjoy reading the crap that spills from your grey matter. And to Julie, one (of many) things different from a Journal and a blog? A journal is all about emotions and touchy feely crap, a blog is just about crap..

Steely Dan said...

I too wish that our dinner made the top 7. It was at least in the same sentence of the aforementioned lava meal but must have since faded from memory. I think we must wait till 2099 to make the Schapper's list, (or as I like to call him "Knish")

Actually, I have a better idea. My new years resolution is to be number one in 08. Leo I hope you like coming over to our house because it may take us a couple tries to impress the Nourriture-Critique Merveilleux.

Tan said...

Steely Dan, am I sensing a little competition here??? Maybe we need to join forces and cook for Alex together - it'd be sublime! Anyways, Alex, I am honoured that my dinner made your list...truly. You are my favourite person to cook for (that and the hubby, of course)...I'm in trouble now.
And since we're getting sappy, I'm glad you're a guy who likes to "journal" because I really enjoy your crap.

luda said...

Holy Crap, this is all getting a little too touchy-feely for me (my wife, on the other hand...:))
Anyway, I wanted to mention that I think there is something about Montana's. We also had a terrific family dinner there recently. I was extremely impressed with the service (and immediately thought of your tipping blog from before and I must say, this gentleman deserved the fine tip I gave him). He was, by far, one of the best servers we had had in a long time, he was great with our kids and their orders to boot! I am going again tonight for a daddy-daughter dinner with one of my girls and if it is even close to as good as last time, Montana's may become a restaurant of choice and strong recommendation for our family for some time to come. I'll keep you posted...

luda said...

Daddy-daughter dinner date @ Montana's was so-so. Definately NOT as great as last time (and the tip reflected it). I saw our excellent server from before and silently cursed the tables he was serving b/c I knew how much better their service was than ours! Is that so wrong???

Jen said...

Alex,
Have I told you lately that your writing is brilliant? I love lists...and am going to construct one of my own.
Here's to more intimate moments in 2008...(shared dinners that is ;-)

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