The Best Meal I Ever Ate – A Story of Love was written by Jai of Jai Catalano Photography as part of the Yakezie Lifestyle Blog Swap. This swap is hosted by Andi of Meal Plan Rescue.
They say a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I don’t know who they are and it’s too late for me to care but they were right. My wife cooked me out of my bachelorhood and into married with 2 kids. But that was a few years ago before I realized I wanted to take the plunge and things were totally carefree. Unbeknownst to me I was walking into a whole new world all because I was about to be surprised with the best meal of my life.
It was November 2008 when my girlfriend called and asked me what I was doing that night because she wanted me to come over for a surprise. I love surprises so, aside from the second coming, I was dropping everything and anything to see what she had in store. I arrived 8 on the dot like she asked, even though she is Colombian and 8 pm sharp is usually a loose 8:30. She opened up the door and I saw this beautiful 5’6″ (5-9 with heels) goddess with long curly black hair and a succulent plate of garlic grilled shrimp pasta that was steaming with chopped cherry tomato and asparagus. I had to hold back tears of joy because I was looking at tons of love from all different directions.
Maybe she was setting me up for the hook, line and sinker but who cared because I was drooling like a Pavlovian dog as I floated to the couch. She watched me eat each portion with pride because she could tell that every bite was hitting me like a new experience. When I finished and she clearly saw that I was in heaven she said, ”guess what I have for dessert.” and I replied with my cute buttery charm, “Mrs. Field’s chocolate chip cookies?” She then pulled out a bag of the most delicious looking moist chocolate chip cookies from my favorite (other) woman in my life as she whispered, “these are ALL for you.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have eaten all the chocolate chip cookies and friends and family have had to ask what happened to ALL the cookies. That is why when she gave me 3 chocolate chip cookies both she and I knew I was going to eat ALL 3 cookies. “Do you want one?” I said, hoping she would say no. Playfully she replied, “Are you offering me a cookie?” Now both of us knew that I would be lying to her if I said yes. So, I lied to her and said, “yes.” We both laughed hysterically as she watched me eat ALL 3 cookies.
I asked her to marry me a couple of days later and thankfully she said yes. 9 months to the day of our wedding we had my son and 18 months after that we had my daughter. It’s been years since I had that meal for reasons I am sure you can figure out. However, I will never forget that amazing dinner and wonderful experience that ultimately changed the course of my life. It truly turned me into a better man. Do I still eat ALL the chocolate chip cookies? Of course! I mean, I only said I was a better man. I never said I was perfect.
Jai