Quick!! Where should I eat for my 21st Birthday???

Alright, so it's the day and I forgot to start asking for ideas, so if you see this chime in. It's not like I can't come up with something myself, but that I don't have a lot of money to blow on expensive food all the time.

I don't want to get huckin fammered. I would much rather go to a nice restaraunt and start learning how to match wine with food.

So, if you have any good places that won't completely break my pocket book (I plan on splurging a little), let me know. I'll be checking this periodically throughout the day.

And J.C., I'm expecting your help because you're the wine expert...

Thanks for your input, guys.

 

Well, my original plans were for tonight around 6 or 7. I have two other people, and if it comes down to them not being able to pay for something outrageous I'll probably pay for them anyway. I'm thinking around $25-$50 a person. I like steak, but have yet to have a filet that I have been impressed with. New is good if it's good.

If this is too short notice, we can always go somewhere small tonight and then plan something bigger in a week or so.

Thanks for the input and wishes, guys...

Edit: Almost forgot: aside from food/wind pairings, my mom recommended Margo's. Have you ever been there? I would still prefer to do a food/wine pairing type thing.

 

What's funny is that I've already been to Cracker Barrel this morning for breakfast...I can't seem to get away from the place.
I even got off for today and I still went back.

 

Unfortunately I have already succomed to the lure of his expertise...pray for me through the rest of the night. Your comment makes me laugh, however.

"Johnny Sauce." Haha! That's amazing. He should coin the phrase at his restaurant.


Everyone, I am going too.................deep breath....................the Watermark, per JC's recommendation and efforts.

I will report in the morning (hopefully without a headache).

Thanks to everyone.

 

We arrived and let the server, who's name was Charles, know what was going on: that it was my birthday and I was interested in learning the basics of food/wine pairings, etc. He then left and gave us a little time to look over everything.

A few minutes later a man named Nathan walks up and says, "Who here knows JC??" I identified myself and explained everything, and he proceeded to give us a great overview of the menu and some of the basics of the wine, and then offered us his services and wishes and told us that Justin would be with us in a few minutes to explain the wine.

He showed up promptly, introduced himself, asked about JC, and then gave us the basics of wine. We were still a little unsure of what to order, so he told us that he would take a look at our food choices when we ordered and then, based on our preferences and what we thought we'd like, pair a wine with the food. I wound up getting a grits souffle for an appetizer with a white that was crisp, a little stronger than I expected, but was good and went well with the appetizer, and my buddy stuck to his fruity drink roots and got a salad with a white that was a little sweeter.

For the entree I ordered the Wild Boar with a red that, gratefully, was not too strong, but I remember two things distinctly: When I took my first bite of the boar I experienced about 6 or 7 different flavors that succeeded one another in about 5 seconds (it was fantastic), and then as I was finishing the entree I began to notice the correspondance between the wine and the dish: I could actually taste the wine in the Boar. It was great.

Throughout the meal both Justin and Nathan checked on us numerous times to make sure everything was too our liking (it was), and then as we were finishing our drinks and entrees, Charles approached us with dessert menus and told us that Justin would like to buy us dessert. I ordered a cheesecake, my buddy ordered a rocky road, and my lady friend a carrot cake. They brought me my dessert with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate around the edge of the plate, and a single burning candle in the middle. It was delicious, and as Charles brought us our check I asked him if Justin could come by one more time so that I could thank him (for the hundreth time) for everything.

Justin came by and I thanked him for the everything: the food, the incredible service, the help with choosing wines, etc. It was a great experience. And just when I thought he couldn't do anymore, he told us to sit tight for a second while he brought us one more treat. He showed up a few minutes later with a small glass of a 1927 something. I don't remember what it was called, all I can remember thinking was that he gave us something very special that was older than my grandfather and that I probably didn't completely understand. It was fantastic. I've never drank anything like that in my life. It had a date flavor to it, and was absolutely the perfect finish to a fantastic evening.

JC, thank you so much for all your help and guidance, and please, please, please give all my regards to everyone at the watermark. I don't think I could have had a better 21st birthday.

Thanks to all!!

 

Incidentally I tried to describe the first white I had to the server and told him that it had a sharp flavor similar to the sharpness of cheddar cheese. He sort of stood there for a second and then said, "Yeah, I could see that.."

I chuckled to myself, only because I knew he probably thought I was totally crazy.

"Philistinian" is pretty good, though.