Cinderella
in the City
www.danielnyc.com
The above verse is a message to Daniel, the Chef and Owner of restaurant Daniel in NYC.
"Hey Lady," my friend Ed said, "I'm in town and I want to take you out. Where is your favorite place, someplace you always wanted to go, but haven't yet?"
Friends, here I am sitting in a hot apartment with a barely working AC that blows 75 degree air. I have $50 to my name until next Friday. Not this Friday, next Friday. And, I think, wow, what an offer.
But, I'm shy. I don't know how to respond so I say, ah, you don't have to and before I can even get the words out of my mouth, he protests! No. I must tell him.
So, I mull it over. The place that is my dream, fantasy restaurant seems light years away that I would ever see the interior or experience it. It is a place of true culinary art, an establishment that indulges every luxury: the interior is second to none, as is the service, the flowers, and the food is world renown and this restaurant is the best in the world, right here in NYC.
Dare I say? Shall I save the experience for that wish filled moment of being seated across from Mr. Right as he places the razzle dazzle on my ring finger and whispers an invitation to be his forever? Hmmmmmm. For only three seconds. Then I thought. Nope. I'm not saving it for that! I want this experience to be with a person whose soul I treasure. My friend Ed is the kind of fellow that you run out of words to describe his awesome personality. There are no words to fully and accurately communicate the gentle, kind, and peaceful nature of Ed; he's genuine, loving, and protective, and so much more.
It was a Cinderella moment for me as I uttered "Daniel. Daniel is my favorite restaurant." Ed was delighted to take me. I was flattered, for here I had $50 in my pocket, to my name, until way way next Friday. Plus I'm not even sure if I had the clothes appropriate to go to such a place. But I craved the escape.
I wore all Swavarski Crystal embellished clothing. Not the dragons, the big hippie rainbow colored flower pants that sparkled with a matching black and crystal Bikerlady top, my wild hair pulled back Samuari style. My rhinestone platform shoes and my snake charm bracelet on the arm. The long Silver lace earring -- a gift from wind sister Betsy. My leather pouch.
I was set.
I took the bus cross town and then hoofed it south for about 15 blocks.
There I rounded the corner to see and behold: Daniel. The experience. I stood there for a moment before I crossed the street to stand, an eager patron, outside the brass revolving doors. I needed to just sink into this moment, this experience -- all such a treasure!
Ed arrived the moment I whirled around to see who was stepping out of the yellow cabs. There he was, my darling friend with a big smile and a welcoming hug. I didn't want to let go of him because his dear soul just radiated genuine goodness and it all felt so nice against my little soul that had been so troubled these last few weeks. Any sadness melted away. I was a giant smile.
We spun through the brass revolving doors and into the elegant foyer. The decor was akin to entering a palace. Beautiful. I felt like Dorothy discovering OZ. And it was then that it all became a different world for me folks. Beyond those brass revolving doors I had left my concerns on the pavement, just dropped them at the door. I felt like a cement block was lifted off my shoulder. I felt lovely, beautiful and my eroded confidence was beginning to rebuild. Funny how a great friend and a stunning restaurant can do that for you.
The hostess had us seated in the lounge/bar area. Originally, I thought that's where we'd sit anyway because of a lack of a suit jacket, which they had plenty of and so Ed and I were ushered into the fancy dining area only about 15 minutes later.
We were led to THE best
seat in the house. Inside an Arabian styled tent....private, in the corner
of this massive palace room. The service was impeccable so I don't really
know who was who serving us because there were so many servers! The first
one came by to inquire about our special evening and what we were celebrating to
get the best seat. Neither of us knew why we did so we just shrugged and
said because we're good friends, then I said, it's God. God gave us this
seat. God is so good. It was agreed.
The table was so perfectly set that to move anything would disturb a work of art. The walls inside this fabulous tent-like private dining area were covered in a moire fabric and there was a single lamp in the corner. On the wall was a sketch so realistic that it looked like a photograph. It was an image of a waterfall.
I couldn't stop grinning. I was laughing and filled with joy beyond measure at this royal treatment for a bankrupt gal.
We were fussed over as if we were royalty, the whole time. This experience was far more than I could ever have imagined. And such a gift to have the most darling company as part of this experience. My friend Ed is a treasure to me.
So, the food was presented with lavish affair. Cradled and cherished in the palms of the servers and whisked about and gently placed in front of us as if a feather was falling from the ceiling. The appetizers were petite cups of delicious fare, most unusual combinations, too. The bread, baked on premises, was like nothing I've ever had before in any bakery.
Yes, all the senses were purely piqued. I wish I could have met owner and chef Daniel to let him know what this evening had represented to me.
It represented possibility, it boosted my confidence--made me feel pretty again, made me feel like I'm worth it. Made me feel hope again. Thanks so much to God working through my friend Ed.
It turned out that the restaurant manager is an avid motorcycle enthusiast and when he came to visit our table, he surely stayed much longer than he normally would have as we delighted in a long conversation about bikes. We exchanged cards and, surely, I will return here someday.
Ed
presented me with a gift of shoes. I love shoes. A pair of gorgeous
cowgirl boots and a pair of sparkly Dorothy shoes. These are my Daniel
wears. And every time I wear these shoes, I slip right back into that
awesome experience that lifted my soul, my heart, my mind into a positive,
serene place where I hadn't been in a long, long time. I might say that I
strive to be there, daily, in my prayers and walks with God, but sometimes it's
a good friend who, like a brother, comes along as an angel to provide a
metaphoric experience just to let you know how special and cherished you are, no
matter your true life circumstance.
My dear Ed, God bless you, sweet man and thank you for this treasured and most memorable dining experience I ever had in my life.
