Monday, May 26, 2008

Prom Night

My most intriguing Charlotte experience occurred at a fancy restaurant called M5. It’s new, open 4 weeks now, and it’s fantastic. Hailing from Toronto, land of delicious food diversity, I’m a critical restaurant-goer. I’m a challenge in that I expect fancy dining to include excellent ambience, amazing food, terrific service and great people-watching opportunities. Oh, and I don’t like it to be “pat” i.e. artificially orchestrated to make your heart flutter. I want it to hit me over the head - incomprehensibly - like the scent of Impulse body spray used to hit those unsuspecting cute guys in the commercials from the 80s. (I should mention, I met my husband on a streetcar and he ran after me as I debarked, yelling my name – which I’d had the foresight to tell him – just like those Impulse guys, but not with flowers. And we’ve been together for 13 years.)

At any rate, this restaurant was spot on with the exception of, perhaps, a smidge of orchestration. I did feel the slightest bit pandered to, but the service, atmosphere, great food and super table more than made up for it. It even had this great wine tasting format I’d never seen before (sorry to seem provincial), wherein you could order 3 different vintages from a particular region in order to savour complimentary flavours simultaneously. Perfect for the foodie with commitment issues who likes to drink a lot. We had 9 glasses of wine on the table at one time!

But one of the surreal joys of the evening was in the people watching. We happened to be out on prom night and, although this restaurant was rather cher (one would imagine) for the teen crowd, it was plein de rich kids on the path of inculturated debauchery. Such fun! Groups of begowned girls and boys in tuxes - whom, my mother was horrified to note, removed their jackets during dinner, couples – whom, my mother was horrified to note, each in turn contributed to the payment of the bill… You name it, we saw it. I didn’t realize prom girls of this day and age wear designer gowns and clutches. And, as the girl in the room, formerly, with the biggest rack, I was shocked by the number of girls who had obviously had their boobs enhanced. I mean, tiny gals plus large breasts plus no bra plus no movement plus no sag = no question. The pomp and circumstance were riveting. They went perfectly with the booze.

Not to mention the other, “regular” people in the place who were wearing some truly glamourous things – black and white, sequined tops, slips as dresses, mega heels. People in TO don’t do themselves up like this for dinner. I guess they’re too jaded, playing up the playing it down. It was a feast for the eyes, being exposed to a whole new kind of dinner dressing. And when you add this to the delicious food and conversation, gotta say it was a super night.

5 comments:

  1. My feeling is that peple in TO are too cool for that kind of blatant consumer display. Perhaps a Torontonian would wear something tres cher but understated? With a genial mix of high-low? That's my fantasy, anyway . . .

    BTW, I'm going to attend a luncheon next week at my children's new school and am expecting a full-on parade of glitz. This boho contrarian is hoping she doesn't choke on the caesar salad . . .

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  2. Sometimes I wish people here would dress over-the-top fancy for dinner. I'm sick of the trouser jean passing as formal wear.

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  3. there was a hideous special report on NPR (don't know if you get that) on the debauchery of prom night in the American midwest. ghastly...

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  4. Gems of the day:
    "I want it to hit me over the head - incomprehensibly - like the scent of Impulse body spray used to hit those unsuspecting cute guys in the commercials from the 80s."

    "Groups of begowned girls and boys in tuxes - whom, my mother was horrified to note, removed their jackets during dinner,"

    "I mean, tiny gals plus large breasts plus no bra plus no movement plus no sag = no question."

    "I guess they’re too jaded, playing up the playing it down."

    Gee whiz, K.Line: you hit it big today. Nice one.

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  5. I think you may be right Miss C. We're rather reserved as a culture here. A school luncheon. How fancy. I don't know where you live but I imagine it's in a lovely rural college town. Do dress subversively :-)

    Yulanda, I totally agree! I want a little drama.

    Riz: I don't think I get NPR. I might by satellite but I haven't been proactive enough to check that out. Usually I just listen to CBC or internet radio like Groove Salad. I'm sure I would have loved the segment.

    Enc: I love it when you enjoy, cuz I know I've hit the mark! I was worried I might seem a bit to nervy in this post so I'm glad it came off as I intended. THANKS!

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