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I always love a quiet, romantic dinner for two. In the 17 years I’ve lived in greater Fort Lauderdale, believe me, I’ve found lots of places to savor this experience with someone special. Whether at a sidewalk café downtown, or by the water or in west Broward somewhere, there is no shortage of excellent restaurants offering just the right atmosphere and that little corner table tucked in back. But last week, on my latest “backyard vacation” a few miles from my house, I enjoyed an even more exclusive meal for two. Dinner was on the balcony of my suite at the GalleryOne Doubletree, a lovely upscale hotel along the Intracoastal. Whenever I’ve had the chance to sample this sort of extravagance before, it’s always seemed the ultimate in romantic dining. This time was no different. At the newly renovated GalleryOne overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, just west of the Sunrise Boulevard bridge, our balcony turned a simple meal into something extraordinary.
It began with take-out. Some excellent Italian from nearby Franco & Vinny’s, a local place I wrote about in a June blog. Gwendolyn and I were hungry following an afternoon of sipping wine and gawking at yachts. So we ordered too much food, of course: mozzarella and tomato appetizer, stuffed eggplant, ziti with zucchini. Two salads came with the order. We returned to the suite, poured a nice cabernet and began nibbling on the appetizer, settling into a leisurely meal.
Could any dining room be more exclusive? Just one very private outdoor table in an ideal setting. Massive yachts and small boats drifting quietly past, their passengers probably unaware of us above them. The two of us, talking, laughing. Smiling a lot. Then, yes, maybe a little more pasta and definitely more wine, please. All on a comfortable evening just right for shirtsleeves. Before wrapping up the leftovers to store in our suite’s refrigerator, we just sat there for quite a while. I’m not sure what Gwendolyn was thinking, but as for me … well, I was trying not to think of anything at all. I was still too busy smiling.
It began with take-out. Some excellent Italian from nearby Franco & Vinny’s, a local place I wrote about in a June blog. Gwendolyn and I were hungry following an afternoon of sipping wine and gawking at yachts. So we ordered too much food, of course: mozzarella and tomato appetizer, stuffed eggplant, ziti with zucchini. Two salads came with the order. We returned to the suite, poured a nice cabernet and began nibbling on the appetizer, settling into a leisurely meal.
Could any dining room be more exclusive? Just one very private outdoor table in an ideal setting. Massive yachts and small boats drifting quietly past, their passengers probably unaware of us above them. The two of us, talking, laughing. Smiling a lot. Then, yes, maybe a little more pasta and definitely more wine, please. All on a comfortable evening just right for shirtsleeves. Before wrapping up the leftovers to store in our suite’s refrigerator, we just sat there for quite a while. I’m not sure what Gwendolyn was thinking, but as for me … well, I was trying not to think of anything at all. I was still too busy smiling.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 1:55 PM
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