Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy eating dinner at restaurants, so much so that it’s difficult to limit a mention of them in this chapter. Over the years I’ve enjoyed dining at many local and neighborhood eateries where I’ve lived, including Scranton, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, and D.C. While appreciative of all of them, I would list the following as among my most favorite restaurant memories:

Chez Francois – This restaurant was located just across the street from the office building in D.C. near Farragut Square where I worked for Arthur Andersen in 1969-1971. As I often worked until mid-evening, Chez Francois provided a convenient and delightful ending to many days. It also introduced me to French dining, a cuisine equally enjoyed by my wife. Years later, Chez Francois relocated to the countryside in Great Falls, VA, and Claudia and I dined there on several occasions, including once, I recall, with our friends, Dan and Karen Vitellio.

Rive Gauche – Located at the corner of Wisconsin & M, NW, in the heart of Georgetown, this was a most expensive French dining establishment best reserved for special occasions. The food and the ambiance were great, but what makes this memory so special is that on the drive back to Silver Spring I pulled over onto a side road and presented gave Claudia with the first gift I ever gave her – pearl earrings. She loved all jewelry and I think she treasured that gift for many years.

Paul Young’s – Back in the day it was known as a top-flight restaurant near the historic Mayflower Hotel on Connecticut Avenue in D.C. I dined there with pleasure several times, the most memorable being in January 1972, the evening that my wife proposed to me.

La Nicoise – This was a very different French restaurant in Georgetown. Although in my opinion the food was not up to the standards of Chez Francois and Rive Gauche, the menu offerings were still quite good. Beyond that, though, waiters on roller skates served the patrons their selections and in the later hours of the evening the chef and his staff performed a floorshow on a small stage in the dining room. What fun! Claudia and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience the few times we went there.

Gusti’s – This popular restaurant was located in downtown D.C., and I think it was the first Italian restaurant my wife and I went to on a date. I also often ate there with co-workers for lunch in my pre-Claudia life, as it was just a healthy walk from the Arthur Andersen office.

Nino’s – This was a real hole-in-the wall restaurant in D.C. that served very good Italian meals. My wife and I enjoyed going there because it stayed open until late evening and so it was a perfect place to eat dinner after an early evening movie. We were young then and could stay up to dine. Alas, one night Claudia spotted a rodent running across the floor, under her feet actually, and we never ate there again.

Blackie’s House of Beef – It was also in downtown D.C. and was renowned for its steak entrees. They were quite good. After testing it several times on our own, we treated the Colonel and Snow White there on one occasion and also my sister and brother-in-law when they visited us.

Fager’s Island – On practically every Eastern Shore beach vacation this upscale restaurant was our “date night” spot. It never disappointed. They served the best fish I’ve ever had, and the sunsets over the bay were glorious (often even on bad beach days).

The Bayside Skillet – Okay, this doesn’t belong in a summary of memorable dinners. But I can’t leave Ocean City without noting how much and how often my wife and I enjoyed breakfast at this omelet and crepe establishment. And I can still hear Claudia exclaiming, “Oh, that chantilly cream!”

Red Fox Inn – I always wanted to go to Washington, VA to dine and stay overnight at The Inn at Little Washington. It has a reputation for excellence in food, service, and ambiance that is perhaps unmatched in our country. Claudia and I never got to go there. But we did on one Fall weekend go to Middleburg, VA, had a wonderful dinner at The Red Fox Inn, and stayed overnight in a rustic carriage house on the countryside property. That experience, while not The Inn at Little Washington, nevertheless was grand.

Nick’s and Arthur’s – I am lumping together these two restaurants, Nick’s at King Farm in Rockville and Arthur’s in Little Rock, because in my mind I have a similar lasting memory about them. The offerings in both of them were wonderful and my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed dining at these two restaurants. More than that, however, I remain so appreciative of the special attention and concern for Claudia that the owners manifested during the difficult 2005-2014 period. They treated her royally, as she deserved.

So, this is a list of my favorite restaurant dinners. It covers five decades, and as I review the list it’s clear that they almost all involved moments with Claudia. I ask myself, then, are they favorites of mine because of the food and drink, or because of the romance?