Dissident Chef, Part 1

It started when I saw this card on flickr, posted there by Christine who originally marked it for "friends and family" (I fall into the former category). I immediately looked up the website and attempted to procure a reservation, which I did by mentioning that a friend had received one and suggested that I try (I was stretching the truth). Afterwards I promptly asked Christine if it was okay that I mentioned her. (She wasn't sure if she had enough cache.) It was fine, in fewer than 5 hours I received an email that allowed me to make the reservation. I chose the most decadent meal, 9-11 courses with wine pairings for the 7pm seating. Via paypal I prepaid for 4 hoping that C & S would also be free.

Fast forward three weeks.

It's the day of the dinner. I break my rule of politeness and not only leave my phone on during my early morning Pilates class, I actually bring the phone into the studio and leave it next to the springboard I'm using. The reservations said that they won't leave messages, but don't give any indictaion in what time period they plan to call. Things like this make me nervous.

So as the hours tick away and they don't call, I start to worry. It is 2:45pm (T-minus 4 hours and 15 minutes to dinner). CW and I look up all the correspondence related to the dinner and I get a phone number and email, just in case. At 4:00pm S calls asking if we have the address. CW tells them we haven't heard from the Dissident Chef yet. He and I agree that I should email at 4:30pm. I send an innocuous email, basically asking "What up?". 15 minutes later, I receive a call for a point close to the location and directions to call again, when I'm there.

CW relays the info to our dining companions. We finally relax and then get ready. The first location is 24th & Castro, convenient for us to take a ride on the 24 Bus. As we near Castro/Market the bus pulls up and we get on. A quick ride puts us on the corner by 6:40pm. We wander through the few open boutiques as we wait for C & S. when they arrive, they pick us up on the corner and we all drive to park their car nearby. I call the number and they say the place is a 1/4 block up from Castro. A woman is standing outside of a realtor's office wearing a chef's coat with the Dissident Chef logo on it. She greets us and walks us towards the back and inside the Victoria flat that sits above the realtor.

Another woman greets us and begins to make us cocktails as we settle ourselves on the small loveseat.


(to be continued... the food)