The choice was neither opposed nor advocated by my browsing partner, though the date of the make-up celebration itself had spurred heavy disagreement.
I debuted my strappy boohoo LBD, received many years ago as a mistake but fit shockingly well. The halter neckline and backless attributes had posed some difficulty with regard to undergarment and overcoat choice, though adding thinner, black straps underneath had meshed surprisingly well and was, consequently, well-received.
The check-in table that had once been positioned just beyond the entrance had been re-configured exclusively for patio supplies, causing the hostess to beckon us inward for reservation-checking procedures.
"Don't worry - I'm going to seat you in a quieter spot!" The hostess articulated with a beaming smile. "I also see that you're celebrating a birthday! Happy Birthday!"
"Thank you!" came my delighted reply.
We were seated at a two-seater with spacious fabric chairs, delineated from adjacent tables with curved concrete pillars for visual separation. Mind you - the facility was nonetheless deafening. Conversations of the neighbouring table could be rather clearly; raising one's voice was pivotal to being heard over the resounding voices in the near and distant proximity.
"All of our wines are sweet." She declared.
This tidbit brought about dismay, for my preference lies with drier profiles with minimal sweetness. "Which wine(s) are drier?" I proceeded to ask.
"They're all dry." came the blunt response, followed by a muffled "There's no Riesling."
Frankly, I was more acquainted with Riesling than Sauvignon Blanc, which usually varies in complexity and flavour payoff. In the end, it was the 2022 Fortulla "Serpentino" that was chosen. Unlike the waitress from my last visit, ID was not requested of me. This came as a source of awe, for the waitress' regular utterances of "dear" indicated she was aware of my relatively "young" age. Consistent with the Petit Chamblis, the partially-filled glass was priced at twenty-five dollars.