Barbara’s Birthday

18 August 2011

Dinner at Oceanique usually begins with an amuse-bouche of salmon tartare, leek, and one small and exquisitely made potato chip. It’s such a good chip that I’ve commented once and again that I’ll someday order an entire bowl of the chips alone. Last night, as the amuse-bouche arrived, the server also put in front of me an oval porcelain bowl. As he removed the lid, I saw a small treasure of warm crispy goodness. He smiled and said, “So you don’t have to ask.”

Stamtisch. Peter tells me in that, in German, the word translates into the concept of a regular’s table that’s reserved for their use. Oceanique is our stamtisch, place we’ve been so often that both casual weeknight dinner and big celebration lead us back. We like to think that the small front four-top by the bar, just past the entrance, is ours alone. In any event, it’s always ready for us.

And so it was last night, when we gathered with Barbara and Jen to celebrate Barbara’s birthday. The wine director Philip, Chef Mark’s son, steered us as always to some wonderful champagne and wine wines. Mark came out of the kitchen to give Barbara a birthday hug and to thank us for coming. And after a long evening of great food and drink and conversation, we made another date with each other and headed home. Philip called out as we left, “here’s to another 75.” Save our table, Philip, we’ll be there.