Toast for twoLast night I had the classic single journalist’s dilemma: who to take to a work event? In particular, this was Taste of the Town, a swanky food-and-fashion gala thrown annually by the politically evil but socially entertaining Golden Gate Restaurant Association (don’t worry – since I had press passes, I wasn’t supporting their anti-labor lobbying efforts, towards which proceeds of everyone else’s $150 tickets went).
The debate always goes something like this: I have an extra pass to a potentially cool event that I (and my potential date) might not otherwise get to attend. But I have to go there to actually work. If I bring a date I’m interested in, I’ll either ignore my date or ignore my work. So I decide to bring a platonic friend. But then I have to choose the right friend, someone fun, independent, and capable of using restraint at an open bar. Not always easy, and the right Plus One for one event may not be right for another.
I want candy. Models show off confection-themed wedding dresses co-created by Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake. Of particular interest were cotton-candy hair pieces and chocolate "tattoos."
Luckily, I have a perfect Plus One for just about any occasion, my friend North. He’s attractive, charming, and, most importantly, not a romantic prospect. And though he’s capable of being inappropriate when appropriate (no, that’s not an oxymoron), he also knows how to behave and have a good time. So he’s the one I brought to Toast.
North, the Plus One in question, at an entirely different event.
Last night, he was as awed and amused as I was by the majestic Old Federal Reserve building, complete with red carpet rolled out along its steps. He kept his sense of humor about event sponsors while appreciating the extraordinarily well-made drinks those sponsors made for us (my new fave: Green tea vodka mixed with Odwalla lemonade). And he could handle my kamikaze tour of the phenomenal food – among the best: prosciutto-wrapped figs from Bix, rabbit and truffle ravioli by Staffan Terje of Perbacco, some kind of yogurty Indian goodness from Doja, a mind-boggling interpretation of S’mores by Mimi Young and Dan Scheroffer of Palio d’Asti, and Berkshire pork terrine with quince paste (I called it glorified salami and crackers) from Lark Creek Steak – without being early snobby or disinterested.
Also, being the metrosexual male he is, he could appreciate the AsiaSF performances (those are the prettiest boys I’ve ever seen; and one did a signifantly better “Gimme More” lip sync than Britney managed at the VMAs) as well as the food-meets-fashion runway show.
Pretty boy. One of the AsiaSF ladies woos the audience with gender-bending badassery.
But the best part? When fantastic coverband Wonderbread 5 called men on stage to dance along to an Ice Ice Baby/Under Pressure medley, my Plus One managed to outshine even the bow-tie clad dancefloor hog – which was hard to do, because that guy was fabulous.
Every journalist needs a sidekick. Even while dancing on stage, North remembered to snap a self-portrait for posterity.
It seems it’s as true for a work event as it is for a wedding reception (which, by the way, this event kind of felt like): When you’re proud of your Plus One’s performance in public, you know you’ve made the right choice. Now if only he could get the GGRA to support healthcare for workers.
What? I always go to parties held in buildings like this.
(More on Toast fashion in next post.)
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Comments (1)
Verrieres & Sako designed the Tequilla inspired lime peel dress and the Fleu de Lys gown with a chili tulle spray.
Posted by Stephanie Verrieres | October 4, 2007 08:34 PM