Dames who Dine: The Gift of Friendship Later in Life

We have this dinner club. Well it’s not really a dinner club but that sounded cool.   We have this friend and coworker (retired) who turned 60 during Covid.  Her plans to have a grandiose party got squashed with all the social distancing rules and at the time of her birthday, tables of 6 was the rule when dining out.  So she planned a birthday dinner with 5 of us from the office at one of her favourite places.  

It was truly a lovely celebration but what the true gift has ended up being with that small group of ladies is that we have kept that group together and continue to dine out together as often as we can manage, taking turns planning or suggesting a venue.  And, we actually dubbed ourselves the “Dames who Dine”.  We have seen some wonderful dining experiences over the years, including Fireside Grill, brunch at Villa Eyre, and dinners at Med Grill and at Glo, to name a few.  I think it has become less and less about where we go, and more about spending time together and the experience we share.  We take a sip of each others cocktails, we share group appies, we deconstruct recipes, we chat, we catch up, we laugh and we support each other.  And on more occasions than not, there are small party favours gifted around the table like coins from Ireland, or bracelets, or tiny bottles stuffed with single words that describe our personality through another’s eye.  We are simply these 6  dames who hang out and have a good time and celebrate each other.  

A few weeks ago was the 5 year anniversary for us Dames who Dine but more importantly we celebrated Connie’s 65th birthday. We dined at 10 Acres Bistro and then ventured across the street for desert and after dinner libations at the Courtney Room.   Dinner was fabulous and desert equally if not even more rewarding. 

A highlight for me included the French martini.  This cocktail had me at Chambord.  But is was exquisite.  It featured cognac,  Chambord, pineapple juice and lemon:  true decadence in a glass that had me ordering a 2nd.  My biggest regret with that drink is not taking a photo of it and, well, in all honesty, probably not indulging and ordering a 3rd one! 

As always, us gals shared a few appies and the star was this Mexican corn served with pickled onions and tortilla chips.  One of the dames has already tried to recreate the recipe and I actually reached out to the Bistro to see if the would share the recipe.  They did respond providing the ingredients and the technique, but they never really provided the quantities so that one  may be a work in progress before I formally share it as a recipe.  I can say it was made with seasonal grilled corn on the cob (removed from the cob), pickled red onion, cilantro, Mexican style cheese, lime crema and tajin.   I mean sounds easy enough right?  

We all had a different entree and for me, it was the Chicken Supreme:  a chicken thigh stuffed with Aged cheddar and served with mushrooms, gruyère potato fries and gravy. Honestly, all my absolute favourite things in one dish.  It was delicious, homey and definitely not a disappointment.  Others enjoyed the Gnocchi, the Cacio & Pepe, and the striploin steak with prawns and cremini mushrooms. Everyone was satisfied with all of our cocktail / mocktail selections, the appies and our main courses.

But desert at the Courtney Room:  WOW!!!!   Once again we all enjoyed something different and everything was out of this world.  For those of you who know me well, cheese is a food group of its own and so I gravitated towards this offering of various cheeses, focaccia and this preserve made from devils club. Because the cheese offering at desert is a favourtie on our last night dining at the Murano with Celebrity Cruises, I just couldn’t resist going with this for desert.  And it did not disappoint.  My friends enjoyed some very west coast inspired deserts including a huckleberry brownie, a Basque cheesecake and some other truly amazing bites using local and organic ingredients.  I mean look at these deserts:

So thank you Connie, for turning 60 during Covid and bringing this small group of women together to celebrate you and now each other. Cheers to your 65th birthday this year and to the 5 year anniversary of the Dames who Dine.   

Female friendship can be a tricky thing.  But this group of ladies, we are exceptional.  And exceptional circumstances created our circle. A circle with no beginning and no end, and I am beyond grateful for that gift, truly hopeful that it continues in the years ahead, and so looking forward to the next night that the Dames Dine.