February 18, 2010
Give the Gift of Love to a Hapless Bachelor
You know that guy in your life who never seems lucky in love or in life, in general. I’m sure that you have such a friend; it seems that all of us do.
I probably should tell you in advance that you better like this friend quite a bit, because the gift idea that I’m going to offer is a bit on the pricey side, although worth every penny. Maybe this guy is your son, or nephew, or uncle or your roommate who just refuses to leave.
Try giving him a truly romantic dinner for which he never has to leave the house or apartment. Hopefully he’ll be able to find an appropriate date with whom to share it. Let’s face it, nothing sweeps a potential partner off his or her feet quite like a private, romantic, dinner at the host’s home. I really do have a particular friend in mind as I write this, and he needs all the help I can provide, and I’m sure your similar friend does, too. You may need to be very specific when you give him your gift and the instructions to go with it. Remind him to light candles, choose the music for him and suggest he pick up his dirty socks.
He can begin the evening with the first part of your present, a selection of gourmet cheeses as the first course. Suggest that he consider serving the cheese with ripe apple slices or pear slices, but only if you trust him to handle a knife. This course can actually be a nice appetizer, before they are actually seated at the dining table.
The second course should be a delicious lobster dinner a different seafood dinner or perhaps a combination of steak and lobster, sometimes known as surf and turf. Since this man needs so much help, you will want to be certain that the lobster is as fresh as possible.
End the evening (at least the part of the evening you’re helping with) with a delicious, turtle cheesecake. Or, if he does not like chocolate, then select the more traditional New York cheesecake, decorated with a sprig of fresh mint.
If he drinks alcoholic beverages, do not trust him to choose the wine for the dinner. Lobster is very hearty fare, so don’t be afraid to suggest he pair it with a bold wine such as a Merlot or even a Burgundy.
Once you’ve done your part in the affair, relax until you receive the engagement announcement. If it doesn’t arrive within six months, just find another friend. That will be much easier.
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January 6, 2010
Gifts for a Friend Down on His or Her Luck
Many of us are faced with a time in which some of our close friends and family are enduring tough economic times. We want to help, but we also don’t want to embarass them by extending unwanted charity. Especially in those types of cases, we want to be sure that the gifts we give them for special occasions are put to good use, needed and enjoyed. I have a few suggestions:
A fruit basket is healthy, beautiful, yummy and always enjoyed. If you live near your gift recipient, you can find a lovely basket or other attractive container and fill it with fruit that is in season in your region of the country, obtained at a farmers market, and then fill it out with a few exotic fruits picked up at your neighborhood specialty store. If your loved one is farther away, you can arrange for any of a large range of beautiful fruit gift baskets to be delivered directly to the person’s home. It will help them to reduce their grocery bill that month.
A unique meal is another way to remember a special occasion. One alternative might be to take the friend to a special restaurant. If price is no object to you, be sure to suggest some of the pricier entrees on the menu, so that your guests know that they should not worry about ordering whatever they prefer. For example, you could say something like, “The crab legs are perfect here, but, if you don’t like seafood, try the filet mignon.” If they live too far away for that, you can actually find delicious, gourmet, chef-prepared meals online that arrive frozen and can be heated in almost no time. (I actually keep my freezer stocked with these.) Or you might send a gift certificate to a special place in their town.
A final recommendation is a scrumptious dessert. Now, lets face it, nobody should indluge in too many desserts, but on a birthday, anniversary or holiday, everyone deserves a chance to feel a little pampered. Bake cookies, if that is a skill of yours, and hand deliver or have them delivered. For something a little more special consider giving them a delicious pie or a New York style cheesecake. Whether you make it yourself or have others do the work for you doesn’t matter. It will be appreciated and definitely enjoyed either way.
You’ll notice a common feature in these suggestions. They all involve food. Someone who is going through a difficult time may not want to accept charity, but nobody can reject a genuinely special gift. If it reduces the grocery bill by a bit, so much the better.
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