Stakes Tartar

Our dating blogger makes a dietary exception on a first date.

By Liza Persky

My dad is a great guy. And anybody with a great dad knows that makes it even harder to find a boyfriend. So, you can imagine when HE had someone to fix me up with, well, the stakes were pretty high.  My dad met Glenn at the gym three months ago and could not stop talking about him. "Glenn is just so great.  HE'S the type of guy I could see you with.  He's so sweet, and charming, and well adjusted and smart."  At one point he literally said, "Actually Liza, I don't know if you're good enough for him."  Did I mention that my dad is funny? 
Two weeks ago, he approached Glenn in the locker and asked him if he was seeing anyone. (It's so nice when your dad does your flirting for you.)  Shortly thereafter, I got a phone call: "Hi. My name is Glenn. Your dad and I know each other from the gym and he said you're terrific and he suggested that maybe we should go out."  First of all, I loved his innocence in introducing himself to me. As if my father and I haven't been plotting, planning and preparing this for three months. The Beijing Olympics took less prep.

We made the date for last Wednesday night. After trying on everything in my closet, including a bridesmaid dress I remember thinking would one day be great for a date (note to self: the "I can actually wear this again" rule is pretty much just a way to deal with the fact that you're wearing an ugly dress to your friends wedding) I decided on a pair of jeans and a cute, summer, sexy top. (I don't think I had ever been this nervous before a date.)

I walked in and he was already at the bar. In a word: adorable. We talked about my dad for the first 15 minutes. I can't say that I'd use that approach on future dates, but it worked like a charm and he asked if I was hungry.  Any smart, single and desperate girl knows that this is a good sign. He liked me.  Frankly, how could he not? I was working harder than Sarah Palin memorizing answers for a debate.

When he saw the menu his eyes lit up. "THEY HAVE STEAK TARTAR."  I've been a vegetarian for 12 years, so I casually said, "Oh, I don't eat red meat."  He was SHOCKED! I mean, he looked at me like I didn't walk upright.  Not wanting this whole date to crash and burn over a little e coli, I quickly recovered. "Oh, is it raw, because I do eat RAW red meat. Yes, that's right. I only like red meat when it's raw."  Next thing I knew I was digging into a plate of something I'm sure I've seen on an episode of  Nip Tuck.  I think I had three bites. Enough to make him think we have similar tastes, but not enough to make me sick.  

So, now I know. To get a guy to like me I was willing to give up my entire lifestyle.  That's not good.  And, the date was a week ago, and he hasn't called.  But, then, I'm not the first woman to sacrifice her needs for a man.  Grace Kelly gave up her acting career to become royalty, and then she died.  Nicole Kidman sacrificed her religion for Tom Cruise by becoming and Scientologist, and then realized she joined a cult.  And Priscilla Presley gave up her education when she met Elvis at 14 and moved to Graceland to be with him, and then he cheated on her.  Come to think of it, eating a little raw meat isn't so bad.

So, have I learned my lesson?  Well, I'd like to think so, but the truth is, Glenn hasn't called, and next week I have a date with a food editor at the New York Times who's taking me to some fancy place where, according to Menu Pages, they have his favorite dish, sweetbreads.  I have an uneasy feeling.