My Top Five: Most Romantic Restaurants

There’s a saying that the way to a woman’s heart is through the door of a restaurant. While it must also be said that who you’re dining with is as key as where you’re dining, I’m no stranger to the exhilarating effects of a memorable meal.

A great restaurant offers the perfect backdrop for romance. Over the years, it’s been my good fortune to experience gastronomic delights a deux in some of the world’s most enchanting destinations. From Manhattan to Morro Bay, Bali to Vancouver and so many other exciting cities in between, I have enjoyed an array of fabulous restaurants across the globe. Here are my Top Five and the significant others who joined me in culinary flights of fancy:

Number 5 - La Boite en Bois, New York: Countryside French is served to perfection at this Upper West Side bistro, where I shared an affectionate evening with financial analyst Brooklynite Larry. A man of dizzying intellect and endless restaurant savvy, Larry broadened my culinary horizons – and had me truly smitten during our dinner at La Boite en Bois.

Rustic French Charm: NYC's La Boite en Bois

With an Italian Chef who honed his talents at London’s Le Coq D’Or and authentically French memorabilia on the walls, La Boite en Bois delivers fabulous French fare in a charmingly rustic setting.

Number 4 - Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas: A New Year’s Eve getaway with Match.com boyfriend SW included dinner at Chef J. Joho’s first-class French restaurant. Situated on the 11th floor of the Paris Hotel’s Eiffel Tower replica, this dining venue offers breathtaking views of the Vegas strip and an intimate Art Deco setting.

Paris, Sin City Style: Eiffel Tower restaurant in Las Vegas

Number 3 - Tony’s, St. Louis: This internationally renowned award-winning restaurant has been delighting diners for more than fifty years. Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, Tony's was the setting for a romantic repast with my Illinois-based beau Steve. Service is truly an art here, where accommodating five-star staffers elegantly plate food at your table. Tony’s boasts an extensive wine cellar and melt-in-your-mouth signature dishes such as toasted ravioli, a local specialty.

Number 2 - Terrace In The Sky, New York: Tucked away in Harlem in a Columbia University residence Hall, this four-star restaurant set the stage for a magical evening with SW. Though foggy skies obscured Terrace’s 360 degree panoramic views, it nevertheless delivered a truly transporting experience -- and a sublime seasonal truffle dish that still conjures up a smile four years later.

Number 1 - The Belvedere, London: Nestled in London’s picturesque Holland Park minutes from High Street Kensington, my #1 most romantic restaurant dates back to the 17th century when it was part of a sprawling Jacobean mansion.

17th Century Elegance: The Belvedere in London's Holland Park

Surrounded by lush lawns and gardens, The Belvedere serves delicious modern European fare. It was here, in the restaurant’s upper dining area back in 1994 that I enjoyed a delightful dinner with my first love Mark (a.k.a Sparky). The restaurant made a lasting impression on Sparky for an artichoke appetizer so flavorful, he raved about it for years.

Some of the happiest moments I have spent with significant others have taken place over a good meal. When romance is on the menu, I've found the experience of dining with the object of my affections is always a memorable one.

Sunday Afternoon At The Spa

Yesterday, my friend Bobbi and I spent the afternoon at Great Jones Spa. Located in the heart of SoHo, Great Jones Spa (http://www.greatjonesspa.com/) offers an idyllic respite from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

While Bobbi enjoyed a massage, I treated myself to a heavenly facial. During my 60-minute treatment with knowledgeable therapist Maria, I learned the soothing wonders of a honey-based mask and the unwinding power of a well-executed neck and shoulder massage. I emerged from my facial feeling refreshed and wishing I could go makeup-free for good.

Relaxation Haven: The Water Lounge at NYC's Great Jones Spa.

After our treatments, Bobbi and I met downstairs -- the spa has four levels -- in the water lounge. Boasting a three-story indoor waterfall, thermal hot tub and cold plunge pool, as well as a sauna and steam room, the lounge (a complimentary perk when booking a treatment of $100 or more) makes you feel miles away from stress of any kind. Skylights above enhance the relaxation effect.

While kicking back in the water lounge, Bobbi and I shared our thoughts on dating purely for fun (yea) and breast implants (nay), as well as the perils of examining a suitor’s Facebook and/or MySpace profiles. We also decided to make Spa Sundays a more regular tradition. Because you can never have too much pampering, or too much female bonding.

What It Means To Be A Pacesetter

For the last two years in a row, I have had the honor of being a Pacesetter for the American Cancer Society. A Pacesetter is a person who raises more than $2,500 for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in October. In 2007, 115 Central Park Pacesetters raised more than $560,000 -- 20% of the $2.9 million raised.

Last week, the ACS hosted a reception for Pacesetters to share fundraising tips and stories about what inspires them to Make Strides every year.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2007: Me and my friends in Central Park.

For some, participating in the five-mile event is a rite of passage after surviving breast cancer. A five-year survivor spoke with pride about being one of the top 5 Pacesetters, while a three-year survivor said she is now proactive about taking care of her health, working for the first time ever with a nutritionist to maintain an cancer-fighting diet.

It’s a family affair for other Pacesetters. One man talked about the fundraising competition between him, his wife -- a one-year survivor -- and one of their daughters. Their other daughter has tested positive for the BRCA-2 gene, which means she has a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Many of the Pacesetters present, like me, Make Strides because breast cancer has taken someone they loved. One woman said she walks in memory of her grandmother, another spoke of honoring her late sister. I’ve been walking for more than a decade in memory of my beloved mom, who lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 57.

The 2007 Memorial Wall at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Every year, I put my mom's name up here.

During the reception, ACS Regional Vice President Maureen Fitzgerald told a chilling tale of how the economic downturn is affecting cancer patients. She spoke of a woman who doesn’t eat on the days she goes for treatment -- because she can’t afford both food and the cab ride home.

As Maureen said, it’s during economic periods like this one that it’s more important than ever to support the American Cancer Society, and to continue working toward the day when cancer will be a thing of the past.

After she got sick, my mom told me that she believed there would be a cure for cancer in my lifetime. I want to do whatever I can to help make her prediction come true. Every dollar raised for the ACS counts, so click on the link to the right and help make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will take place on Sunday, October 19th. For more information about the walk, visit http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PAR/PAR_2_Making_Strides_Against_Breast_Cancer.asp.

The Trials And Tribulations Of Texting

The other day, I overheard one of my colleagues talking about going back and forth with a guy for months to try and schedule a second date. She mentioned that nearly every communication has been via text message. I couldn’t help thinking how texting has become a poor substitute for conversations better suited to the telephone or speaking face to face.

Not too long ago, I found myself sitting next to a woman as she spoke of her anxiety that the guy she periodically hooks up with had given her an STD. She chose to confront him about it in a text message. After all, she reasoned, it would be far too forward to actually call him.

Speaking of STDs, I once dated a guy who asked me in a text message if I’d ever been tested for the HPV virus. While it eventually came out that this was his clumsy way of expressing concern about my risk for cancer, I told him I would have appreciated a phone call instead. Call me crazy but I don’t think questions about sexually transmitted diseases are really appropriate for texting.

A Hilarious Take On Texting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3ws6OnGuE

For all of its conveniences, texting makes it too easy to throw verbal caution to the wind. I discovered this in a major way with a real estate attorney who had a penchant for sending racy messages like--

“I woke up this morning thinking of you, if you know what I mean.”

So much for leaving things to the imagination.

That’s the downside of texting -- etiquette often ends up taking a back seat to the instant gratification of typing on your phone’s keypad and hitting send. Some messages, especially when they’re being communicated in the early stages of dating, are best delivered in person.