Hermione, who was sitting quietly in the car, didn't have to wait long.
About 10 minutes later, Vincent, who had just come out of the Eggplant Restaurant, very gentlemanly opened the car door for her.
She gently took his hand as she got out of the car, then linked arms with him as they walked into the restaurant.
The light purple decor gives it a unique and mysterious feel.
Led by a waiter, the two arrived at a white table on the second floor near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The tableware on the table was all decorated with white ribbons with purple trim, and a bottle of red wine stood out prominently next to a lit candle in the center.
Vincent frowned slightly, somewhat annoyed that he hadn't reminded the lobby manager earlier.
Don't be fooled by his adult-like attire; he'll actually turn 18 next month.
And the red wine was so direct! Hermione blushed with embarrassment.
Vincent winked at the waiter, "Please change it to champagne for us, thank you."
"No need to trouble yourself." Hermione loosened her grip on his thigh and looked him in the eye. "I shouldn't get drunk if I only drink a little bit."
She occasionally drinks champagne or cocktails. Red wine generally has a low alcohol content, so a little bit is not enough to get her drunk.
"Okay." Vincent gestured to the waiter that they could prepare the appetizer.
Unlike the usual ordering process, all the dishes for this dinner were decided by the chef.
Shortly after the waiter poured the red wine into the decanter, the lobby manager arrived with a food cart.
The appetizer was the tableside pan-fried scallops, which he was in charge of. He turned on the gas stove on the food cart.
"Good evening, gentlemen. I am John Phillips, the lobby manager of Eggplant Restaurant. You may call me JP."
JP then told a witty and humorous British dry joke to lighten the mood.
"Our restaurant opened last year, and I was very impressed with our first customer because he was Indian. I immediately asked him to wash his hands before eating."
At first glance, it doesn't seem like much, but upon closer inspection, it's absolutely hilarious.
Vincent was fine, and Hermione also gracefully covered her mouth and chuckled.
JP skillfully placed snow-white scallops one by one into the boiling butter in the frying pan.
"I was also very impressed with the second customer because she was a punk girl wearing headphones. I communicated with her in sign language for a long time. Later, she took off her headphones and I realized that she was a normal person and not a disabled person."
This lobby manager is quite shrewd, satirizing the rudeness of today's youth.
Moreover, he was an excellent cook; not long after telling the second joke, he perfectly cooked two plates of golden scallops.
"Please enjoy your meal, gentlemen. I need to hurry downstairs to prepare dishes for another table of guests, and I also need to tell you the two little stories I just mentioned."
He cracked another corny joke before leaving; he really knows how to liven up the atmosphere.
Vincent and Hermione picked up their knives and forks, cut off a small piece of scallop, and put it in their mouths.
No extra seasoning is needed; freshly prepared tableside dishes are always the freshest.
Moreover, it didn't have any overcooked, rubbery texture at all; the oil temperature and heat were controlled exceptionally well.
Just as the two finished eating the scallops, the waiter brought over French bread as a side dish, as well as two small plates of Southeast Asia -style Thai fried shrimp.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, may I pour you some drinks?"
Vincent nodded slightly.
Most red wines should be decanted for 15 to 30 minutes, but longer decanting is not necessarily better.
The type of wine, its body, its condition, and individual taste preferences all have subtle effects on the taste.
Since the waiter specifically reminded me, this bottle of red wine, which appears to be from Bordeaux, France, should be at its best for drinking.
Hermione picked up her wine glass, gently clinked it against Vincent's, and then carefully took a sip.
It has a slightly bitter taste at first, but soon a rich and full-bodied fruity flavor spreads from the tip of the tongue, ending with a light sweetness.
It was alright, not as good as champagne or cocktails, but not too bad either.
Vincent, however, could taste something slightly different.
The bitterness of ordinary red wine lingers in the mouth after the first sip. This is fine for parties or gatherings, but it is unbearable for some restaurants that pay attention to detail.
To minimize the impact on the taste of the food, their head chefs usually personally taste different batches of red wine produced by various wineries in different seasons until they find one or more that satisfy them.
Gordon Ramsay, the Hell's Kitchen chef, is clearly a very detail-oriented person, Vincent think this dinner is even more anticipated.
Thai fried shrimp has a rather appetizing sour and spicy flavor, while the accompanying French bread is nothing special.
If I had to point out an advantage, it would only be that it's not a "baguette".
The two didn't have to wait long before the first main course arrived.
Even before the roasted lamb chops sprinkled with rosemary were served, their enticing aroma could be smelled from afar.
The center of the cut lamb chops is pink, tender and juicy, and the seasoning and cooking are top-notch.
The second main course was the classic French pan-seared foie gras, but the chef innovatively used a rich and layered blueberry sauce.
The delicate texture of foie gras, paired with a refreshing sweet and sour sauce, is simply unforgettable.
"Cheers!" The two took a small sip of red wine.
The third main course was Hell's Kitchen's signature dish— Beef Wellington.
Beef Wellington is quite complicated to prepare.
First, lightly fry the filet mignon, then spread a layer of mushroom sauce evenly on it, wrap it with a layer of Parma prosciutto, tightly wrap it with puff pastry, and then bake it in the oven.
Compared to regular steak, Beef Wellington has a much richer flavor.
The savory aroma of mushrooms, the tender and juicy tenderloin, and the crispy crust combine to create a unique and delightful flavor.
Before she knew it, Hermione had already finished her second glass of red wine.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes kept darting around as she looked at Vincent sitting opposite her.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"No, I'm fine now."
She gracefully put down her knife and fork, saying, "I feel like the happiest person in the world right now."
Vincent looked on in astonishment. "Shouldn't I be the happiest person in the world?"
Hermione covered her mouth and chuckled, "You're so easily satisfied?"
"Aren't you the same?"
Dim lighting, slightly tipsy, two people gazing at each other.
The waiter carrying the dessert wisely retreated quietly.
Hermione downed the red wine in her glass in one gulp, then got up and moved a chair next to Vincent.
After she sat down again, she boldly leaned into his arms, gently resting the back of her head on his neck.
"I think I'm drunk."
Vincent put his arm around her shoulder, not calling out her lie. "Really? Then rest well here with me."
"Mmm." Hermione turned her head and quietly pressed it against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
His heartbeat was powerful, one beat after another.
She said she was drunk and needed to rest, but she stretched out her small hand and gently gestured something towards his chest with her slender fingertips.
A letter "I", a heart, and a letter "U".
Vincent smiled faintly and hugged her even tighter.