Channeling Oscar & Austin on New Year’s

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As in de la Renta and Powers…I kid you not! This New Year’s Eve was riotously fun and delicious. In the company of good friends (Dave, Stephanie, Jill, and Cindy) we went to the annual bash hosted by Le Coq Rouge. This is the #1 restaurant in Boise. It is a French country-style eatery that will knock your socks off. If you are coming to, or just passing through Boise, Idaho, you owe it to yourself to dine at this restaurant.
The menu is limited with usually no more than 5 – 6 appetizers and 8 – 10 entrees. Depending on what is seasonally available, some items appear at various times and only a handful of them are regular items on the menu. I’ve had a variety of dishes and have never been displeased by what I selected. I especially like their preparation of frogs’ legs and escargot appetizers and it is a tossup between their osso bucco and rabbit (these show up periodically on the menu) for a main dish. Their wine selection is not large but outstanding. I would be amazed if anyone couldn’t find something to their liking.
Sooooo…..late in November Beth & I were there with friends celebrating our anniversary and my birthday when the chef came by and told us to come to their annual Christmas and New Year’s Eve bashes. We couldn’t make the Xmas Eve bash but did commit to the New Year’s Eve date.
It was a blast. I saw lots of familiar faces and met some new folks. Two of the funniest episodes involved being mistaken for Oscar de la Renta and being compared to Austin Powers. The evening started at 8PM and during lulls (and new bottles of vino popped open) I went around and visited with some of the folks I’ve previously met while dining there.
I was standing by our table when an older handsome woman came up to me, “My friends and I have been observing you from across the room and wondering who you are. One of them thinks that you are Oscar de la Renta.” She continued, “I am now 71 and I’m not just going to sit and watch. I told them that I was going to come and talk to you.” I was positively charmed!
We chatted for a while and she told me that she was happy to be out that night because her husband had come out even though his health was quite frail. What particularly touched me was that she really wants to travel and see more of Italy (my most favoritest country ) but can’t because of present circumstances. She invited me to come over to their table and meet her friends and hear more about my adventures. After a few minutes (and a wine glass refresher) I headed over to their table. On the way over I saw that she was doing a sort of group dance with another couple so I immediately took her up and started dancing with her. She told me that she had been dying to dance. See!? It is never too late to cut loose and have fun.
When I came back to the table, Beth and my friends immediately informed me that while I out and about one of the other guests at our table had made a humorous comment. After observing all that had transpired, he had blurted out, “Who is this guy? Austin Powers?” To which Jill had replied, in her best Austin Powers voice, “Yeah, baby!” Thank God I have fun friends who know how to have fun!!! Its all just very groovy…baby!!

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