There’s something fun about calling a big cuddly guy “Big Chrissy.” It’s deliciously close to “Big Sissy.” He’s also my Big Bunny Warmer and BC, for the past year my official paramour, but rarely “Chris.” BC decided on Azie, an Asian-inspired French restaurant as the destination of my fifth intimate 40th birthday dinner. Azie is a part of the LuLu restaurant conglomerate on Folsom Street, and like LuLu, everything comes served family style, which means that I don’t have to eat off of my companion’s plate, as I often do, and often to poor Big Chrissy’s dismay. We shared two small plates to begin: dungeness crap spring rolls, served in butter lettuce cups and with a pomegranate and cilantro dipping sauce; and stir-fried romaine lettuce and spinach with pear, wood ear mushrooms, and prosciutto. Both were brilliant, and accompanied by a French Viognier. We shared the duck breast and confit–really the best that I’ve ever had, crisp on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth inside–and the steak for our main courses, accompanied by a Russian River Pinot Noir, and for dessert chocolate cake served with jasmine tea ice cream, and cheesecake with sauteed figs, lots of caramel oozing across each dish. We nearly licked every plate clean. It was just a perfect meal, the subtle flavors of Asia woven seamlessly into French tradition.
Chrissy and I have known each other since 2000, when I responded to his WoofWatch profile, asking him if he’d be interested in modeling for me, and we became fast friends and soon thereafter lovers after I left Bob the first time. We then settled somewhat uncomfortably into friendship again after I went back to Bob, and alternately lovers and friends after I left Bob for good and during the rocky transition to independence, and for the past year we’ve enjoyed relative stability as a relatively exclusive item. Chrissy can be a pain, but he’s an ache I’ve grown to adore.
Only two more dinners to go!
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| Birthday Suit #5 | Big Chris |