Le Jardin D'or

French cuisine is incredibly expensive. A full-course meal easily runs between 20,000 and 30,000 yen—roughly 200 to 300 US dollars. It is not the kind of food you can just have on a whim, but I have treated myself to it twice in my life. The first time was when I graduated from high school. I was invited out by a group to the Kokura Hotel, which was the finest hotel in Kokura at the time. That was my very first taste of French cuisine, and it was astonishingly delicious. I remember being asked to give an impromptu speech on the spot and being praised for it, with someone telling me, "You’re a really wonderful speaker." The second time was about ten years ago. I had gotten divorced twelve years prior and was actively looking for a partner. Through social media, I met a woman from the Philippines. I genuinely adore Filipino women. I invited her out for French food, and she accepted. The plan was to meet directly at the restaurant, but she ended up standing me up. Left with no other choice, I told the chef, "I’ll eat both portions," and took my time finishing the entire meal for two. Toward the end, the chef actually came over and gently told me 'I didn't have to force myself'. I paid for both meals and left. It was a proper French restaurant, though not quite as expensive as the hotel. The woman in the photo is an acquaintance of the Filipina woman who stood me up back then. An article popped up on my phone showing her out eating French cuisine with her husband, which brought back this amusing 10-year-old memory. For the record, I did end up dating the woman who stood me up for a little while after that night, but she broke things off after two or three months. When we parted ways, I didn't really feel any lingering attachment. The restaurant in the photo is actually just a stone's throw away from where I live now. Setting the expense aside, I really need to find a partner soon. I can’t help but feel a bit anxious about it. I’ve included the French restaurant where I was stood up for reference. To my future wife: let’s definitely go there together. For privacy reasons, I am not showing her picture, as a matter of course. https://tabelog.com/en/fukuoka/A4007/A400701/40045155/...