The Wedding Taster-Valentine's Day Special

On Friday, one of my college roommates invited me to a wedding menu tasting at the Omni Parker Hotel. At first, I was going to decline her invitation because I was wiped out after a long day at court, but once she asked, "Do you eat meat," I thought, "Have you met me?" I soon realized that she could not eat meat because it was Lent (and she is a vegetarian, but that is not the point). For the sake of my friends, their family and guests, and all that is holy, I could not allow them to choose the most special meal in their life without tasting any of it.
So I took a nap to prepare for my role as The Wedding Taster. The Wedding Taster has all the fun of wedding planning without the responsibility. I love going out to dinner with friends to catch up with them, but sampling food for a wedding menu is even better.
First, I am such a foodie, but I also have a mortgage and student loans so that limits the number of times you are going to have social time with friends out on the town. Wedding sampling is free. So you get a night out with friends and dinner hosted by one of Boston's top hotel restaurants without the bill.
Second, the Wedding Taster eats with purpose and is not pigging out at a buffet. I imagine that it is like being a food critic without the writing. I tried every variety of chicken with the utmost gravity: Grilled Chicken Provence (boneless chicken breat, seared spinach, sundried tomato and Boursin Cheese Cream Sauce), Chicken Forestiere (Roasted Statler Breast of Chicken, Ragout of Wild Mushrooms, Wilted Greens) and Chicken and Shrimp Verdicchio (Boneless Chicken Breast and Scampi Style Shrimp with Artichokes and Mushrooms). How do you choose? If it was based on presentation, then I would choose Chicken and Shrimp Verdicchio because you feel like you are getting two main courses for the price of one, but the most tender chicken dish was definitely the Grilled Chicken Provence.
Finally, the Wedding Taster may observe whether or not the couples at the event are right for each other. I was lucky to accompany a great couple, but not every Wedding Taster was so fortunate. I witnessed one dramatic exchange by the soup portion of the buffet.
Bride to her Fiance: "Why are you eating that? That's not on our menu."
Fiance: "I just wanted to try it."
Bride: "Jesus, you're eating so much."
I skulked away and did not even look at them because I may have felt the need to inappropriately intervene and tell the guy to run as fast as possible. If you can get into an argument over what you eat at a buffet, then there may not be much hope for marital bliss. At a buffet, only good things should happen. Please, not in front of the clam chowder. This is a special night.
So find your favorite engaged couple and help them plan the most important celebration of their lives. Happy Valentine's Day!