Steve and I met at law school; he’s tall and a Leo and a lawyer who likes gin - just like me! In 2007 we together organised the best damn law ball that Victoria University has ever seen. We sporadically have rather large nights out when our mutual friends are back in town but hadn’t done a lot of hanging out one-on-one. We had a rip-snorter of a night at the General Practitioner for their Prime Pate Patty burger, which went alongside some great conversation. Date #15 ended later on at the Matterhorn - Steve’s boyfriend Sam came and joined our huddle around the fire just moments before I dropped a full Negroni all down his pants. 

We met for a drink first, and since it had been a whole 30 hours since my last burger or beverage, as soon as I saw Steve up at the bar I got that twinkle in my eye and knew we were up for a fun night. We had a couple of cheeky Negroni’s before heading down to the GP. 

The General Practitioner, or GP, is located in the big beautiful old building on the corner of Boulcott and Willis Streets. Until a few weeks ago it was purely a Monteith’s bar - now though you can get plenty of other very delicious beers by the bottle or on tap. It’s a great pub and the lovely Kirsten doted on us all evening. Three Boys Pilsner to start and a couple of glasses of Peregrine Pinot Noir, thank you very much. 

Steve and I got yarning. Travel and work and thinking outside the square to start, then relationships and dating, obviously.  

We pondered whether expectations are the problem with dating. Maybe the reason it just doesn’t happen. We discussed the unprecedented pressure that can sometimes come with a date. Expectations. What might happen. Who feels what, sitting face to face across a table. There’s no doubt that expectations exist, and with that we thought maybe it’s all too hard when we’re young. 

We laughed about a friend who is “an absolute sluzza” but if nothing else he’s really making the most of his twenties. I told him about a conversation I’d had with a girlfriend recently when she was ranting and raving about being sick of all this rubbish that every girl just wants a relationship! Again, those problems with expectations, and the gigantic grey area that exists with dating. We got onto the benefits of travelling solo just as our burgers arrived.   

The Prime Pate Patty is the GP’s take on a French classic Steak Rossini. It involved a huge, succulent beef patty wrapped in bacon, with lettuce and tomato, red wine shallots and a slice of homemade chicken liver pate. It wasn’t as overly rich as it sounds; it was delicious. I enjoyed really getting amongst it with my hands but unfortunately moisture gave way half way through and we had to knife and fork it.

The pate ended up melting down into the burger, and those shoestring fries did not have a shit-show of remaining on my plate since they were accompanied by truffled mayonnaise. For someone who reallyloves condiments, I was really really enjoying the mayonnaise. The burger was an absolute classic and was very well executed. Beef, bacon, a great bun, red wine shallots and delicious pate. Excellent.

We talked about flings when travelling, and maybe the reason they’re so good and fun is because the entire element of expectation is taken away. He said travelling as a couple was equally as awesome, but only if you are an awesome couple. That got us on to relationships generally. We both knew of couples that lost themselves in relationships, and we expertly decided that if you were bringing nothing to the table with your partner then you were doomed! I think I remember cheers-ing to never getting stuck in boring surburban coupledom. No chance!

The burgers we swiftly dealt to, and Steve was disappointed he had to give up on the hands-eating dream to don a knife and fork part way through; that beef patty was just so darned moist! I was just happily high on mayonnaise. I was also far too full for dessert when it was offered, and Steve taught himself a lesson about never saying no to dessert before the other person does. He advises always check whether your date wants dessert before saying no yourself. I tended to agree very few girls I knew would say a solo yes to dessert on a date.   

Another Pinot Noir down and we returned to the Matterhorn for Negronis around the fire. Rugged up, we got deep into more conversation and lots and lots of laughter. Funny date stories, funny travel stories and confessions no first date should ever hear! It was hilarious. We tended the fire and ordered another round of negronis just as Sam joined us to see how our date was going and to offer up some wisdom. 

About the time we were discussing the importance to never become a sloppy drunk when on a date, (but both recounting embarrassing stories of when we both accidentally had) was about the time we thought we should probably call it a night. It was also about the time I dropped my cocktail all down Steve’s trousers. 

He was such a good sport, and such a gentleman. And one of the funnest dates to date. My new GBF, Sam suggested? I think so! 

The vital stats:

Steve rated the burger 7/10 and I think they get a bonus point for exceptional service and personalised heartbreak pie burger flags! I think our date deserves a solid 9/10 - another very fun Thursday night. Thanks to Steve for being date #15. 

Thanks also to Kirsten and the team at the GP for giving me not only a goodnight kiss, but also for taking extra special care of us. Go and try their new beers!