I’ll never forget the moment I sat down across from her on our first date. The restaurant was elegant, the kind of place where the lighting feels warm and every detail matters. I was nervous but excited, certain this could be something special. But then she looked at the waiter, smiled, and asked, “What’s the most expensive dish on your menu?” My heart nearly stopped. I was ready to cover dinner, but I hadn’t expected a question that sounded like a financial trap. The waiter hesitated, described a lavish seafood platter that cost more than my monthly groceries, and all I could do was sit there wondering if I had made a huge mistake.
Trying not to panic, I asked her softly if she really wanted that dish. To my surprise, she burst into laughter and shook her head. “Oh no,” she explained, “I always ask that on a first date. It’s my little test.” Confused but intrigued, I listened as she went on: “If someone orders it just to impress, I know they care more about appearances than connection. If they get upset, it shows they can’t handle pressure well. But if they stay calm, I know they value the moment more than the menu.” Her reasoning stunned me. Suddenly, what had felt like a red flag became the most fascinating thing I’d ever heard.
From that point on, the evening shifted. We ordered simple pasta dishes and let the conversation flow. Hours passed as we shared stories about our families, dreams, and the futures we wanted to build. What began as one of the most stressful moments of my dating life turned into one of the most meaningful. By the time I walked her to her car, my nerves had vanished, replaced by a deep sense of connection. That strange question at the start had unlocked a part of her character that felt rare and genuine.
Years later, she is now my wife, and that first date is still one of our favorite stories to tell. We laugh about how nervous I was, but we also remember the lesson it carried: true worth isn’t measured by the price of dinner, a house, or a gift—it’s measured by the strength of the bond between two people. Whenever we go out now, she still playfully asks the waiter the same question, and every time, it reminds me of the night I discovered that love is found not in grand gestures, but in honesty, patience, and the courage to face life side by side.