Beach Romance-Dinner with a side of diamonds

by Christopher J. Lynch
Marriage proposals run from the prosaic and awkward – Who could forget Sylvester Stallone’s dopey proposal to Talia Shire in Rocky II — “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind marrying me very much” — to over the top: skywriting, underwater, the Jumbotron at a nationally televised sporting event. Somewhere between these two extremes is the classic dinner date: some wine, some nice conversation, romantic lighting and then after dessert – or maybe as the dessert – the big question is popped.

If you live in the South Bay and your engagement was decided after a bottle of wine and a fine meal, chances are it was orchestrated by Bottle Inn general manager Silvio Petoletti.

Since its opening in 1974 the Bottle Inn has been recognized as the “Most Romantic Restaurant” in just about every Best of the Bay poll.

“We average at least a dozen marriage proposals a year,” said Petoletti, who has been with the restaurant since its opening. “And with a noticeable spike around Valentines Day,” he added.

People generally request table 12 at the front of the restaurant, or the corner table at the very back, next to the expansive wine cellar, he said.

“Waiter, there’s a karat in my mousse”
If romance were an entrée, a hidden gem in the dessert would be part of the standard fare. Whether mining for a brilliant round or a marquise cut in a crème br?l?e or triple torte, engagement rings discreetly buried into sinful sweets is a practice many a romantic eatery has seen — and occasionally with dubious, or even dangerous results. In addition to a gooey, sticky ring, choking, chipped teeth and other mood saboteurs are the risk one runs when taking even the most stringent of precautions with such a culinary surprise.

“We no longer do the ring in the food thing,” Petoletti said, explaining that they’ve had some close calls and want to avoid any disasters. “But we will place it on top of certain dishes, or just off to the side.”

“We’ll also do the ring in champagne or wine glass if customers request this,” Petoletti continued. “Since most women sip as opposed to chug their drinks, this usually isn’t a problem.”

The dessert tray is another tried and true method. The ring is discreetly positioned in the center of the tray, or on its own silver plate, occasionally with the words “Will you marry me?” written in a chocolate or raspberry drizzle.

The great imposters
“We’ve had at least a dozen guys over the years who have wanted to present the dessert tray themselves,” Petoletti said. “And it usually works out very well.”

Some aspiring grooms take this role very seriously, and with Oscar worthy performances.

“One guy got dressed up in the same outfit as our servers,” Petoletti recalled. “At the end of the meal, he excused himself and went into my office to change: the white shirt, the tie…every last detail. He even had a food folder sticking out of the pocket of his apron!”

He placed the ring box in the middle of the tray of desserts, steeled himself, and then stepped through the kitchen doors. It was show-time!

Asked if this gentleman pulled it off, the answer was an unequivocal, “Yes!”

The most unusual food presentation
Despite so many years in the restaurant business and it didn’t take Petoletti long to recall the most unusual of all of the proposals he has seen.

“The strangest one was in a pumpkin,” he said. “The young man was from a remote rural region in Italy, and one of the local traditions was to hide the ring in a pumpkin.”

The man brought his girlfriend in around Halloween and there was a pumpkin already sitting on the table with a lid cut into the top. At a certain point during the meal, he asked her to open the cap and see what was inside the pumpkin. Attached to the inside of the lid was a string. At the end of this string was her engagement ring.
She said “Yes” as well.

Petoletti, a native-born Italian, had never heard of this tradition. Numerous Google searches revealed nothing as well, although it was discovered that actress and singer Alyssa Milano had been proposed to similarly by one-time beau Scott Wolf.

Most romantic
In an establishment as steeped in romance as The Bottle Inn, it’s tough to imagine finding yourself poised at the pinnacle of memorable proposals. Such was the case though for a couple that decided to tough it out against all odds and brave the elements of an unforgiving cold and windy day on the sands of Hermosa Beach…and all in the name of romance, as spending time with someone is great, as you can share intimacy and even visit sites like fuqqt with your partner. 

The couple arrived at the restaurant — along with the woman’s parents — and soon afterward the boyfriend disappeared. Petoletti remembered the staff helping the man set up a private table for four out on the beach. After a while, the woman became suspicious and asked ‘Where did my boyfriend go?’”

The staff responded by escorting her out to the table that had been set up on the sand.

The parents took one look at the cold, windy beach and decided to stay inside, leaving the young lovers to brave the elements on their own. They did, and somewhere between the sand-blasting gusts of wind, the man proposed, and his girlfriend said yes.
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Most touching
Although not one of the more creative approaches, one proposal stands out in Petoletti’s mind as the most touching.

“A few years ago we had a young man who was shipping out to Iraq. He was a Marine. He and his girlfriend went back into the wine cellar and after eating, he went down on one knee and presented her with a ring. She said ‘Yes,’ and ran out of the restaurant crying uncontrollably.”

“There was nothing especially unique or romantic about his approach,” Petoletti admitted. “But we were all aware of the young man’s circumstances, and it really got to us. Several of the waitresses, and even some of the customers, began crying as well.”

As Petoletti says, “Romance and hardship combined tends to bring out the tears in everyone.”

Snafu
Conventional wisdom holds that every battle-plan is perfect — until the first bullet is fired. Equally passionate exercises, love and war are diametrically yet explicitly bound, and with results that are oftentimes just as ironic. Expert archer William Tell may have hit the apple perfectly with his arrow and in the process saved his son’s life, but occasionally Cupid misses…and usually with comical results.

“One guy went down on one knee to propose in the middle of the restaurant…and promptly fell over,” Petoletti recalled. “His date was worried that he was hurt. He kept telling her ‘I’m ok…I’m ok.’ He got back up onto his knee – albeit embarrassed, and then continued on, successfully.”

The most spectacular of the romance-gone-south incidents at the Bottle Inn, occurred during one of the dozen or so “waiter-with-the-engagement ring/dessert-tray” imposter attempts.

“Not being experienced with the restaurant, the aspiring groom-to-be accidentally went out the in door of the kitchen and collided with another server entering the kitchen,” Petoletti remembered.
Faster than you could say ‘Will you?’ he found himself wearing the dessert tray all over his chest.

Luckily, one of the waiters, who lived next door to the restaurant, went home and grabbed a clean shirt for him. He changed, picked up a new tray of desserts – including the engagement ring – and went out to present it himself. Disaster was averted, and the woman accepted.

The co-conspirators
Not unlike a bank heist or military exercise, successfully executed surprise proposals require the use of additional resources with well-honed expertise. The Bottle Inn certainly qualifies in this category and has an expert staff that is capable, willing and eager to help as well.

“There’s definitely a buzz in the restaurant when we’re hosting a surprise engagement,” Petoletti says. “We have it noted on the reservation log and everyone — busboys, waitresses, cooks, management are all in on the secret.”

A sense of pride also pervades the restaurant as employees realize that theirs is “The Spot” where more South Bay couples prefer to pop the question than at any other place.

“I think our staff gets as much out of the whole experience as the couple themselves,” Petoletti says. “They talk about it for weeks afterward, and relive the moment over and over.”

Some advice for the daring
When asked what advice he would give to suitors wishing to ask the big question, he has some simple yet sage advice.

“Be as unique as possible; be creative – that’s what women like. They have more respect for the guy who went out of his way to do something special than anything else in this world.”

Christopher J. Lynch is a life-long resident and freelance writer living in the South Bay. Contact him at cjly9090@Yahoo.com. B

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