When we set up Matt and Jen, we really hit the nail — or really the dough — on the head. Over an interactive dinner at sushi spot Inakaya, the duo shared laughs and literally squashed any first date nerves by helping construct their meal. Three hours later, the 27-year-old management and strategy consultant and the 26-year-old account supervisor parted ways as Facebook friends and with hopes for a second date. — J.T.
He said:
From the minute Jen showed up, I knew I had no reason to be nervous. She was tall, slender and had a glow about her that said, “I’m confident, happy and I know what I want.” That’s a very rare quality in this city, and something that any guy would be instantly attracted to.
We sat down, started talking and didn’t really stop for the entire three hours we spent together. Jen is a natural conversationalist and at no point was there an awkward silence. The only pause was when we used these giant hammers to mash some doughy substance, which we later learned was edible and quite tasty!
After dinner, I walked Jen to a cab, gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and sent her on her way. We didn’t exchange numbers but did agree to become fast and furious Facebook friends, which these days is kind of the same thing, right? I had a fantastic time with Jen and would do it again sometime — romantic or otherwise.
She said:
I typically date dark-haired guys, so when I first spotted Matt, my initial thought was, “He’s really blond.” Still, I thought he was cute. Once we introduced ourselves, I got the impression that Matt is a warm, genuine person.
We sat down and the conversation started right away. Matt had me play a guessing game to figure out where he’s from. I correctly guessed the Midwest, but the exact state took me a little longer — geography isn’t a strong suit of mine. After we had a few sips of our drinks, we volunteered to pound dough with these huge hammers.
Throughout the night, there was no lull in conversation. Before we said goodbye, Matt said he would look me up on Facebook (and he did later that night!).
Matt is a really friendly and funny guy, but I think I need a second date to see if there’s a romantic connection between us.