Darius11 12 #1 September 25, 2013 http://nypost.com/2013/09/24/i-wooed-my-man-with-a-sandwich/ Since last June, a young woman has attracted attention from culinary world icons such as Emeril Lagasse, Michael White and Ken Friedman with 300sandwiches.com, a beautifully photographed blog that documents her quest to woo her boyfriend with bread-and-meat creations. We now reveal that the woman behind the blog is our very own Page Six senior reporter, STEPHANIE SMITH. Here, she tells her story — and shares some recipes. My boyfriend, Eric, is the gourmet cook in our relationship, but he’d always want me to make him a sandwich. Each morning, he would ask, “Honey, how long you have been awake?” “About 15 minutes,” I’d reply. “You’ve been up for 15 minutes and you haven’t made me a sandwich?” To him, sandwiches are like kisses or hugs. Or sex. “Sandwiches are love,” he says. “Especially when you make them. You can’t get a sandwich with love from the deli.” One lazy summer afternoon just over a year ago, I finally gave in. I assembled turkey and Swiss on toasted wheat bread. I spread Dijon mustard generously on both bread slices, and I made sure the lettuce was perfectly in line with the neatly stacked turkey slices. Eric devoured the sandwich as if it were a five-star meal, diving in with large, eager bites. “Babes, this is delicious!” he exclaimed. As he finished that last bite, he made an unexpected declaration of how much he loved me and that sandwich: “Honey, you’re 300 sandwiches away from an engagement ring!” I paused. Was our happily ever after as simple as making him a few sandwiches? Our relationship has always centered on food. We met at a restaurant in Chelsea two years ago when a friend I was dining with spotted an Alexander Skarsgård look-alike. An introduction was made, and I found out he’s a computer programmer, a Taurus (or as he says, “What’s that sign for people who don’t believe in astrology?”), obsessed with “Star Wars” and a very good cook. On our second date, he cooked me dinner — tuna tartare and fresh scallops on a tomato compote. More delicious meals, nearly all of them cooked by him, followed, and soon we were dating seriously. The fact that he could make a perfect filet mignon, not just order one in a steakhouse, was a big turn-on. A year ago, we moved in together to a sleek place in Brooklyn. We’ve met each other’s parents, traveled internationally without strangling each other and successfully hosted many a dinner party. Things were moving at a natural pace, but I wondered what it would take for him to propose. I’m in my mid-30s, and my parents have been happily married for more than 35 years. I have always valued the commitment and dedication it takes to get married and stay married. Call me old-fashioned, but I’d like to raise a family with someone who feels likewise. Maybe I needed to show him I could cook to prove that I am wife material. If he wanted 300 sandwiches, I’d give him 300 sandwiches — and I’d blog about it. I bought the 300sandwiches.com domain name and a Nikon DSLR. I perused tons of recipe sites and cookbooks for sandwich ideas. I asked friends for suggestions, but some, especially my single friends, were less than supportive of the idea. “How ‘Stepford Wives’ of you!” said one single gal whose kitchen was used for shoe storage. Another, a hard-working C-suite banking executive, also objected. “It’s not 1950!” she exclaimed. “It’s chauvinistic! He’s saying, ‘Cook for me, woman, and maybe I’ll make you my wife.’” My own mother was doubtful. “Honey, can you even cook?” she asked. “No, but I’ll learn!” I argued. I started with the easy things. My second sandwich after the turkey and Swiss was a two-second ice-cream sandwich constructed from Anna’s ginger thin cookies and blackberry currant ice cream. My early thinking was quantity, not quality. Ten sandwiches or so in, I did the math. Three sandwiches a week, times four weeks a month, times 12 months a year, meant I wouldn’t be done until I was deep into my 30s. How would I finish 300 sandwiches in time for us to get engaged, married and have babies before I exited my childbearing years? My mother was the voice of reason. “Relationships are a marathon, not a sprint,” she said. “Take it one sandwich at a time.” I made sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. I made sandwiches to get myself out of the doghouse — like No. 67, a scrambled egg, smoked salmon and chive creation that combined some of Eric’s favorite things to make up for my being 45 minutes late for dinner the night before. Even after covering movie premieres or concerts for Page Six, I found myself stumbling into the kitchen to make Eric a sandwich while I still had on my high heels and party dress. Making all of these sammies, I’ve learned how much Eric loves sharing cooking with me. He enjoys going to the grocery store with me, picking out ingredients and planning dinners. Though I still want to get engaged and get married and live happily ever after, I’ve also put less pressure on the race to the 300th sandwich and I’m enjoying the cooking experience with Eric. Today, I’ve made and blogged about 176 sandwiches. Over the months, my creations have grown more complex — lobster rolls, bánh mìs, pulled pork. No matter what’s on the menu, Eric smiles and says thank you. He’s just happy I cook for him at all. “You women read all these magazines to get advice on how to keep a man, and it’s so easy,” he says. “We’re not complex. Just do something nice for us. Like make a sandwich.”*** I am sure some feminist will not like this lady but I say she is living in reality and is happy and fulfilled. If Gender rolls were not so demonized you would have a lot more happy men and woman. I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,254 #2 September 25, 2013 QuoteIf Gender rolls were not so demonized What kind of sandwich is a gender roll? Are they not good?Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,116 #3 September 25, 2013 Might not be a feminist who doesn't like it; might be some PETA person who thinks that all that meat is cruel. Plenty of options, and with millions of people in New York, some of them are probably there. But, ya know -- this feminist thinks that the whole point in the story was how much she's gotten to enjoy doing things with him, and how much he enjoys sharing his activity of cooking with her. Now that sounds like a great foundation. Wendy P.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #4 September 25, 2013 wmw999 But, ya know -- this feminist thinks that the whole point in the story was how much she's gotten to enjoy doing things with him, and how much he enjoys sharing his activity of cooking with her. Now that sounds like a great foundation. Wendy P. Right! Whatever works for them! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,380 #5 September 25, 2013 Hey, if it makes both people happy - and will continue making them happy after they are married - go for it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #6 September 25, 2013 QuoteHey, if it makes both people happy - and will continue making them happy after they are married - go for it! This is Speaker's Corner. No mutually beneficial/healthy reationships will be tolerated. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #7 September 25, 2013 its something special i make for my lady its very painful and requires a hammer.I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #8 September 25, 2013 Oh yea i like that as well. I think people who don't contently have a point to prove and have an open mind tend to have happier relationships. If she stopped and told him to go fuck him self the sec. he asked her to make a sandwich she might have not had a chance at happiness. I do like the pics on her site made me hungry I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #9 September 25, 2013 Quote and will continue making them happy after they are married calm down man don't be unreasonable, one step at a time. I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickjump1 0 #10 September 25, 2013 Darius11 Oh yea i like that as well. I think people who don't contently have a point to prove and have an open mind tend to have happier relationships. If she stopped and told him to go fuck him self the sec. he asked her to make a sandwich she might have not had a chance at happiness. I do like the pics on her site made me hungry Some girls feel their only chance at happiness is to beg, retrieve, fetch, rollover, and play dead. If they only knew how to make sandwiches.......Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,121 #11 September 25, 2013 rickjump1 ***Oh yea i like that as well. I think people who don't contently have a point to prove and have an open mind tend to have happier relationships. If she stopped and told him to go fuck him self the sec. he asked her to make a sandwich she might have not had a chance at happiness. I do like the pics on her site made me hungry Some girls feel their only chance at happiness is to beg, retrieve, fetch, rollover, and play dead. If they only knew how to make sandwiches....... You may want to "upgrade" from dogs Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #12 September 25, 2013 "Quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, or a blow job. Tell her to pick one." ~~skymamalisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 24 #13 September 25, 2013 I got 124 problems but a sammich aint one.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,380 #14 September 25, 2013 >Some girls feel their only chance at happiness is to beg, retrieve, fetch, rollover, and play dead. If that works for the both of them, great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bignugget 0 #15 September 26, 2013 oldwomanc6"Quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, or a blow job. Tell her to pick one." ~~skymama Damn, can't we pick?? I can make my own sandwiches! Blowing myself just doesn't have the same appeal... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #16 September 26, 2013 Quote Blowing myself just doesn't have the same appeal... Man i wish i was that flexible to find out.....I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,621 #17 September 26, 2013 jakeeQuoteIf Gender rolls were not so demonized What kind of sandwich is a gender roll? I think it's just a weiner in a bun.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 212 #18 September 26, 2013 Bignugget ***"Quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, or a blow job. Tell her to pick one." ~~skymama Damn, can't we pick?? I can make my own sandwiches! Blowing myself just doesn't have the same appeal... Or even the remote possibility.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 212 #19 September 26, 2013 kallend***QuoteIf Gender rolls were not so demonized What kind of sandwich is a gender roll? I think it's just a weiner in a bun. Carlos Danger Sammich - The PC term.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
