In Good Company and Cuisine

These last few weeks, my email account had been bombarded with details regarding the Brown University cohort's dinner. Don, through his rigorous and elegant planning, had been keeping us in check regarding the dinner, emphasizing that this particular event would be a special one. I had been very excited, albeit somewhat nervous, about our dinner. Indeed, tonight would be a very special evening. 

As soon as I dropped my backpack and books from a full day at school, I quickly got ready for our scheduled plans. I made sure to double check the maps and directions, and was on my way to the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station where we had been directed to meet.

All our members had gathered early, dressed formally, and ready to go. Still in El Cerrito, Don gave us a thorough run-through of the plan, giving us each our Clipper cards. After a quick check-in, where we introduced ourselves one-by-one, we were on our way to San Francisco.

The ride there was a very pleasant one, as I was able to get to know better and converse with our chaperone, Tiffani, as well as the other girls going to Rhode Island with me this summer.

It was a particularly windy day in the Bay Area this evening, and after some chit-chat with the other Brownies, our subway had finally arrived to take us to Market Street.We walked about a block and found ourselves at our designated restaurant, One Market.

Elizabeth Gonzalez, Gabrielle Meacham, Mary Morris and me

As soon as I stepped in, I noted the gorgeous lighting, the decorative setting, the bustling atmosphere, and the soft aroma of something utterly delicious. We were promptly escorted to our own private room, and finally had the formal chance to get to know the Brown University graduates and the generous sponsors for our trip. Something very significant to note was that these individuals all had their own stories and their own intriguing backgrounds and their own unique fields of work and their own experiences and much more. It was such a valuable opportunity to hear from a variety of perspectives. From the reception, I was able to get a lot of information regarding what I could expect from this trip to Brown University, including the student diversity, the campus, the activities offered, and more.

Once seated, I got to further know the rest of my tablemates. Elizabeth Gonzales, a Brown alum who studied psychology. Donna Chung, another Brown alumni, who works as in the education department as a fourth grade teacher, also a math enthusiast. Mary Morris, a generous sponsor who worked in an architecture firm, a graduate from Cal University. Last but most certainly not least, Tiffani Neal, another teacher, one who worked with 7th and 8th grade students, and our chaperone. Our table was filled with interesting, engaging conversation throughout the whole meal. It was a great pleasure to be able to interact with such fascinating women.

Now to dedicate an entire paragraph to the luxurious cuisine:
For hors d'oeuvres, we were offered sliders, chicken wings, and risotto bites. This was followed by a delicious salad which included lettuce topped with a delicious cheese and crunchy croutons. Then came the main course. I order the Slow Raised Beef Short Rib, which was an excellent choice I definitely did not regret. Finally came my favorite part of the meal: a sorbet dessert with a thin, flower-shaped cookie, stippled with cut-up fruits.

All in all, the entire evening was an extravagant one I will remember for many years to come as my first Ivy League Connection dinner. If this particular event is a showcase of what's waiting for me in Rhode Island, I know this summer I will be having the time of my life in good company and cuisine.