This is what happens when a foodie and a tightwad fall in love

by Christopher Pilny

Lauren and I met a few years ago on Tinder, after we both swiped right and I messaged her to say, “Hey girl, what’s the difference between a Camaro and an erection?” She was supposed to respond “What?”, allowing me to then say, “I don’t have a Camaro,” but to her credit, she didn’t bite on the line and instead proceeded to tell me, “Hehe I love harassing people on Tinder.”

We’ve been hooked ever since.

But there is one great difference between us: Lauren lives to eat out, to try new restaurants and frequent those she loves, while I live for days where I don’t spend a single dollar. Bring her a plate of farro gemelli from Rolf & Daughters and she succumbs to a peristaltic splendor. Bring me the check for the farro gemelli and whatever $28 dish I had to grimace through, on top of the $15 appetizer, the two $11 glasses of wine she ordered, and the $3 bottle of Mexican Coke for me (“What?! No free refills?!”), and all I can think about is how many days I’m not going to spend money to make up for it.

Full disclosure: It’s about four*.

“Enjoying” a dinner at Rolf & Daughters with friends Val & Sam (left side of table). Note the empty bottle of Mexican Coke next to the wine.

So, by and large, I tend to avoid the topic of dining out until, three or four weeks after our last dinner date, she comes barrelling into the living room, red-faced and hair flying.

Lauren: DO YOU EVEN LOVE ME?!

Me: (Puts down book, looks up calmly) Hey, what’s that new place you said you wanted to try?

Lauren: OH DON’T EVEN TRY — Fifth & Taylor.

Me: Is Thursday evening good for you?

Lauren: Oh, you do love me!

Fifth & Taylor, TSTR (To Save The Relationship)

Yes, I do. And she loves me, which is why, after almost two years of dating, we’ve been able to arrive at this compromise: Once a week, she gets to eat out somewhere on my dime — it could be a restaurant, a coffee shop, a food truck, whatever — and in return, I get to complain about as much as I want. The lack of parking (Rolf & Daughters), long waits (Rolf & Daughters), small portion sizes (Rolf & Daughters): It’s a tradition we’ve lovingly come to call “Dine & Whine”.

Which is where the idea for this blog comes from. For a long time, Lauren has wanted some sort of record of her culinary experiences. She’s a big fan of several Nashville food blogs (Bites, Eat. Drink. Smile., Eater Nashville), but has never really wanted one herself because, well, she hates writing. It’s not that she’s bad at it; she just…doesn’t like it.

And then she started dating me, a full-time writer and editor, who grew tired of hearing her talk about meals, and all the restaurants she was looking forward to, and just wanted her to find some other outlet for her passion. “Please start a blog already,” I would tell her. “Dear god, please.”

But she continued to resist, citing her distaste for words and the lack of an original idea, until one evening while we were at Aladdin’s Hookah Bar in Hillsboro Village**. Releasing a large volume of rose mint-flavored smoke, she said to me, “Would you consider doing a food blog with me? Something where I weigh-in on the food and the experience, and you just complain about everything you hated?”

My immediate reaction was, “No.” I’d had a brief run-in with blogging a few years ago, and I now think it’s a complete waste of time. But I was charmed by the idea of having a written outlet for my frustrations. I also liked that I might be able to write-off our tabs as a business expense.

“Maybe,” I said. “But what would we call it?”

“I don’t know. Dine & Whine?”

And that was it.

Plain and simple, this is a Nashville (and occasionally non-Nashville) food blog. Except, instead of the opinions of one person, accompanied by a slew of photographs, you’ll be getting the opinions of two people — accompanied by a slew of photographs. Lauren will offer the foodie, or “Dine”, perspective, commenting on the balance of food, drink, ambiance, and selection. While I, on the other hand, will offer the cheap bastard, or “Whine”, perspective: How much did it cost? Were there any leftovers that you could eat for lunch the next day? What else could you complain about on the ride home?

It’s a dynamic we see often in relationships, and if we hope to accomplish anything with this blog, it’s finding those elusive, middle-ground restaurants where couples can enjoy great fare, yet leave feeling as if, even though they may not have wanted to part with it, they got their money’s worth.

We hope you enjoy.

Bon appétit.

Chris & Lauren

*And this isn’t because I’m poor or overspending. I have a great job and budget for evenings like this. I’d just rather put the money into savings.

**This is one of our favorite places in town. We love the original Aladdin’s, as well, but the new one is next to my office so it affords easy parking (+1). They also have some of the best chicken tenders around (+1), next to McDougal’s and Hattie B’s. Though, in my opinion, Stone Fox has by and far the best chicken tenders you’ll find.