- Honey, let me take you to a restaurant…
I was firmly planted in my office chair when my wife excitedly threw that at me…
- You want to take me to the restaurant? What happened?
That’s how I learned that Father’s day was coming
And feeling flattered, I accepted the invitation.
Father’s dayis Sunday, but we have to go on Saturday, as what we are going for is not there on Sundays. Hmm… 
don't they serve their patrons on Sundays? Do they charge them for what they do not give them? Weird Sundays at Toscana?
So, we are on our way. Where exactly is Toscana restaurant in Ormond Beach?
- 621 Young Ave.
Young Ave (US-1) goes North-South, and in Ormond Beach the zero point is Granada Ave (Rt. 40), and Young Ave north of it is N Young Ave, and Young Ave South of it is S Young Ave. What is ours, north or south?
This question always puzzles my wife. For the life of hers she can’t figure it out, and every time I ask, it is her first time. So we watch for the address, cross Granada Ave, go straight until we are in the field, with no chance of any restaurant. Turning back and going south. We finally spot it in a strip center with obscure signage.
We are 10 minutes late and my wife is nervous for our reservation. No problem. There is only one table taken, and now to those 4 people they have two of us. Nice place, polished and attentive staff, on a bit expensive side (for Daytona area) but good service…
After we are numerous times greeted by every member of the crew, in the dining room we are greeted by a good-looking lady in evening dress, who is singing there on Fridays and Saturdays (ah-ha, that’s why we could not come on Sunday…).
I am not an Italian, and I am not a judge of everything authentic Italian, so I would not bet about the food, but Anna Maria, the soprano (do not confuse with the mafia) is absolutely ‘authentic’ Italian. 
At first it was weird. I had a feeling that I for some strange reason is sitting with a fork and knife at a table on the opera stage, and they keep performing trying not to notice such foreign object as me, and I was pretending to eat as I was not on the Opera stage, hoping that nobody notices that I am clumsy with a fork in the left hand and a knife in the right…
Her beautiful voice was trying to free my soul and lift it, while pretty good food was firmly anchoring me in the chair. But then we sort of got used to it. Anna Maria(click the YouTube video to hear her beautiful voice) was very engaging, and it would have been a great performance if not for the setting and food…
She got excited learning that we were Russians, and extracted from her repertoire Rachmaninov’s song. Because the other table was not Russians (not everyone is Russian here… hmm), she translated the song for them, so that they know what it was about. Good, she did it. Or we would have never figured it on our own. I was able to distantly recognize 5 words, and later my wife confirmed the same 5 words sounding somewhat Russian… so, English helped a lot…
I met the owner, Tony, who is the chef, and a pretty good one. He saw me taking a picture of the place, and learning that I was Russian, he took me aside and asked if I wanted to buy this restaurant.
Was it for sale?
No, but…
Sorry, I am not buying a restaurant. I had one for 6 years, and my best day was when I sold it at a loss. I never enjoyed losing so much in my life. So, no…
But I could arrange a great place for him, and in much better location…
So, we are meeting on Monday, I am showing him the place.
It was an interesting experience. It is sure unique in Daytona area, and, unfortunately, very few people know about it. I hope it will still be there when next time we invite clients to dinner after closing… at least the one, where the commissions would be more than their average bill…
And not that their bill is exorbitant, no…we spent just under $100 for 2 including tips…It is just that lately some of the deals we close are getting closer to the cost of a restaurant dinner for two…;-)
It was a memorable event. We now have Anna Maria’s CD, and when I put it in the player, I think I hear Sarah Brighton…
Hope Toscana stays… I am selfish, I am thinking of a place to take my wife for Mother’s day. Would be so original…
When is the Mother’s day, anyway?
- Honey, I will take to a restaurant…
* Images courtesy of robertpaulyoung via Flickr.com
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