The dating game can be a tricky one to play these days, but every now and then, you might come across a ray of light. That’s what Celeste Joan discovered when she went on a date with a bloke in Melbourne.
The 28-year-old told Yahoo Lifestyle she’s had some brutal first dates in the year since she’s been single and the apps can be a rough place to find The One. But she was blown away when she went to dinner with a British bloke and he rocked up with a gift.
“So I go to the date at this beautiful wine bar in Hawthorn, and next to him was this tinfoil thing,” she said.
RELATED:
“When I saw it, I did not think it was for me. I thought he had gone for dinner beforehand and wanted to take the food away, which I’ve actually experienced on a date.”
But he quickly revealed that the foil-wrapped gift was, in fact, for her.
Celeste said this guy was already different from the rest of the pack because when she first started talking to him on Hinge, he immediately asked for her phone number and wanted to organise a date.
Do you have great first date story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
She explained that many guys will spend days or even weeks chatting to her on the apps before finally setting up a time and a place to meet.
Additionally, she said Melbourne guys can be a difficult breed of man to date because many try to act cool and nonchalant, meaning it’s hard to know if they’re into you or not.
But this unnamed guy was “funny with a capital F” and she was really excited to finally meet him.
So what was in the foil?
When she asked him what the gift was, he said it was to do with one of her Hinge prompts.
Celeste said her most popular prompt on her profile is “my love language is nonna’s lasagne”.
Surely, he had not rocked up to a fancy wine bar with a delicious Italian meal wrapped in foil?
Yes, he most certainly had.
But it wasn’t some random lasagne he picked up from his local supermarket on his way to the Hawthorn bar. He made it himself and he did it the “authentic” way.
“You’re meant to do the sauce two days before you lay the lasagna, and he did the fresh pasta sheets,” she revealed.
How did the lasagne stack up against nonna’s?
She waited until she got home to give the food a taste test and she was blown away.
“It tasted so good,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. “Whether he made it for me or not, I don’t care, because that was unreal.
“I just felt so seen. Like, he’d actually seen my profile and took into consideration what my prompts were and what I was all about.”
SHOP:
Sadly for Celeste, while the date was a smash hit, the bloke called her the following day to let her know things probably wouldn’t work out and a second date was not on the cards.
But the 28-year-old said he definitely set the bar high when it comes to great first dates.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to go on another first date,” she said.
“There’s no other date that’s ever going to top this.”
How to make people feel ‘seen’ like Celeste
Aussie dating expert Samantha Jayne told Yahoo Lifestyle that paying attention to a person’s profile can be the thing that sets you above the rest of the dating pack.
She said that if you’re reaching out through a dating app, “don’t overthink it”.
“Just imagine you’re reaching out to a friend,” the dating expert said.
Dating expert Samantha Jayne said speaking to women doesn’t have to be as hard as it sounds. Picture: Instagram/Samantha Jayne
“It could be something like, ‘Hi, name is… Your profile stood out and I couldn’t resist saying hi. I really like that photo of you’. Blah, blah, blah.
“It just shows that person that they caught your eye and there’s something interesting about them.”
Once you’re on the date, being an active listener is essential.
“A big part of that is asking her questions about herself that are positive, not anything about breakups or past traumas, but more so your ideal weekend or favourite holiday,” she said.
“When she speaks to you, make it really easy for her to respond. If she tells you something or shares something, you should acknowledge what she said.
“Just be really curious, but if you continuously ask questions, it does feel like an interview.”
Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.