"People are intimidated by fine wine and fine food in restaurants," says Allen. "I'm trying to encourage guys to not feel that way." Allen insists that nobody expects you to know every wine there is. And who really wants to date a wine snob anyway? Take it slow: "Learn about wine one bottle at a time." If you've had a wine you like at a restaurant, remember it. "If you can remember five whites and five reds that are fairly available, you're going to do better than most people with a wine list. You'll be the hero." And if you don't recognize something on the wine list, just ask. "That's what waiters are for," Allen says. But, he warns, "Don't ask for a dollar figure on a date. Hold up the wine list and point to something in your budget level, and say, 'I was thinking about something like this.'"
If you can afford it, hire a regular housekeeper. "If you're out of college and you're turning into a grownup, it's time to start respecting yourself a little bit more," says Allen. "Women in particular are really turned off by guys who live like pigs. They don't want to step into a bathtub with mildew in the bottom of it. Cleaning sucks, but being alone sucks more. At the same time, it doesn't have to be so clean that you look gay." Allen's number one rule: "The most important room to keep clean is the first room she's going to see when she walks in the door." Rule number two: The worst place to be untidy is the kitchen sink. "It implies the woman should be cleaning the dishes; there's a sexist gender role there. And it's unattractive, unhygienic and physically gross. It also attracts insects and rodents." Rule number three: Keep the bathroom clean! "Remember that women have more physical contact with surfaces in the bathroom than men."
"Even if you do go wrong, what matters is that you tried," Allen says. "If you try to cook something and you fail and the kitchen fills up with smoke, that's what women call cute. It's adorable that you tried really hard and it didn't quite work, as long as you have a sense of humor about it." Then you can order in a pizza or go out, and laugh about it later. "On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with cooking dinner for a date and having everything work out perfectly." No one has ever lost points for looking suave and sophisticated.
Women are often diet and health conscious, and seafood is both light and good for you. "A lot of guys are afraid to cook fish," says Allen. "It's delicate and it cooks quickly." Allen offers this simple advice for cooking fish filets easily: "Six ounces, 10 minutes, 400 degrees. It works for almost any cut of fish. A six ounce salmon filet brushed with a little olive oil, sprinkled with some salt and pepper and fresh thyme will come out perfectly." Prepare the fish ahead of time, season it to your liking and have it sitting in the fridge ready to go. When the time is right, throw it in the oven and it's ready in 10 minutes.
"With most guys on the show, it's not that they're unintelligent or not good people, they've just kind of let themselves go," says Allen. Step one: "Give a damn. Your appearance affects the way people respond to you." Step two: "If you're not good with clothes, you probably know it. Find a friend who is and get some help." Most straight guys don't know how to do this, so Allen suggests developing a relationship with a really good sales associate at a men's clothing store. "It can be life changing," he says. "If that's too gay, just lean on a female friend or a guy friend you think is really well put together."
"We had a guy on the show who shaves his head without using shaving cream -- just with water," Allen recalls. "He's got cuts on his head! There's a right way and wrong way and a lot of guys do it wrong. First, take your time and do it carefully. You're running a very sharp blade against your throat -- this is not the time to hurry. Second, the best thing you can do to shave well is to get your face wet and warm beforehand. The hair absorbs the water, it softens your beard and it makes it easier to shave without cutting yourself." Third, Allen advises to not shave against the direction of your hair growth. "That's how you get in-grown hairs or cuts." And lastly, "Always use a fresh, sharp razor. It's when the razor gets dull that you run the risk of cutting yourself."
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photos: Craig Blankenhorn/©2003 Bravo Network
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