"This is my home." - Lanu, Mother Earth (Quantic & Aloe Blacc)
While we judged the barbecue, overall, as lacking with the exception of the fine folks at Rancho Rocke (slow roasted pulled pork and a tangy sauce), our favorite bites of food at The Taste of Beverly Hills BBQ event came from CHAYA and SOI 56. CHAYA presented us with melt in your mouth Kobe beef skewers drizzled with a curry sauce. SOI 56 gave us grilled chicken and fish each covered in a unique sauce that was heavenly.
The best bites, however, were the ones we encountered from a three and a half year old boy on the dance floor. As Tiffany and I got up to dance to Quantic's latin rhythms and world grooves, the long haired little one in light up sneakers approached us as his mom sat down nearby. He pointed at Tiffany and and growled. Tiffany growled back. He started to run away and then turned back and said, "No, you Sith," as if that would explain it all.
Tiffany didn't understand. "You Sith," he said again, "And I'm a shark! Rawr!!" I explained to my lady love, "You're supposed to run." And just like that, she was off. The young shark chased after her a few times around the rows of folding chairs before turning to me.
I know what to do when I come across terrors of the deep. Dodging and weaving until I could no longer, I took a seat as well and turned to find that the dance floor had filled. We returned to dancing while our finned friend sought new prey: Little girls, big girls, pretty ladies of all ages.
I said to his father, "These are skills that are going to do him well throughout life." His father nodded in agreement. His mother said with exasperation, "Oh god, no."
Maybe the energetic shark would lose his charm over time but as we spent the next 90 minutes dancing and laughing ending with a high five from our little buddy, it was obvious that it wouldn't be this night.