I guess you can say Bobby Flay is responsible for our story? We met while working at his restaurant, "Gato" in 2017. We were friendly for a whole year and a half before Jose shamelessly began flirting with me (although, he will deny this). Jose started to joke around and chat with me noticibly more at work while simultaneously commenting on and liking my Instagram photos much more frequently. I ignored him for a while :)

At work, he would constantly ask to see my "green eyes", which I would flash at him in hopes that he would sneak me food from the kitchen. It worked every time. Then, one day, my mom, and I went to dine at Gato as guests and enjoy a very small portioned and expensive meal. Jose spotted us right away and made sure to personally deliver everything we ordered to our table while flirting with me in front of my mother. Barbara was sold. She immediately told me that he was cute and that I should go on a date with him. I rolled my eyes.

Cut to the Gato Holiday Party about a month later at a bar in Manhattan. I arrive in an obnoxious light up Christmas Tree headband and spot Jose across the bar. After two margaritas I saunter over to his table and we start chatting. He says that I came over to flirt with him (I will deny this). He bought us more margaritas, we hung out for a while, and then he announced that he had to leave because he had to be at his second job in less than five hours. (He does not have the same energy that he did back then...) In my light up Christmas headband, that didn't already draw attention to me at all...I went to hug him goodbye. Then, in a crowded room full of our fellow colleagues, that we both had to see at work the next day, he planted one on me.

The rest is history. We continue to argue about who flirted with who first. Thanks Bobby Flay!

T&J