Cooking for a Date!

What would you do for a date?

Michelle Cunningham, 35, an aspiring comedian in Los Angeles, is following the age old cliché- 'the way to a mans heart is through his stomach' literally. Standing on busy street corners, holding a cardboard sign that's seen better days and covered with autographs, with a big smile and gregarious attitude, She brings grins, waves and double-takes from all who see her…

But does it work? I had to ask. It seems a bit risky to me. Michelle tells me that the way she usually plans it is as follows. A man will see her, stop, and ask her if she's serious. If there is any mutual attraction, and they agree to a dinner date, she prefers to chat on the telephone for a week, and if that goes well, she will then meet her hungry suitor at a supermarket, where they pick out all the groceries needed for his favorite meal. He forks out the cash, then they go off to her place where she'll whip up anything from genuine soul food to her award winning lasagna.

Then what? I ask… She tells me that she likes to serve red zinfandel with her meals, and perhaps rent a video for later, and… if all goes well… a love connection is made! "What about dessert?" I ask. She replies, "I hope dessert is me!" So far, in the year she's been cooking for a date, Michelle, has met many interesting men, including a pro football player for the Arizona Cardinals, and all have turned into good friends, but she's still searching for Mr. tall, dark & handsome.

This all started when Michelle's mother in Arizona encouraged her to head out West to find fame & fortune, and perhaps a good man for her three children. Michelle, a Mormon, wasn't meeting very many men of her race in her local church. So she packed up and headed out to Hollywood. Some folks on the street have teased her, some have mistaken her for a prostitute on Hollywood & Vine, one man from Beverly Hills gave her fifty dollars and told her that she made his day!

One man told Michelle "I love to cook, and I don't need a woman to cook for me!" and she replied with 'Well, what can you cook?" After some conversation, he took her to his place in Sherman Oaks and cooked up some baked fried chicken, dinner rolls, greens & buttered potatoes. I guess you can't beat that.

I asked Michelle to describe her ideal man, and she came up with the following: He believes in God, he's 6'2, around 220 lbs, dark like Hershey's milk chocolate, with big brown eyes. He's outgoing, loves to laugh, & loves children- "God knows, because I have three of them!" she laughs. "It would be nice if he had children as well", she adds.

Michelle is currently working on a cookbook, comedy appearances, poetry, and cook for a date socials in the Los Angeles area. "Men in L.A. are starving for homecooked meals, and the women who can do it". Michelle suggests you keep a man full in the kitchen, or in the bedroom.

- by Brenda Ross

UPDATE: Planning a June 1, 2002 wedding, Michelle Cunningham married Chester Clark, a professional lithographer who first saw her in 1999 on "The Maury Show" explaining her dating game. "When I saw her, I knew she was going to cook for me one day," he says. "I really liked her courage and strength to stand on a corner with a sign that read, 'will cook 4 for a date.' It certainly caught my attention." BET.com

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