"A beautiful young woman came in on the arm of an elderly gentleman, and Scott (Fitzgerald) sent a groom to fetch a box of orchids, which he then sent to the lady with his compliments. The young lady promptly sent the orchids back to Fitzgerald, who, in his moment of rejection, took one out and slowly ate it, petal by petal. Later that night, Fitzgerald returned to the bar, this time with the young beauty in tow. The bar regulars were very impressed and thereafter referred to the maneuvers as “the orchid ploy.”"

Source: Vanity Fair - A Legend as Big as the Ritz