Phonetography: Food and Happiness Edition

If you’re viewing this blog post on an RSS reader or in your email, I recommend that you click through to see it on my website, since the photo collage will look better there.

Sometimes you just have to take a moment to be grateful and to appreciate all the good things in your life. This last year has been quite the roller coaster ride, but it’s been one of the most rewarding and exciting years of my life. Still, it’s the little things and the wonderful people that make all the difference.

Today, I just want to take a moment to share 5 photos from my recent escapades (clockwise from top-left corner):

  1. Doggie treats baked by my lovely friend Megan: I visited Megan and her boyfriend Daniel in DC recently, and not only did they welcome me into their home, but they showcased their hospitality towards their neighbors too with Megan baking treats for all the dogs who live on their floor in their apartment building.
  2. A copy of Vegetable Literacy which was gifted to me by my friends Patty and David: Through thick and thin, my friends Patty and David have been there for words of wisdom and appreciative palettes. I can always count on them to share lovely foodie treats like this beautiful book.
  3. An absolutely delicious flan my mother made for Thanksgiving: My mother’s bank teller is always sharing stories of her cooking acumen, so when she mentioned that she makes a mean flan, my mom had to get the recipe. Maria (the banker) first proffered a sample flan, and when my mom insisted that it was amazing, she shared the recipe. My mother and father whipped one up for our Thanksgiving mean, and it was just fabulous.
  4. A rosemary, gin, vinegar, and cava concoction at Rappahannock Oyster Bar: Megan, Daniel and I stopped by Union Market in DC, where we sampled lots of delicious things. One was this cocktail that had a splash of vinegar that really brought out the herbaceous nature of the gin and rosemary. Not sour and not even really a savory cocktail, it was just right. Plus, with snow coming down outside and good company inside, it was the place to be.
  5. Dinner cooked by Daniel: A veritable feast was prepared by Daniel for Megan, myself, and my friend Josh. Daniel roasted Brussels sprouts, created a spicy roasted butternut squash dish, and made a cauliflower and potato purée that was excellent. To top it all off, there was flank steak cooked to perfection. I love a good home-cooked meal.

I’ll be talking more about what this year has meant for me in the coming days, but in the meantime, thanks for stopping by, reader. I appreciate it 🙂