Oh I just love the New Year. It brings fresh starts and clean slates and allows us to scrape off all the excess we've dragged along over the course of the prior year and get back to basics.
Savor It is welcoming the new year with a slightly different look and twist. The blog finally has a custom header; I'm not graphically capable and decided to get a little help. First, I'm so excited to have a photo not just from the myriad of stock images out there, but from an actual friend who happens to be an amazing photographer (amongst other things), Heidi von Tagen. Heidi was my academic rep at Western Culinary Institute, and she's also a fantastic cook and a brilliant writer. Be sure to check out her lovely blog, Gorgeous Bits. For customizing the image and finagling with my fonts, I turned to Jason Marsh of JMarsh Studios. Dealing with the back end of design and websites and all of that goo, I prefer to delegate and thank Jason for his many revisions and patience with my ever changing mind.
As I'm writing this post I'm actually watching the "Cooking Channel". I love Sunday morning cooking shows. And even though my time on this blog can sometimes be elusive, I'm still doing "It". I'm still ooohing and ahhhing over scrumptious-looking eats onscreen, and savoring each bite I take when dining out or cooking at home. In addition, I'm exploring. I made a huge leap this year--about as huge as I could--and made my way cross-country to Florida. I do miss all that the Portland food scene had to offer, but that rain. Oh, Portlanders can have it. I had enough, and the only thing on my mind was that my life needed 365 days of sunshine. After that, we'll see what's next.
What's next for Savor It?:
The Food
Food, of course, has always been a focus. The variety is endless and there is always something new to taste, and to learn. I've often been surprised at the many times people were shocked if I didn't know something about food, or how to cook it, or the definition of a certain type of food due to my culinary degree. "But you're the food person," people would say. People, chill. The world of food is endless and no one that I know knows every little thing about it. And to me, that's what makes it so fun; the constant learning, finding of new ingredients and just 'playing' with it.
For me, 2010 was the year of the gorge. I ate everything in sight and felt as if I couldn't get enough. You too, huh? Trust me, I have NEVER planned to be the diet food blogger, and I won't be. It's just not what I want to be the champion of, but I know that some things have to change. My thoughts for 2011 are to enjoy the whole foods, get back to the clean eating and just the best of the basics the bounty has to offer. And of course there are indulgences, but in moderation. Moderation. I think that needs a definition, and I'll add that to my list. I've just learned that it's not all that fun to just devour everything in sight just to do it, or just because you're a 'food person', etc. I'm speaking for myself, of course, but I see it all around. Adam Richmond, I love you and I actually think you're quite adorable, but I'm over the the Man vs. Food mentality of eating a slice of pizza the size of a toddler, or a bowl of 100 scoops of ice cream. Oh, I could, but I'm not, and I'm learning to get back down to reality with it all.
The Travel
I've always thought that food and travel go hand in hand. Who doesn't like to experience new cuisine when they're far away from home? It's a big part of learning about different people and their cultures around the world. In a write-up I did for culinary school (view it here) I wrote, "Food is a commonality shared throughout the entire world. Everyday we might not go for a swim in a pool, or take a drive in a sports car, or a hike through Multnomah Falls, but everyday we eat..." and I still feel that way today. So this year the blog will add a travel element to it, and it's fitting as I'm in a totally new world.
The In Between
It's all about balance and what keeps us going day in and day out. What goes on in between are the unexpected experiences, the people we come across that lead us on a new path and those little triggers that cause us to make this decision over that one.
So welcome to a New Year. This one feels different. I think there's much in store for all of us.
Cheers,
~JF
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