I can't remember the last time I made a New Year's resolution. I suspect it is a natural aging process: as we grow older, we settle into our routines and, perhaps, are more skeptical of making some wholesale change. That's not to say I'm stuck in my ways and don't look for new experiences!
Monthly or even weekly, my wife and I find the occasion to gather with friends or family to try a new taproom, restaurant or activity. Over the years, we've developed a "Gourmet Club" with a small group of friends where the couple hosting the evening's dinner selects a cuisine and assigns various dishes/courses to all attending.
Recently, we hosted a Spanish-themed dinner. Here, and I think I speak for all attendees, I was mostly successful with seafood paella. (I've always wanted to try cooking with saffron!) I hadn’t traveled to Spain but was sure my paella tasted very authentic.
Although we assemble in the kitchen to put the final touches on each course, we always gather around a single large table. And someone offers the toast, "Here's to friends and family – and the blurring of the lines!"
For me, the “blurring of lines” goes beyond family and friends to include colleagues and clients. Over the years, there have been many colleagues and clients who have become close friends. We’ve shared many new experiences and go on whirlwind adventures. Of course there are the taxicabs, airports and conferences, but I can also remember ax throwing, fishing and even a few alpine ski trips!
Speaking of paella, I recently had the opportunity to try the real thing. A business partner had a pass for a conference in Barcelona. Since 2004, I’ve been working with Mariana Marchesini, who lives and works in Barcelona – so it wasn’t a difficult decision. We’d never met in person, so there was a brief hiccup at the airport as we both looked with uncertainty for a familiar face in the crowd.
