Life is short. Terribly, painfully short. So instead of approaching a fresh new year with all kinds of self-flagellating proclamations, I like the idea of embracing the new, the tasty and the challenging as a way to keep my soul in check. I’m not suggesting that health-related goals aren’t important – God bless the person (me, included) trying to be fit or stop a bad habit. But repackaging the annual New Year’s Resolutions into a positive bundle gives them an undercurrent of adventure. I like to think Louisiana culture invites this sort of perspective, and yes, you have to work past our indulgence, high obesity rate and so forth to see this point of view. But hey, let’s not forget that a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research last year revealed that six of 10 of the happiest cities in America were in Louisiana due in part to our relaxed, life-affiming way of doing things. From this Euro-centric, food-friendly backdrop springs my Resolution Template. Fill it in as you see fit and let me know what you think. Mine follow.
New Years Resolutions, 2015
Restaurant I want to try:
Ingredient, preferably weird, exotic or nostalgic, to incorporate:
Dish to master:
International cuisine to play around with:
Something I’m way overdue in making that I promise to prepare this year:
A food I/my family need(s) to eat more of:
Okay, now here are mine:
Restaurant I want to try:
The list is long and spans the country, but for starters, there’s a new Central American spot called La Guanaquita way on the other side of Baton Rouge. Pupusas are hard to find here, and I love them.
Ingredient, preferably weird, exotic or forgotten, to incorporate:
Chervil, because nobody uses it anymore.
Dish to master:
Homemade steamed dumplings.
International cuisine to play around with:
Israeli or Korean.
Something I’m way overdue in making that I promise to prepare this year:
My great-grandmother’s eggnog with rye, among other whiskeys. I can’t believe I’ve never made it as much as I love Christmas and booze.
A food I/my family need(s) to eat more of:
Fresh fruit at breakfast.