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<\/a>A few months ago, I came upon a Japanese phrase ichi-go ichi-e<\/em> for the first time. Commonly associated with the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, it means that each moment, even when we try to replicate it, is unique and should be treasured. Of course it is a universal concept and there have been times in the past of this feeling, but hearing the phrase made me want to evaluate whether I was truly present in my daily life and it also made me want to recognize some special moments I\u2019ve been fortunate to have in the last year.\u00a0 As a lot of you know by now, I love any excuse to prepare food, go out to eat, to celebrate and to travel; most importantly, that these great pleasures are shared with wonderful people.<\/p>\n \u201cIf more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n -J.R.R. Tolkien<\/strong><\/p>\n The first thing that comes to mind is a trip through Maine with Dunja and Ayla late last spring. The air was salty and smelled of pine, lilacs, and apple blossoms. \u00a0We tasted a local delicacy: the chocolate whoopie pie.\u00a0 Even better, we bought some live lobsters from a gas station in Lewiston for a special dinner prepared by Ayla\u2019s grampy<\/em>. He put the lobsters to sleep in the freezer before boiling them in a hug pot of water. We helped set the table with all the utensils for cracking the shell and for extracting the meat and we put on the traditional bibs. There was a half a stick of melted butter for each of us, several lemon wedges, and toasted bread as a vehicle for the creton,<\/em> a pork spread similar to French rillettes.\u00a0 We made a fine mess. Lemon juice stung our eyes and our faces were shiny with butter.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n In December, Keith and I attended a dinner party to celebrate a friend\u2019s cheese. This is not as\u00a0abnormal as it sounds–\u00a0it is Wisconsin after all. The cheese is\u00a0a seasonal delicacy called Rush Creek Reserve.\u00a0That night\u00a0was a blustery and cold with a little snow. Caitlin and Andy prepared a lovely table decorated with candles, faerie lights, pine garland, and several wheels of the cheese. We started with a cocktail of grapefruit, rosemary and gin to accompany the salumi and fondue made with Pleasant Ridge Reserve. For the meal we had salad with daikon dressing, roast vegetables, and beef pot roast. I may have put copious amounts of the Rush Creek on my vegetables. The dessert was almond chocolate brownie with lavender ice cream and blackberries. Later in the night, we played music and sipped on whiskey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n In the summer, as part of our annual trip to Colorado, Keith and I camped at the Curecanti National Recreation Area near Gunnison. It was my first time camping as an adult. I wanted to be in charge and picked the spot for our tent. We made a pretty fancy camp dinner of bison meat, black truffles, and gnocchi. The\u00a0night sky\u00a0was stunning. It happened to be around the time of the Perseids<\/em> so I was able to spot a few shooting stars. When it was time to sleep, we ended up rolling down toward the front of the tent. I guess I should consider the flatness of the ground next time. The view was spectacular!<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n On the same trip to Colorado, we did a day hike in the San Juans. I could complain about the pesky mosquitoes (I don’t know what they were doing hanging out at 8,000 ft.)\u00a0along the way and the lack of oxygen but being far away from the moment now, I\u2019m glad that we did it. The prize at the top was the carpet of yellow green and pink paintbrush flowers. There must have been thousands of them. The Ice Lake Basin had the deepest turquoise water I\u2019d ever seen. We sat in awe, surrounded by snow covered peak. Nearby was a stream where we drank the most refreshing water (after filtering it!). The day after that experience, we ended up at some museum staring at fossilized fish vomit. Actually, it was a replica of fossilized fish vomit! The real stuff was off on loan somewhere.\u00a0Not every day can be heaven.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n There have been so many other fine moments like sharing a huge Filipino feast for Friendsgiving, devouring Italian pastries on a sidewalk at two in the morning in Boston, the pitcher of bloody Mary garnished with a whole fried chicken and finding a traveling beer garden in Milwaukee with family, eating the best canelles<\/em> and foie gras<\/em> and raspberry toast at Iliana Regan\u2019s Bunny in Chicago with Wes and Ruth, and going to an opera at the Lyric and slurping spicy handmade ramen in a tiny basement bar with Megan. And the many visits to our local pub (Tequila Point), hanging out at the chocolate factory<\/a>, and making music. How could I even forget the 24 hour vigil at American Players Theatre of Shakespeare\u2019s 400th<\/sup> anniversary? At dawn, a bunch of us got onstage and sang drinking songs with our tankards of local ale. In New York we had Christmas dinner at Le Bernardin paired with the controversial Salome at the Metropolitan Opera. I even went to my first county fair and witnessed \u201cbed racing\u201d and had my first taste of funnel cake.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/driftlessappetite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/test.jpeg\")
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