“Chicken Soup for the Soul” meets food, drink, travel, lifestyle, love for people, and stories.
My great grandma (who is one of the most spry people I know at 99 years old!) once told me as I was talking or telling a story about something that I was the only person she knew that talked that much, but actually had something to say. It was one of the best compliments I had ever received (if it was supposed to be a compliment? ha). She is clearly biased, but she has also had to hear me talk before. I ended up pursuing a career in marketing and communications. What I do know is this, no matter what you are doing, you must always ask the question, “why should anyone care?”
Before we get to the rest, I will tell you what this blog is not: just a recipe blog that tries to come up with a story to read that you have to scroll through so they get ad revenue and you can finally get the recipe. This blog is about sharing good food, drinks, sauce, real-life stories, and provoking thoughts that you may want to try or revel on. I have certainly enjoyed the experiences I have had based on what other people have shared with me and those I have shared some of these experiences with, and I hope there will be something in here to share with you in the same right.
I started writing this blog as a way to give other people good travel and food ideas and ways to do hosting better that I have already discovered. As I started writing it, it turned out to be much more than that. Once I started writing all of the food, travel, drink, hosting, and experiential things I loved, I realized there was one common denominator — why any of that mattered to me at all: I love people. But, I would pose the same question back to you, why does it matter to you?
I also realized, food, drink, travel, entertainment, lifestyle, etc., are actually so much more than what they are literally. What turns these things from literal events to meaningful events are the people we experience them with — whether we really know them or not. And, when you experience life, you create life lessons and stories that often lead to more life.
These are the reasons you need to read and follow this blog:
- I’m REALLY good about finding the most VALUABLE places to go and eat. I am a real person with a real budget but likes really good food and travel. Sometimes, I spend $10 for the fish & chips and sometimes I spend $200 for two for Surf & Turf. Whatever my recommendations (or what not-to-dos) are, they will be worth (or more) their value.
- My passion is hosting and creating experiences. I notice the details.
- You can travel for not that much money.
- You can host at home, and we should all be hosting ourselves. I have great recommendations to host for 1, 2, or 20 (close to the equivalent of my immediate family that started at 7).
- I am a real person. But, I’m also a “mainstream” person. Sure, I certainly have my quirks that are out-of-the box and I will try many things, but, by and large, if I like it, most everyone will like it (barring some exceptions). This goes for food, music, fashion, and more. I certainly have my own recognizable style in life that won’t be for everyone. But, I’m not someone who “tries” to be someone who has obscure tastes or someone that naturally has obscure tastes. Most people will enjoy what they find here. And, yes, we all have to work hard, but no matter your budget, I have something that you can enjoy for all that hard work you are doing.
- I look for food and travel experiences off of my own self-defined Fortune 10 cities list (most traveled US cities). That doesn’t mean I won’t write about great food and travel experiences in these cities when I am there, including my own city of Nashville. But, you will always read about something a little off of the beatin’ path.
- I will say, I have been fortunate enough to be exposed and introduced to tastes (cultural, artistic, culinary, etc.) that I never knew — and hopefully always will! So, you will read some food, drink, and travel experiences here you will never have seen before, but, most likely, if I like it, you will too. And, discovering new experiences through our senses with the people we love, or even by ourselves meeting new people along the way (also one of my favorites), in this short life we have, Friends, is the only reason you are here reading this anyway. There are few hobbies I love more than hosting and planning a good trip — even if that is in my own home. I hope there is something in here to make yours great!
- Lastly, I’ll do my best on the photos, but I prioritize people, life, the experience, and politeness over great photos, so, in a way, what you get here is even more authentic. I will have spent no time trying to get the perfect photo.
What you will find here: sauce recommendations, recipes, food, cocktails, travel, things found while traveling, and pro tips for…life and food. May we all live well.
I have a lot of thoughts, and even more opinions. Share yours with me!
