Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! As 2012 begins, I wish only the best for my family, friends, and readers.  I hope you all find that the new year is even better than the previous one. 

The last couple years have been challenging ones for many of us, especially economically, and it is my fervent hope that 2012 bring a much better economic outlook for all of us. No matter what happens though, we shall find a way to make 2012 a great year. Try to maintain a positive attitude, no matter what happens, and you can get through anything. 

For The Passionate Foodie, I have plenty of ideas and plans: places to visit, issues to examine, wines to drink, food to eat, books to read, and much, much more. For example, I plan to revisit some restaurants, wine shops, food markets and other places which I have previously only visited once, such as 51 Lincoln and Wine Nation. I want to see whether such places have changed, whether my opinions about them need to be modified. I plan to visit Kentucky, for the Derby, and tour some of the bourbon distilleries there. I also plan to attend the Wine Blogger's Conference in Portland, Oregon, returning to a city which I very much enjoyed this past fall. I want to devote more time and study to Port and Madeira, fortified Portuguese wines with intriguing histories. And I have some secret plans as well, which I can't yet reveal.

These are but samples of some of what I have planned for the coming year, and I hope to do much more.  If you have any suggestions for me, please leave them in the comments or email me.  I am always looking for new and interesting food, wine, sake, and spirits places to check out.

Thanks so much to all of my readers during the past year, and best wishes to you for the coming year.  I hope you will continue to read my blog in 2012, and please send me your feedback and criticism so I can make Passionate Foodie even better.

Dine and drink with passion all year round!