--Thomas Aquinas
After the Thanksgiving holiday, having enjoyed two delicious dinners and still in an excellent mood, then I don't think today is appropriate for a Rant. So, instead, I'm posting a Non-Rant, highlighting something which makes everyone happy, and something which I probably don't devote enough attention on my blog.
Let's talk about friendship.
“Of all possessions, a friend is the most precious.”
--Herodotus
It's a given that the circumstances surrounding us when we eat and drink will affect, positively or negatively, our perception of that food and drink. If you're vacationing in Europe, drinking local wine at a picturesque cafe, you'll probably think the wine is stunning, partially a reaction to your amazing surroundings. If you had that same wine at a dirty, noisy and crowded little restaurant, you might not enjoy it as much. The same applies to food as well, as dishes you enjoy at an exotic vacation destination may taste better than if you had that same dish at a local spot.
Besides your surroundings, the people with you at the time will also play a significant role in your enjoyment. When you are dining with the people you most love, such as close friends, you're more likely to have a better overall experience. Your food and drink often tastes better because of those friends.
“The greatest sweetener of human life is friendship.”
--Joseph Addison
As I have repeatedly said before, good food and drink is even better when shared. My best dining and drinking experiences have always been with good friends and/or family. I sincerely hope that you have at least one good friend who enhances your own dining and drinking experiences. I suspect many people who shared Thanksgiving with good friends enjoyed their food and drink even more. Maybe you should even thank those friends for enriching your life. I also hope that you do the same for your own friends, making their own food and drink taste better. Appreciate the friends in your lives and make your life even better. Without friends, your life is empty and shallow.
In addition, with inspiration and thanks to Gary Goldblatt, food-lover and friend, I want to note that being a good food/drink friend can also entail sharing your knowledge and experience with your friends. For example, you can introduce your friends to different cuisines or different wines. And hopefully they will reciprocate, introducing you to new food and drink experiences as well. And be willing to share your knowledge of food and drink with interested strangers as well, as they might then become friends.
“The greatest sweetener of human life is friendship.”
--Joseph Addison
As I have repeatedly said before, good food and drink is even better when shared. My best dining and drinking experiences have always been with good friends and/or family. I sincerely hope that you have at least one good friend who enhances your own dining and drinking experiences. I suspect many people who shared Thanksgiving with good friends enjoyed their food and drink even more. Maybe you should even thank those friends for enriching your life. I also hope that you do the same for your own friends, making their own food and drink taste better. Appreciate the friends in your lives and make your life even better. Without friends, your life is empty and shallow.
In addition, with inspiration and thanks to Gary Goldblatt, food-lover and friend, I want to note that being a good food/drink friend can also entail sharing your knowledge and experience with your friends. For example, you can introduce your friends to different cuisines or different wines. And hopefully they will reciprocate, introducing you to new food and drink experiences as well. And be willing to share your knowledge of food and drink with interested strangers as well, as they might then become friends.
Cherish your food and drink friends, and try to be a better one yourself.
"Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief."
--Marcus Tullius Cicero