Happy New Year faithful (and interant) readers. 2006 is finally here and it signals the end of what was quite an busy and event-filled year for me. I got married in 2005. Nena and I adopted Ben in 2005. And, we bought a house in 2005.
Now that all of these big and joyous events have come and gone, it is my hope to spend more time in the new year enhancing both LENNDEVOURS and my other food and wine-related endeavors. Some people in my life (my parents, Nena...) would say that I'm a man of many ideas who doesn't always do the best job following through on them. I'm awful about New Years Resolutions, so I don't do them anymore. However, I do have several food and wine goals for 2006. Maybe by typing them out and sharing them with you, I'll increase the chances that they'll get accomplished.
So, without further adieu, I give you the LENNDEVOURS goals for 2006:
Create a Supper Club. A few years ago we used to have a small supper club with two other couples. For a variety of reasons, it faded into the sunset and it's something I've wanted to revive ever since. My goal is to re-start one and see how it develops. We have great friends who love great food...what could be better?
Become a Cheese Geek. I've known for years that I love cheese, but I really know very little about it. This is the year I change all that.
Be More Education-Oriented. I really want to bring new people to wine and expand the knowledge of those that are already part of the flock. It looks like Nena and I will be teaching some wine classes at a local winery this spring (more on that as it develops) so that's a great start. I also hope to offer more educational content here on LENNDEVOURS. And, I want to expand my own knowledge...because there is just so much to learn and know.
Make Vinegar. This goal was inspired by Derrick over at An Obsession With Food (and Wine) as he lists the same goal.
Sell a Story to a "Big" Publication. I'm not expecting to sell a story to Wine Spectator or anything, but I'd like to grow my list beyond the three ad-supported, free publications I write for. Of course, maybe I just need to start my own newsletter or something instead (more on that idea in a future post).
Eat More Thoughtfully. With the busy lives Nena and I live, too often we don't plan meals as much as we'd like. We end up just sauteeing some veggies and grilling some chicken/steak/pork. I'd like us both to spend more time considering what we eat, where we buy it from and how we prepare it. I think this one will definitely happen...we already love our new kitchen and we've decided that our local grocery store is awful
for produce. We may join The Golden Earthworm's CSA program in the spring too.
Share More Kitchen Tales on LENNDEVOURS. This is a constant battle...and I usually lose. LENNDEVOURS used to be primarily a food blog...and it's become almost entirely wine focused. You'll see more adventures from our kitchen in 2006, I promise.
Meet More Bloggers. It was great meeting Beau and Derrick this year, but it seems a bit silly that the only bloggers I've met thus far live in California and Utah. NY food and wine bloggers...it's time.
The supper club idea is an excellent one. My wife and I had an informal foodie group made up of a sub-section of the local homebrew club and some of our work colleagues. We tended to focus on beer and food pairing, but one of my good friends had done his PhD work in France and thus had a wine tooth. He helped to further my wine education while I showed him that there is more to beer than Bud. Also, his cooking was divinely inspired.
Posted by: The Angler | January 03, 2006 at 12:52 PM
Hey Lenn,
The supper club sounds like a great idea. I think I'm going to start one up here in Brooklyn.
We have one going already that meets very infrequently for BBQ, but it's only the BBQ chefs of Long Island. Interesting group and these supper clubs usually involve copious amounts of beer. We need a wine expert to start matching wine to our Q.
Meeting fellow bloggers is also a worthy goal. I’m working on that as well. I've met a lot of fellow barbeque'rs but very few bloggers.
Happy New Year to you and the best to your family.
Robert
Posted by: Robert | January 03, 2006 at 02:47 PM
Lenn,
An excellent goal to meet up in 2006! I'll drink to that! (and to think that we are only 50 miles apart or whatever)
Cheers,
Tyler
Posted by: Dr. Vino | January 03, 2006 at 02:51 PM
Robert,
Happy New Year to you and yours as well. I've got a diverse group of friends when it comes to food and drink. Some of them only eat steak, pasta with red sauce, and other middle-of-the-road things...while others are very into exotic, ethnic foods. We also have a wide range of wine lovers...from those who won't drink it at all (they only drink Coors light) to wine geeks like me.
Maybe this spring/summer you can come out east and do some BBQ for my group...and then I'll come to Brooklyn to pair some wines for your group?! Sounds like a fun plan to me, no?
Posted by: Lenn Thompson | January 03, 2006 at 03:10 PM
Tyler...we're DEFINITELY getting together for some vino in 06...no doubt.
Posted by: Lenn | January 03, 2006 at 03:12 PM
Hey, if you need advice on the vinegar thing, give me a holler. I've got one good article about it as well as a small booklet that has additional info. And while I'm not 100% sure that my batch would provide a good starter culture, I know where to get some if you can't find any locally.
Posted by: Derrick Schneider | January 03, 2006 at 03:30 PM
Dr. Vino,
Sounds like a great plan. But BBQ and wine is a pairing that most Barbeque guys look at with suspicion. Beer is definitely the drink of choice. But I'd like to change that, or at least offer a viable alternative.
I'd love to come out and cook for your group. I'll use any excuse to fire up the pits. I cook all year. Summer is just the busy season.
Posted by: Robert | January 03, 2006 at 03:49 PM
Robert...if you want to fire up the pits before summer hits, I think I can put together a nice group of eaters! Seriously!
As for you BBQ types being suspicious of wine with BBQ...I bet we could change all that.
Derrick, I may take you up on that offer of help. I need to get some sort of container to do the deed in. But, I should probably put some research in first. I'm thinking it's a good way to "dispose" of the left over wine we always have laying around after my "pro" tastings.
Posted by: Lenn | January 03, 2006 at 03:57 PM
Lenn,
Yep, the two other folks I know who make their own vinegar are both professional wine writers. It's a good way to get rid of excess.
Any container will work, as long as you thoroughly wash it out. My vinegar is currently sitting in a big glass jar; I'll move it to the barrel once that's prepped.
Posted by: Derrick Schneider | January 03, 2006 at 06:50 PM
Lenn,
I'll about getting together in 2006, I think we'll have some fun possibilities--can't wait!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 04, 2006 at 10:09 PM