Thursday, June 17, 2010

True Adventure and Epicuriosity


Maybe it's the summertime blues. Maybe it's the fact that my big trip abroad is behind me. Maybe it's that I'm about to near my one-year anniversary of job-loss...

I'm not quite sure of its origin but...

I'm looking for adventure, unfortunately not set to head out on the highway again for a good long spell. I'm terribly guilty of settling into a life self-labeled as rote and predictable. Over the last few days, I've found myself admitting to anyone that will listen that I'm looking for my next big adventure. Could it mean another trip? A move? A bigger step in the direction of my letterpress dreams? I don't know. I'm not feeling an urgent push in any direction, though my mind is kiddie-pool flicking and flailing with ideas plenty wide and about an inch deep.

In it all, I have also felt a quiet prodding reminder to not abandon the love that I had at first. As I wrote almost exactly two years ago when I began this blog as an attempt to document and encourage my own societal and spiritual experience: "One cannot be boring who is alive in Christ."

That said, I know I'm not too big for my Birmingham britches. I've not decided that a life of intrigue and excitement can't be found on these streets, or even within the very walls of my home.

So, though I've returned home from my trip to Europe hungry for a bigger life, I've decided to channel my wanderlust energies wisely. Though slightly intimidated by the complexity of signature French sauces, stews and pastries, I've committed myself to cooking through some of my epicurean fears, vowing not to let any snafus in the kitchen deter me. (Remember remember the not-so-great Based Alaska debacle of last December).

While this is a small step in the direction of patienct satisfaction in the present, I am happy to have some project to set my mind and hands to.

First on tap: Croque-Madame, much like the one I had at Café Deux Moulins in Amelie's Parisian eatery. Track my kitchen travels here, as I'll report back with recipes and reviews.

No comments: