The beginning of a beautiful friendship.

After years of poring over cookbooks, cooking magazines, and books from prominent figures in the culinary field — that is to say, after steeping myself in the world of food writing — I've finally decided to marry my love of food with my love for writing. For the past few months, I've updated my Twitter with especially memorable meals or dishes, attempting to capture the essence of spectacular food in 140 characters or fewer. While I enjoy the challenge of expressing myself vividly, yet briefly, in such a limited medium, and shall continue to tweet about notable food I encounter, I'd also like to broaden my creative and culinary horizons (not to mention my character count) a bit.

This blog is the fruition of those desires.

I had worried that, in taking notes (mental or written) about my meals, in analysing them, I'd make the act of eating a cerebral process, instead of the visceral experience I'd enjoyed before. But while I was jotting down thoughts during my first blogged meal, I realised that, far from detracting from my enjoyment of the food, thinking about it more was actually increasing my sensory perception. Rather than simply ingesting absentmindedly while reading or talking to my friends, I was forced to pay attention to each nuance of flavour, each minor textural subtlety, so I could adequately describe the meal to an outside observer.

I look forward to casting this new, more critical eye on what I eat. During the process, I hope to become a more discriminating eater — able to discern flavours and depict them in broad swathes and delicate brushstrokes alike — as well as a more capable, more fluid writer.

Please, join me at the table. Mangia!