For many, food is a love language, and a layered one at that. On the surface, this urge to feed a loved one is as simple as making sure they have had enough to eat today. That part isn’t hard to understand; however, the deeper meaning might be.

I’ve been into the zero-proof beverage movement for a few years now, and while I’ve found quite a few spirits I really enjoy, I’d yet to find a zero-proof wine that didn’t taste like straight up vinegar or grape juice. It’s a relief to say that French Bloom doesn’t have this problem.

I’d seen it on TV. From Cheers, to Friends, and so on, I envied the notion of being able to walk into a public establishment and have someone know you. It’s not that it’s impossible to achieve this in a city, it’s just far less likely.

The other night I noticed that my Persian neighbor was drinking from a glass bottle filled with what, from a distance, looked like glitter. Curious, I asked what it was, and she kindly taught me.

This is Los Angeles! There are almost four million people here, and for every person in this city, there are at least two restaurants claiming to be the HOTTEST NEW THING. So, you’ll have to forgive me for dismissing any hyped-up new spot the second it opens.

Dave’s Hot Chicken is, you guessed it, a fried chicken spot that came out of LA, but these days it’s pretty much everywhere if you look. As a vegetarian, I’ve never really paid much attention to it. Until recently.

Themed events are one of my favorite reasons for living. I love going to them, I love planning them, and I even love — on occasion — hosting them. There is one rule I have, though: every themed event must include a themed drink.

It is commonplace these days for many to take incentives from anyone and to blindly promote these products to everyone. I want to be clear that that is not, and never will be, what I am doing here.

The temptation to start posting as if this site has always existed and will always exist is strong, but I promised authenticity… so here we are. This is The First Post.