We didn’t eat out very often when I was a child. In fact - before I was ten or eleven, I only recall eating in a restaurant once. It must have been costly for a family of eleven to eat in a restaurant. I’m not sure what we were celebrating - maybe my parent’s anniversary or something, but all eleven of us dressed up in our “Sunday best” and went out for dinner. I remember people gawking at our big family. Now, what I wouldn’t give to go out with all of us together.

In high school, my parents often took Phil, Tim and I to the Ponderosa Steak House. It was a chain back in the day that sold really inexpensive steaks but it was fun.

I love food. I love cooking. We don’t eat out often when we are home - mostly only on vacation.

Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten was on our honeymoon in Jamaica. Harv and I stayed at the Couple’s Resort and every night we were not disappointed with the entree’s and desserts.

I’ve enjoyed some yummy restaurants during the time we’ve spent in Florida over the last few years. When we arrived two years ago at Indian Shores, it was the gold medal game of the World Juniors and Canada was playing. There was a sports bar near our condo where we knew we could watch the game - so we called Bob and Lynn to see if they would like to join us. Sure enough - they did. We arrived around 5:45 and and enjoyed the atmosphere and anticipation of the upcoming game. We ordered burgers and fries! We cheered for our boys and when the game went into overtime, we ordered dessert - Key Lime Pie! It was a delightful evening of food, friendship and a big gold medal win for our Canadian boys!

That same year - 2023 - Ted and Irene joined Bob and Lynn and Harv and I in Florida. Harry and Marg came down for a week as well so January was a fun month. My birthday is January 26 and the eight of us went out for breakfast at a fun restaurant on Golf Blvd called Sweet Sage Cafe. That birthday breakfast has a bitter/sweet memory for me. The food was fantastic as always, but it is the last time we had a meal together with Ted. Shortly after this day, Ted found out he had cancer and he went Home to be with the Lord, just three months later. I’ll always cherish that special month in Florida with him.

For many years I have heard of St. Anne’s Spa at Grafton, Ontario and in April of this year, I took my three daughters-in-law there for a weekend to celebrate their 40th birthdays. The grounds of the Spa are spectacular. The atmosphere is wonderful. The treatments were amazing. But the food…….was outstanding. Four wonderful meals a day! Breakfast. Lunch. Afternoon Tea. Supper. Superb! No need to ever be hungry. We brought snacks with us and didn’t even open the bags.

My most magical meal though - cooked in a restaurant - occurred this past summer - when Zac and Pete and I were in Barcelona. After completing our 120 km walk along the Camino Trail - from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela - we flew to Barcelona for 2 and a half days. Finally I was able to embrace the wonderful European lifestyle of eating later in the evening.

The first day in Barcelona we swam in the Mediterranean Sea and toured the Familia Sagrada - the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. It was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) and is now designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It was a spectacular experience to visit the cathedral.

At the end of this busy day, we rested in our hotel room - showered and dressed for a night on the town. Very near to our hotel, was a magnificent square of restaurants and shops. We stopped at one and ordered drinks - watched the people arriving for the evening and chatted about our day. We then walked along the side streets around the square and decided on a smaller, family owned restaurant. That night I ordered Paella. It was definitely the tastiest meal I’ve ever eaten in my whole life. Rice - saffron - vegetables - and chicken - served in a pan. It was 9 pm and I was eating supper.

We wondered back to the square and found a table and ordered dessert and coffee and drinks. 11 pm. Look at me. Totally embracing the culture.

I don’t think I’ll ever eat a rice dish again without remembering that amazing night in Barcelona with Zac and Pete, indulging my taste buds with the best of Spanish cooking.

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well." - M.F.K. Fisher