Flavor Tripping and Fate

Do you believe in fate? I am not sure if I do. Sometimes, I feel that it is hard to deny…or perhaps if you listen hard enough, the universe answers your internal questions. Like when the sermon in church is exactly what you need to hear or the first time you heard the Fray's "Over My Head," because seriously, haven't we all been there…perhaps you are just more in tune to your surroundings. Hmm…

I digress.

What I want to talk about is “flavor tripping” and the series of events that surround it and me. Late night last week, Adam and I are channel surfing and happen upon this show on the Planet Green. It’s some [kinda out there] chef explaining this berry powder product he is calling “Miracle Fruit.” From his description, he says that this berry temporarily rewires the brain to taste sour as sweet. Huh…fast forward to a montage of kitchen staff gorging themselves on lemons, goat cheese, hot sauce, guiness…and to the untrained eye they were arguably acting pretty crazy. Then, they plan this whole gourmet menu of mums, aloe vera, cactus and grass for their restaurant, Moto…chef goes on to talk about ending hunger with this miracle fruit by making seemingly inedible plants edible with the help of “miracle fruit”…and it is with all of that mumbo jumbo, that I’m done.

I’m a total ”miracle fruit” skeptic and Adam and I turn that garbage off. The real "miracle" is that this nut job got on TV. Next day, I’m still intrigued, so I do a quick little Google search that surprisingly leads me to some credible articles about “miracle fruit”…and not just ones on Wikipedia, y’all…we are talking the NY Times and CNN. It’s true! There is a teeny tiny berry, Synsepalum dulcificum, from West Africa that does do what crazy chef says! In fact, in NYC and L.A. there are parties where this berry is the guest of honor and people pay to ‘flavor trip’ and go wild with their taste buds. Additionally, the berry was presented as a sweetener to the FDA in the 70’s and is popular in Japan with the diabetics! Whodathunkit?

The very next morning, in my inbox, Scoutmob has invited me to ‘flavor trip’ and meet my miracle berry at Three Sheets ATL, where coincidentally I have been jonesin’ to try. What are the odds of this bizarre series of events?Miracle berry why do you taunt me?

Fate? Probably not. I think that fate is probably reserved for meeting the love of your life, or finding that dream job or last pair of shoes in your size…

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Catching the Worm

Up, exercised, showered and caffeinated by 8:00 am on Saturday? It can be done! I've got a very busy exciting Saturday and thought I'd share my morning motivation from the Wood Brothers. Pour some coffee and soak it in! Happy Weekend!

Step into my office...

As per the usual, I have shirked my blogging duties...but it's ok because disappointing my 3 readers doesn't really seem like THAT big of a deal (there's only 3, right?). I tell you what, life has been out of control recently and I mean that in the most positive exciting way. Parties, car woes, applications, acceptances, vacations, birthdays, holidays, Wednesdays, weddings, yard sales, late nights, early nights, fireflies, laundry, jazz, heat waves, oil spills...and it continues well into August.

A couple of big things. I have perfected the shrimp scampi and will be sharing the recipe. Adam was hired! And, I am leaving my job. Most people have a set plan when they leave one employment and move on to different things...but, I have multiple. In addition to all of the life that has been going on, I have been juggling a handful of different opportunities, each unique and more wonderful than the others. I am beyond myself with enthusiasm, up for the hard work that will ensue and hopeful.

I have a list of things to blog about...and I will definitely get to them by the end of this year :)

Charleston...

River Dogs Game

Oz on the Beach

Addy in disguise

Tearing it UP

Addy and I at the Water Front Park