May 2009 Archives

I started this site for love of food but if I'm honest with myself, part of the reason I keep it going is for the people I meet through it. I was just packing up my laptop, fried after an afternoon of answering emails from a table at Coffeetalk when a stranger approached me, "Do... you have a food blog?"

The question was so unexpected (and my brain was so addled) that I had to ask for her to say it again, "what was that?"

"Do you have a food blog?"

"Yeeeeeesss." Stunned pause while I gathered my thoughts. "Hi, I'm Alan..."

The woman introduced herself as Elizabeth, in town from Seattle, and she recognized me from my photo! I have no idea how people do that, but it's not the first time this has happened.

Hi Elizabeth! I'm glad you've enjoyed my blog, and am sorry I was too tongue-tied to make decent conversation. I'm also damn impressed that you picked me out of a crowd. I barely recognize my best friends when I see 'em out of context.

The photo you mentioned of my son is already a couple years old, but here's a new one taken at Easter. Toshi is almost six years old, yet still thinks his dad is the best cook (and food blogger) in the whole world.

Who am I to argue with that?

Aloha!