Local food for the soul

My brother and I went to Vancouver for a few days for a little vacation this past week. All in all, Vancouver is an awesome city when it comes to live-ability. We were able to walk or take the sky train anywhere we needed, nature & activity right in the city limits with beaches, bike lanes & hiking, tons of craft beer, and tons of food fusion options. Food in Vancouver, much like the overall history, is straight fusion.

We both typically rely on review websites to help us choose where to eat, no matter what city we are in, home or traveling. Vancouver was no exception. We started to realize, that with using the review websites (TripAdvisor, Google, Yelp, etc), we weren't making good decisions, because there are just TOO many options to choose from. The rabbit hole started to swallow us and when we got to the point of hangry, we made a few hasty decisions. 

After 2 mediocre meals, we went back to basics for our final dinner in Vancouver. We decided to come out from behind the 'black mirror' of our phones, and actually ASK people who live in Vancouver where to eat. 

Everywhere we went yesterday, the museum of Vancouver, Granville Island, & many breweries, we asked 1 question, "If you had 1 last meal to eat in Vancouver, where would you go?" It's a broad question- we both don't have any dietary restrictions, and if its good, we will eat it (yes... even bacon if its suppose to be THAT good). We didn't have specifications of type of food, no price limit, and were open to traveling anywhere in Vancouver. 

After the first few people, we started to notice that people LOVED answering this question and loved talking about their city. Anyone who overheard the conversation, also wanted to drop in their opinion. I realized that in traveling, the way to get people to chat with you, don't ask about the weather, ask about food. Its a topic that doesn't feel like small talk, but more like a connection.. I think it may be because it has a result- where you're going to eat. 

In the end, there was 1 restaurant, Ask for Luigi, that was mentioned 4 times and we decided we had to go. This restaurant never came up in any of our internet searches, and we would have never found it if we didn't decide to actually ask the people who know the city best, IRL (you know... in real life). We had an amazing meal, and even better, we got to know some people of Vancouver with our little game along the way. 

While traveling, instead of turning to the black hole of the internet for a 'local' option, I am going to turn back to good old human communication. It's better for the soul, and you never know what you might discover. For my brother and I, we discovered amazing pasta... so amazing that we may have ordered another pasta for dessert, but we will never tell. 

Peace, Love, and eating in Vancouver, 
b 

What are you at 29?

"What are 3 words to describe you?" or "What 3 words would you want written on your gravestone"

I freaking hate those questions. How am I suppose to sum up ALL of me into 3 words? How can I answer the question without making myself a basic cliche or just plain vanilla?

The typical thought process for me when I have been asked:

• Well, I don't like to be generic & do things in my own way and time, so I must be creative
• I like to be nice to everyone I meet, so I must be nice 
• I like to get shit done- move forward and make change, so I must be determined 

All the above qualities of myself are all great.... but overall, the 3 words, creative, nice and determined, don't quite answer the question for me. When giving these traits, I feel like there is something missing & I am justifying the use of each word with , "I must be..." 

Well universe, you have helped me figure out 1 word that I know describes me. A word that I 100% would want written on my gravestone: 

I am freaking Resilient 

How do I know, you may ask?  

How I know.... My shit is going wrong right now, all sorts of wrong. But,  I also really think that when shit goes wrong, sometimes, it turns out to be exactly right. My 29th year of life is turning out to be the most transformative, soul wrenching and reinvigorating year of my life... and its only been about a month since I turned 29. 

I am on the cusp of an adventure, possibly a grand one, possibly a dull one, but an adventure never the less. 

I'll leave you with this for now.....

The women I love and admire for their strength and grace did not get that way because shit worked out. They got that way because shit went wrong and they handled it. They handled it a thousand different ways on a thousand different days, but they handled it. Those women are my superheroes.

- Elizabeth Gilbert

Peace, love, re-energizing, 

b