Re-birth of a challenge

As I wrote about earlier, I love challenges. I especially love them if they fall into certain criteria:

1. It has to be something fun and lighthearted
2. It has to be something challenging
3. It has to be something that will help me to explore the city where I live and allow me to explore the places where I travel
4. It has to be something I can engage friends and family in, whether they now it or not
5. It has to be something that I can take lots of pictures of (as I have a secret love of photography!)


So where did my 5 objectives leave me??? Looking at my personal interests; volunteer work, art, reading, shopping, food..... aha food. I love to eat and share food and drink with friends and family. It is the basis for most social interaction and I enjoy that. I enjoy spoiling people by cooking for them and entertaining. There is nothing like enjoying a good meal, great wine and fantastic conversation with new and old friends.


A few years ago, I was in my local super Bookstore, Chapters, and I came across the book 1001 Foods You Must Taste Before You Die. Can you imagine a book with 1001 different foods that are recommended for everyone to taste? How many had I tried? How many had I liked? Were they exotic enough to be interesting and challenging to be a good challenge?

The first page that I opened the book to listed the Corryvreckan Langoustine and the Audresselles Lobster. Intrigued to see two very specific types of fish, a picture of each, a description and most intriguingly a two-three sentence description on the "Taste" of the item that has been described. I think that I am in love. I also really loved the fact that I didn't know if I had eaten either of them and that it would be a real search to find them in the Toronto.

This book is the source of my challenge. I can commit to tasting all of the items in the book that I hadn't tried. I can engage family and friends in the search. If I was looking for Portuguese cheese, I can call my friend RC and ask her to help me source it. I could also see having a bi-weekly or monthly gathering of friends or family to join me in a "tasting" to try the newest things on the list. It would also let me use many of the cookbooks that I have and collect and really expand my cooking repertoire.


I started this process a year ago and am committed now, more than ever, to doing it. It really comes down to eating and trying different things with those that I love. I am so excited to get started. I can't wait. Wish me (us) luck!