From Ordinary to Memorable, a Little Perspective
#colorful #conversation #almonds #wildcabbage #bateau #cosme #family #friends #inspiration #quoteoftheday #marktwain #figuringitout #seattle #newyork
From Bitter Almonds to Duck Carnitas: A Week of Figuring It Out
Transformation isn’t just for self-help books. It happens in kitchens, around dinner tables—and sometimes over the course of a week that starts with steak and ends with meringue.
Mark Twain said, “Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” Catchy, funny—and I’ll admit, I didn’t quite get it at first.
After a reread (and a quick Google dive into Twainisms), it clicked: with time, care, and a bit of effort, even the most unassuming things—or people—can become something extraordinary. A bitter nut becomes a peach. Cabbage earns a degree and rebrands as cauliflower. And a scattered week of airport travel and meals turns into something surprisingly grounding.
Kicking Things Off in Seattle at Bateau
The week started in Seattle with dinner at Bateau—a spot that’s seriously into steak. Think chalkboard menus listing every cut and servers who talk about steak like sommeliers talk about wine.
The food was awesome. The best highlight was the company. My friend Lai had me laughing so hard I was tearing up. It was a great catchup dinner before heading out of town.
The Middle: A Plane, Coffee, and Zooms
Next came the middle stretch: a flight to New York, a week powered by enough caffeine to power a small grid, and the Succession soundtrack by Nicholas Britell on loop (highly recommend: it's great focus music).
Closing Out at Cosme in New York
By Sunday, I was at Cosme, for a family dinner celebrating my stepdad’s birthday. We dove into guac with crispy tortillas, seafood, duck carnitas, and finished with corn husk meringue.
The scene? Colorful, happy, and full of animated, overlapping conversations.
Tying it all Together
The week reminded me of something simple: with a little care and intention, the ordinary can become extraordinary. A bitter almond turns sweet. A traveler finds presence. A dinner becomes a vivid memory worth keeping.
Illustrations inspired by Bateau chef Renee Erickson’s roses #repost
Photos from Cosme NYC and Karlitz & Co. #repost
