Thoughts

As I get to the last section of the book, I am struggling with what I am going to do after I evaluate it here on this little blog. What are the next steps? Where do I go from here? I am not sure. I am excited about this endeavour, but I am also feeling overwhelmed. I feel overwhelmed by the sense of expectation of this challenge. What have I undertaken? Am I really going to be able to take this on and have fun with it?

I feel as if I should write about some of the more exciting ingredients on the list that I have already tried as a start. I think that that might be the easiest. I then am not sure where I go. Do I move to a model of having a set night a month, where I invite some of my "1001 groupies" over for food and wine and we try some these things? I am seeing this being a bit of a mash of different things over the course of the challenge, but I think that I need some focus around it. I have already had some people indicate that they are excited to help with some of the more exciting ingredients and cooking and I know that I can always get people together for a plate of cheese and a couple of bottles of wine, so I think it will work out.

I guess it is not letting the challenge die or fizzle out that makes me worried also. I'm not sure how I am going to do that. Potentially writing once a week or more. Maybe it is trying to cross some ting off the list at a regular interval. I think that somehow photography will play into this in a way and my ongoing excitement for it. The other and most important key will be "team 1001". "Team 1001" is a group of friends and family who are all foodies who have shown an interest in being involved in this in one way or another. I think that their enthusiasm and willingness to be engaged and excited will also help how this thing evolves and grow.

Anyway, those are just some thoughts for now that I wanted to get down. Any thoughts that you had to share on moving forward would be greatly appreciated.

The Rules of the Game

As I have been reading the Book, or shall I say bible, my guide for the challenge, I am aware of the fact that their have to be some guidelines and rules around what constitutes "tasting". Do I have to actually have to have eaten the ingredient in the raw? Is it OK to have had something that is flavoured by the ingredient? This problem came to light with the very first ingredient in the book - Elderberry Flower. Does it count that I have had Elderberry Flower jam? I think that it does. I have taken an informal poll of some foodie friends and we agree that it would count.

So some informal guidelines for The 1001 Foods You Must Taste Before You Die Challenge:

1. The variety of food indicated in the book, must be the variety tasted. For example eating a kipper, although an endearing food adventure, would not qualify towards the 1001 unless it was the "Isle of Man Kipper" as indicated on page 404.
2. Food flavoured by as the primary ingredient, or as the main source of an ingredient, will count towards the tasting of one of the 1001 if indicated in the description of the ingredient in the book. For example Elderberry Flower Jam would qualify, as it is mentioned in the description on page 22. I will however, endeavour to eat the 1001 in their truest and purest form.
3. Foods on the 1001 list can be eaten anywhere in the world and extra points will be given for foods eaten in their place of origin.

I think that those three seem easy enough, don't you? I also have committed to try and do the following things:

1. I will try and list sources and origins for the ingredients that I find in Toronto and elsewhere
2. I will try and take as many pictures as possible of the adventures
3. I will endeavour to try new recipes and post them when possible
4. I promise to include family and friends in this crazy challenge

So here we are at the beginning of this little adventure. I wonder how it will all turn out.

The birth of a challenge

I have been searching out a personal challenge for 2009. The Challenge has to meet a few 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. As a relatively big foodie living in Toronto, 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.

It wasn't a week before 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.

I think that this book might be the source and birth of my challenge. I could commit to tasting all of the items in the book that I hadn't tried. I could engage family and friends in the search. If I was looking for Portuguese cheese, I could 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've now been thinking about it for two weeks and I am committed to doing it. The book has been on my coffee table for the two weeks and I have chatting to many foodie friends about their willingness to help. Everyone I talk to loves the idea and wants to be engaged and a part of it. I am so excited to get started. I can't wait. I guess that this post is the first step. Wish me luck!