National Tequila Day

Although I don't normally post on Saturdays, I must make an exception for National Tequila Day. Right up there with Christmas, Labor Day and Boxing Day, National Tequila Day is a major holiday and worthy of serious contemplation...and drinking.

First up is a recent discovery, 100 percent agave, blanco tequila from Espolón. It's very good, inexpensive ($19.99, Green's) and wonderful for margaritas. Just as a reminder, margaritas are comprised of tequila, triple sec and lime juice. Please back away from the neon green mixer.

Holy frijoles, Batman. This is some serious tequila. My thanks to Jason Riddle at Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar for introducing me to this elixir. It's hard to describe the flavor of good tequila. To me, it's somewhere between floral and vegetal. This tequila will never know the company of lime juice. We'll be sipping it straight or possibly on the rocks.

I was also impressed to see that this was bottle number 42,342 and the fine folks that made it were good enough to put their autograph on the bottle. Nice touch.


Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila ($49.99, Green's)

When you're tasting delicious tequila and margaritas, it's important to have some tasty food nearby. On our morning trip to the All-Local Farmers' Market, I picked up some last-of-the-season beets (from some nice people whose name eludes me). I sliced and roasted them in olive oil, and then put them on crostini with Thai basil and goat cheese from Trail Ridge Farms in Aiken, S.C. Yum.

Trail Ridge is a new vendor at the market, and we'll be looking forward to seeing more of them.


I hope all of you are celebrating National Tequila Day in a responsible and reverent way. Hopefully, it will involve dancing on a table.

Two Glasses, Please

There was a long period in my life when I wondered if I’d ever get married again.

My first marriage ended about the time I turned 30. I navigated re-entry to the dating world with varying degrees of success. I met some great people and was even on the verge of settling down a couple times, but it never panned out.

When I met E, she was just coming off a difficult breakup. I was recently out of a relationship, and not looking for another. We bonded over a love of wine and sushi.

Our initial months of pseudo-dating were mostly spent having quiet dinners and talking endlessly. Neither one of us was looking for a relationship, so there was no pressure to do anything but enjoy each other’s company.

Somewhere along the line we fell in love with each other.

It’s been two years since we got married and more than six year since we went for sushi for the first time. I feel so fortunate to have someone so wonderful to share a home, meals, wine, Sunday mornings and all the other things that make life worthwhile.

Of course, we also share a house (that always needs something fixed), bills, chores, life’s setbacks and all the other things that make life trying. All of which are much easier when someone has your back.

We went from being fully-functioning, independent, single adults to sharing everything, which – as those of you who have traveled that path know – is not always easy. Somehow we were able blend our lives pretty effortlessly.

She gained dogs, a house and a pretty decent live-in cook. I gained some great furniture, a cat and an awesome stepson. And, we both gained someone who has our back.

Here’s to us.

Photo by Graeme Fouste