An apology

Dear blog,

I'm so sorry for neglecting you for the past month.  Finals consumed me in the middle of December, leaving me with no time or energy to post.  Believe me, blog, I continued to eat.  In fact, even during those hectic days and nights spent slaving away at the keyboard cranking out page after page of research essay, I somehow managed to cobble together turkey sandwiches, chili rice, and scrambled eggs to sustain me.

Then I went home, and because of my gluttonous nature while at home, I didn't feel I could come back to you.  Did you want to see photos of Baccali's curry chicken noodle soup, In-N-Out's double double, or The Hat's pastrami sandwich?  Maybe, but even if you wanted to see, I couldn't overcome how guilty I felt eating out so much.  Is it my fault that my family either likes to eat out or cook for me?  I wanted to get back in the kitchen, but what's a guy to do when everyone's serving him food left and right?

I'm back, though.  New apartment, new kitchen (new in the sense that I haven't spent much time here, not physically new, though the range is brand new), new attitude.  That's right - changes are a-comin'.  Over the break, I read a lot of food writing, and I think I want to take you in a different direction, dear blog.  I no longer need to prove to anyone that I can feed myself without eating out (or at least that's how I feel about it).  I want to start telling stories about the food I make and eat, beyond the little anecdotes I'd provide before.  I also want to put better photos up.  I love my iPhone, but the photos that come out of it aren't always great.  It's time I step up my game, and you're coming along for the ride.

As a parting farewell to your early days, here's what I ate for dinner at Ikea a few days ago as captured by my phone. 

This amazing smorgasbord includes Swedish meatballs, baby back ribs, macaroni and cheese, a garden salad, apple cake, and lingonberry drink.  The entire meal was essentially free since I spent over $100 on furniture.  It wasn't exactly free - I paid for it, and the amount I paid was deducted from what I spent on a new bed.  They get me to try the food and give free publicity, I get a meal that had me wishing I could go into food coma instead of having to schlep all that stuff from Emeryville to Berkeley.

You and I are making a comeback, friend.  I hope you're hungry.

Sincerely yours,
Chris

P.S. Not ATE OUT because it was free!