Vol. 11, No. 3 | Leave Room for Spontaneity
Hey Ya’ll!
I do not do well in the cold. I’m currently in Jamaica, and even though I only landed yesterday, I feel like a completely different person. I’ve been so off with my writing schedule, and I think it’s simply because I can’t function in the cold.
Anyway, here’s what’s been on my mind:
Mexico City. I was in Mexico City (not cold, but not hot) last week and got to check out a few new bars. Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the world and its bar and cafe scene is top-notch. I appreciate trying bars when people don’t know I’m in the industry because it’s the best way to get an experience similar to what anyone else would get and that’s the only way I can tell if I actually like a bar. Newcomer, Bar Mauro passed the test for me. The cocktails were all amazing and the vibe is perfect.
Masala y Maiz. I was able to snag a table at Masala y Maiz while we were there. I didn’t book in advance because I wasn’t the planner for this trip so I honestly forgot I was even going. So I was very happy when a slot opened up while I was on the waitlist. I remember the first time I ate there and I wondered how on earth is this place not on the Michelin list. There are lots of great places in Mexico City, but this one was so special. Since then it’s been featured on Chef’s Table on Netflix and it now has a Michelin star as well. I’ll be honest, I think Michelin gets it wrong often (or places become subpar after they make it on), but this is one where it’s absolutely deserved.
Wedding planning. I’m in wedding lala land. That’s the other reason time is just whizzing by. It should come as no surprise to anyone that I’ve already planned this wedding even though it won’t happen until next year. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and now, four weeks later, I’m pretty much planning the whole thing. It’s clearly because I approached it like a big Holy Sip dinner, so it was all pretty easy. Now I’m pretty much done, and I can (mostly) stop thinking about it and get on with the rest of the year. The only thing I haven’t figured out is what to serve to drink.
Jamaica post-Hurricane. Part of why I had to finish planning was because I wanted to use this time in Jamaica to scout venues since we were already going to be here. We drove through the middle of the country to the part of the island where the eye of Hurricane Melissa hit and I’ve never seen such devastation. I’ve driven through Black River many times and pretty much none of it exists anymore. However, I still feel optimistic that it will rebuild. It was great seeing full planes land in Montego Bay. So many hotels were sold out. And nature rebuilding itself is truly a fascinating sight. The trees are sprouting new leaves, the waves are bringing in fresh sand, and the Jamaican people are as resilient as ever.
Hospitality friends. When we arrived yesterday, we stopped by to see my partner’s best friend who randomly happened to be in Jamaica at the same time. They’d rented a villa in Montego Bay and we ended up hanging out all night with their friends. The organizer of the trip worked in the wine world and had brought a few bottles down with him. It was such a great night. It reminded me how much I love people that work in hospitality. It also reminded me how little I need to be content. And even more than all of that, it reminded me to leave a little room for spontaneity.
Hope you’re all doing well!
Shannon