Hello Readers, Relatives, and other Relations! This is the beginning of my new blog and the beginning of a whole new adventure. As most of you know, I am headed back to Australia and Asia for the 3rd time around! But for those of you who don't know let me catch you up briefly:
My cousin, business partner, and best friend, Michael Rietveld and I just spent the last 3 years traveling and experiencing the world. From graduation cap tossing in Greece, mountain trekking in Myanmar, making coffees in Melbourne, to wine bar and restaurant owning in Waupaca, Wisconsin, we have covered a lot of ground.
The most recent of these adventures, purchasing and managing a small, organic, farm to table cafe, called The Freckled Frogg, was the perfect bookend to our three year stint. After an extremely successful first year of business, we found ourselves getting the "itch" again. The seasonal lakehousers and locusts have come and gone and in their place, the travel bug had come.
Which leads me to my most present location. I am currently sitting at a Starbucks located in Little Tokyo, L.A. I know what you are thinking "Wow this guy loves Asia! He simply can't get enough." You wouldn't be totally incorrect in thinking this. I do love Asia. Their food and culture are second to none. Where else can I get a bed on the beach and as much beer and food as I want for under $10 a day? Where else can I witness a culture and society that still holds on to its core beliefs and values down to the simplest form of family, community, togetherness?
While I sit here, reflecting on this year and my past years of travel, my intentions and reasons for traveling have changed a wee bit. My new culinary art skills, food, and the senses and experiences that belong to it, have have heavily influenced my reasons for blogging. So don't be alarmed if my blogging starts to sound like a soft-core porn between my food and I. After all, men supposedly think with 3 parts of their body, in this case, it will be the stomach.
Off to Australia. Thanks again to all of our Freckled Frogg fans, friends, and family members. Without you guys, none of this would be possible. Feel free to live vicariously through me! Enjoy the blog.
My cousin, business partner, and best friend, Michael Rietveld and I just spent the last 3 years traveling and experiencing the world. From graduation cap tossing in Greece, mountain trekking in Myanmar, making coffees in Melbourne, to wine bar and restaurant owning in Waupaca, Wisconsin, we have covered a lot of ground.
The most recent of these adventures, purchasing and managing a small, organic, farm to table cafe, called The Freckled Frogg, was the perfect bookend to our three year stint. After an extremely successful first year of business, we found ourselves getting the "itch" again. The seasonal lakehousers and locusts have come and gone and in their place, the travel bug had come.
Which leads me to my most present location. I am currently sitting at a Starbucks located in Little Tokyo, L.A. I know what you are thinking "Wow this guy loves Asia! He simply can't get enough." You wouldn't be totally incorrect in thinking this. I do love Asia. Their food and culture are second to none. Where else can I get a bed on the beach and as much beer and food as I want for under $10 a day? Where else can I witness a culture and society that still holds on to its core beliefs and values down to the simplest form of family, community, togetherness?
While I sit here, reflecting on this year and my past years of travel, my intentions and reasons for traveling have changed a wee bit. My new culinary art skills, food, and the senses and experiences that belong to it, have have heavily influenced my reasons for blogging. So don't be alarmed if my blogging starts to sound like a soft-core porn between my food and I. After all, men supposedly think with 3 parts of their body, in this case, it will be the stomach.
Off to Australia. Thanks again to all of our Freckled Frogg fans, friends, and family members. Without you guys, none of this would be possible. Feel free to live vicariously through me! Enjoy the blog.
Love and hugs from Wisconsin! Lights are on the tree and decorated for all away from home both near and far. Super blog pictures and post. Looking forward to your posts. Miss you and of course your salads already. Love you.
ReplyDeleteYou write really well Jamie! Can't wait to come check out the new business in a week or so down south. Hope all is well!
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