Over 9 years ago, I started hanging out weekly with a new group of friends and I would bring a bottle or two of wine. Soon, someone else brought a bottle and then another person did so too. We ended up drinking 6-8 bottles of wine at our weekly get-together. The group decided it might be fun to do a podcast and blog that reviewed the wines. This became the Real World Winers, and eventually I helped to expand the blog to include restaurant reviews.
After a year, my friends were finding the blogging to be too much work, and the reviews were falling behind. However, I was still loving the writing and wanted to continue. As I was the only person interested in writing, I decided to strike out on my own and began The Passionate Foodie, allowing me complete creative control over the blog. And I still love the writing, and look forward to continuing the blog for many years to come.
Over these last seven years, I have learned much about food, wine, Sake and spirits yet there is still great room for growth, so much more to learn and explore. That is one of the greatest joys, that there is always something new to experience and learn. It pleases me to share my new found knowledge with my readers, to share my passion for food and drink.
During these seven years, my hobby has transformed into my profession. I am a freelance writer and Sake educator, and also work part time at a local wine store, Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet. In addition, I write fiction, and have published two novels and a book of short stories. The fiction is mostly part of the Tipsy Sensei series, about a Sake expert in Boston who learns that the supernatural creatures of Japanese folklore are real.
Making money for writing is a challenge, and requires you to be flexible, versatile and creative, always seeking new opportunities. I might never get wealthy, but I am extremely happy at what I do, and that is what is most important in life. That is a significant part of the reason for my longevity, that I enjoy what I am doing and that it doesn't seem like work. I find it fulfilling and satisfying, and hope that my passion never dims.
When I looked back over my old blog posts, I reread my first post: Which Wines Should You Drink? I realized that my opinions then were still as valid now as they were then. I wrote, "You should drink wines that you enjoy drinking, whether they cost $5 or $500 a bottle. Red, white, sweet, dry, oaky, tannic, grassy, fruity. Drink what you like." My current advice is no different, and I still think people should drink what they like. I also encourage them to experiment, to taste new wines and find out what else they might like. As I said then, "The primary method to determine your likes and dislikes is to taste different wines. Taste as many as you can." I have followed my own advice, trying to taste every different wine I could find. I hope my readers do the same.
I owe many thanks to all of my readers, as it is their support and encouragement which has helped motivate me to continue writing year after year. I also owe thanks to my family and friends who have been so supportive for all these years. In addition, I am grateful to everyone in the food and drink community, from chefs to wine makers, who have helped contribute to my blog.
So I shall move toward my next anniversary, continuing to explore the vast world of food and drink, sharing my knowledge and passion with all. And my best advice to my readers:
Eat and drink with passion.