The Pieces of the Puzzle

Life is a lot like those 1,000 piece puzzles I used to have as a kid--at first glance it seems as though there is no plan as all the pieces blend together in a beautiful mess. Time passes, dreams unfold, opportunities arise and choices are made and soon that puzzle starts to form an image--albeit blurry at first--but a definite picture starts to shine through. With timing and luck, soon the picture becomes clearer and, although we may not realize it at first, once that last piece falls into place we all step back in amazement. It is truly inspiring how that metaphorical life puzzle slowly fits and how the moment it does, we realize that all the pieces along the way were just waiting to come together. 

Looking back, I had seen the pieces--a well received blog post, a great connection, sought after events and a contributory article--but I hadn't stepped back to see the picture that was beginning to form; a picture that eventually blossomed into my new job role at FOOD & WINE Magazine. But, let's rewind...


I am a foodie; a term that I have been quick to use and proud to adapt since moving to New York and discovering the diverse food scene. Being a foodie meant different things to me, but a year ago that definition was summed up in Top Chef re-runs, failed culinary attempts and dining experiences at various restaurants. 

As a person that lives to eat rather than eats to live I find solidarity in the fact that there is a world of foodies who share my appreciation. I think of today's top culinary players as being similar to the literary giants of Paris in the 1920s when Hemingway, Stein and Fitzgerald frequented cafes and kept the company of other notable writers and artists. Access to their group of bohemian intellectuals needed only a solid opinion to offer and a stamp of talent.

There is an episode of Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' where he describes a secret dinner for culinary greats. The dinner was on a private floor of New York's gastro-pub, The Spotted Pig, and the scene was alluring, private, intellectual and centered around a feast of rare delicacies. The scene reminded me of those expat literary bohemians submerging themselves in conversation about their passions, in this case the flavors dancing on their palate. This televised gathering of people bonded by nothing more than an appreciation of good food and wine is something I had the pleasure of first experiencing at the Best New Chefs 2012 party. 

My experience at the event swept me off my feet and in such excitement, I turned to my blog to divulge the details of the event and create a homage to the evening I had. As a thank you, I passed along my blog post to the person who had graciously extended an invitation to me for the event. In truth, I was a bit shy to share my writing with someone at FOOD & WINE, but my gratitude outweighed my hesitance and so I pressed send.

To my amazement, I received an overwhelming amount of praise for the post I had written and my small article was passed around American Express Publishing all the way up to the publishers of F&W. Encouraged by the feedback to my post and inspired by my evening at the Best New Chef event; I continued to follow the FOOD & WINE brand, making a point to attend as many events as I could secure an invitation to. 

Over the next year I met chefs I admire, attended more foodie events, started a foodie blog and even contributed an article of my own to the FOOD & WINE website, covering the vibrant food scene of Cartagena. 

                                     

The pieces of the puzzle had started to come together and at the Best New Chef 2013 event, a year since my blog post, I was alerted by a friend to a wonderful opportunity at FOOD & WINE. To work at F&W--a brand that continues to shape the culinary and foodie movement--was like a dream that I had never dared to consider. A conversation led to an interview, an interview led to a follow up meeting and soon all led to a job offer.

Snap back to present day. In talking to a friend yesterday, a midst my excitement for my upcoming career change, I started to have the inevitable jitters that come with the first day of work. My friend turned to me, assured me all would be fine and pointed out how everything  has been in motion since last year, saying simply, "it wouldn't be a good story if it didn't come full circle.." Full circle. With those words I finally stepped back and looked at the image the pieces of my puzzle had been coming together to form; and whether or not the picture is complete yet, it is beautiful how life works out.