"The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite. Without this, it is impossible to accumulate, with the allotted span, enough experience of eating to have anything worth setting down. Each day brings only two opportunities for fieldwork, and they are not to be wasted minimizing the intake of cholesterol." A.J.Leibling

Ever since I can remember, I've been passionate about food. Over time, this obsession has turned in to a hobby and quite a large portion of my life outside of my "day job."I find that writing about my dining experiences is therapeutic and exhilarating. I believe that I speak for all self-proclaimed "foodies" out there when I say that my obsession for anything food-related felt strange and slightly embarrassing...until (as cliché as this may sound) the Food Network was born, chefs became famous, and websites like chow.com were formed. I never knew that there was such a vast foodie universe composed of folks just like myself. Foodies don't eat to live...by God, we live to eat!Being one that lives to eat, I must say that the only negative aspect with having a culinary hobby is the weight gain that comes along with it.

I've often wondered, ‘Does every hobby/passion in life have a negative aspect, or is it just mine (i.e. weight gain)?’ I suppose that if one's hobby is working-out/skiing/hiking/sports, a negative aspect would be the risk of injury (that, or I'm just trying to make myself feel better). This leads me to I ask myself, would I rather be fat and happy, or buff and in pain? The answer, my friends, would absolutely be…fat and happy. This highly-caloric obsession of mine has turned in to an amazing blog-writing adventure and a passionate career, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...even the pounds gained from it all. Oh the woes, perils, and sheer joy of a highly-caloric hobby...

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Until we eat again,

Lindsay, The Lunch Belle