I had the great pleasure and honor of speaking at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration as a Dean's Distinguished Lecturer. This is was a dream come true, from the moment I attended Cornell, I wanted to come back as a DDLS speaker. I am so deeply humbled by this opportunity and will never forget this magical experience. Please watch and tell me what you think! It starts at about 12 min.
https://sha.cornell.edu/student-experience/undergraduate/hotelie-credentials/ddls/events/10118
Last week I was pondering about what to do next, (a familiar conversation for a freelancer) and then I had a moment. I started thinking about what actually matters...The awakening was caused by disconnecting from the outcome, and the objective goals of the future. Yes! I have goals! YES! I will achieve them someday, however, I realized that the JOURNEY is where all the FUN happens. The journey is what will take up 95% of our lives. The Journey is the important part.
With that said, it became clear to me that I want to enjoy every moment of this so called journey. I want to wake up every morning, STOKED on what the day will bring.
I may try, I may fail. I may try and succeed. But that outcome does not matter, the learning in 'doing' these very actions that makes me happy is what drives me. That transformation of unknown to known, the feeling of discomfort, curiosity, vulnerability and appreciation that is really life.
We often aim to achieve a level of monetary satisfaction, which I find sad. . . at the end of the day, we die, and all that we are left with is our memories and impact. I think that is what truly matters, how did do our part to change the world.
I am continually amazed at life. . . as the past few months have unfolded, I have found myself conversing with, yes, myself about what actually matters. I have to say, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for simply being alive and what life generously continues to lay in front of me.
If you are reading this you are probably very very lucky. Sometimes we forget it, I admit that I forget it. But the reality is that if you eat at least one good meal a day, you have it better than 1.2 billion people on this planet we share. These people are living below the global poverty line of $1.50 per day, they are deciding wether they will send their kids to school, buy medicine, put a roof over their head or put food on the table. I challenge you to stand in solidarity with them. Take the live below the line challenge, and see what it is like to think about putting food on the table. If you don't feel comfortable with this, join me! I will be taking the challenge. I will also be creating resources for you to use... cheap meals... and fun content. So take a moment, reflect on how fortunate we are and how we can stand together to make a difference in this world for people who really need it. - Join here
When cooked right, beets are one of my favorite foods; they are sweet, tender, juicy and earthy. If cooked improperly, they can be bland, boring and taste like wood, metal or even dirty socks. So the take away is... COOK BEETS THE RIGHT WAY.
Now depending on the application you can cook your beets different ways, but my go to is the ROAST BEET. It is easy, and roasting develops the sugars and keeps the color, so you have a delicious and sweet beet, rather than a watery and flavorless piece of something.
STEP 1: Wash the beets - get that dirt off... no one likes a dirty, sandy beet. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
STEP 2: Trim the root end. trim the root end creating a flat surface.
STEP 3: Lay out tin foil... despite common belief it does not matter which side is down or up.
STEP 4: Place the beets on the tin foil. Flat side down.
STEP 5: Season the beets with olive oil, salt, pepper and a few sprigs of herbs. Thyme is preferred.
STEP 6: Wrap the beets up. Fold each side over to make a pouch.
STEP 7: Put the beets in the oven. Cook till tender, about 35 min. You should be able to insert a knife into the beet with ease.
STEP 8: Let beets cool in the pouch. Then peel them by rubbing them with a paper towel!
STEP 9: Serve!
In my mind tomatoes represent the summer. The earthy, green, and vegetal aroma wafts from the fruit which is only kissed by the sun. The aroma tells me the fruit is perfectly ripe. However, only by touch can you be sure it is ready to enjoy. Plucking it from the vine, it is still warm and filled with life. Cool water washes over my hands as I calm the detachment, I softly wipe away residue from the Eastern winds. I hone the knife on the diamond steel. Effortlessly, it cuts through the plump flesh. With the thick slices stacked, it is time for preparation to begin.
Honoring the beauty of the tomato, it is finished with only a drizzle of fine Israeli olive oil, pyramids of Balinese sea salt, and fresh torn basil.
The food we eat tells a story. Honoring the individuality of the food we eat is an honest philosophy which will never steer you wrong.
GreenGabe
Be You. Be Green.
In a changing world we must maintain our consciousness, our connection to nature and remember this planet is delicate. Lets build a greener world, passionately participate, contribute and deliver change to this beautiful world. It is time wake up, stand up and realize that we can’t keep living this way.
Lets join hands and explore the endless possibilities of living a little bit greener. From food, to music it is time to elevate our consciousness. Be a greener you. I am trying the best I can… I am on a journey to be a Green Gabe.
Let’s explore life, love, food, culture and experience. This should be a dialogue, a discourse to change the world.
