I have come to find that I have a unique relationship with food. It seems that it consumes me as much as I consume it. I spend much of my days reading about food, talking about food, filming, smelling, tasting, and blogging….about food, but you know something? I miss cooking it. 

Yep, you guessed ‘er chester – I’ve fallen into a rut. Playing (and working) at warp-speed every day has turned my shopping list into a mundane mix of pork chops, hamburger, whole chickens, pasta, and the occasional “Special Steak” on Friday. Don’t get me wrong here. Nobody in my house goes hungry (ask my interns and employees), but I feel bored and a little inadequate when I visit my chef-buddies on their home-turf…Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.

There are those times when you need a little inspiration, a break, and a really good waiter. Zinc Bistro and Kevin (the really good waiter) gave me just that. God, I love that place. I can’t remember exactly how we stumbled upon it, but when I realized that the food was even better than the ambience, I was smitten. We stopped by on Sunday afternoon to rejuvenate “Happy Heidi” because I was totally jonesin’ for a cheese board, the Zinc Bistro Bouillabaisse, and that Crab Omelet with Truffle. Think mud-mask for the soul.

It wasn’t all just for me. We shared, but Sammie would only give up like two bites of her Macaroni Au Gratin ~ tight wad! And, although the kitchen was switching up from lunch to dinner (thus, a limited menu), they completely understood and appreciated my plight. Chef MaryBelle (hope I spelled that right) sent out those delicious dishes and made Heidi happy, indeed. Heartfelt thanks to Kevin, Cat, Chef and Zinc!

Okay, so back to my cooking slump…

After a day of filming (about food) with the likes of Chefs Jason Gunn (Village Coffee Roastery), Christopher Gross (Christopher’s & Crush Lounge), John Carver (Eddie V’s) and Armando de Hoyos (La Hacienda), there was no way in Hell that inspired cooking was NOT in my immediate future!  While lacking the energy to take on Coffee Rubbed Prime Rib, Sous Vide Loin of Lamb, Camarones al Chipotle, or Lobster Chowder, I thought a nice beef stew might be just the ticket.

On Wednesday night, Sammie and Dave hit the library, I turned on some tunes, poured a glass of hearty red, and went to play with my food. Shoulders dropped away from my ears, heart rate fell in sync with the sound of distant drums, and all was right with the world. The stew was gorgeous, the house smelled like heaven, and I felt really, really good.

We all feel that crunch around the dinner-hour, and the time that should be spent preparing it can be lost to the void of lackadaisicalness. Let’s make a pact, you and me, to prepare just one meal per week with heart, soul, inspiration and a really, really good glass of wine. On those other 6 days, I endorse inviting a chef to dinner or….go to Zinc Bistro!