Life is Delicious: A Tribute to My Dad

Food, adventure, curiosity, and a way of seeing the world that still guides me today.

The essence of Lifealicious is my belief in the connection that happens when we share food, stories, and embrace the ways we are all different. My dad was a major influence in my life when it came to enjoying the good things in life. I miss him dearly—his love for life, his curiosity about new foods and places, and his acceptance of others.

Growing up, he traveled a lot for work. Sometimes he would be away for weeks, and sometimes for months, visiting countries like China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and many others. When he came home, he always brought stories with him. He would tell us about the local foods he had tasted, the dishes people had introduced him to, and the places his colleagues had taken him. Then he would try to find the recipes and recreate those dishes at home.

I have such wonderful memories of listening to his stories and seeing his enthusiasm as he talked about the people he had met, their cultures, and their food. But it wasn't just enthusiasm for food. It was his immense curiosity to understand other cultures, accept differences, and embrace people for who they were.

When we went on family vacations during the summer, we would usually travel somewhere in Europe. My dad would pick a region or a town, but he rarely made reservations. We would simply drive there and find a campground with an available spot. To this day, I still prefer that way of traveling. I love spontaneity and following my intuition about where to stay. I like to feel the energy of a place instead of relying on a picture or a website.

On those summer trips, we would visit local markets in the morning to shop for dinner. We would pick up local bread and spreads for breakfast, then choose vegetables, fish, or meat for our evening meal. The markets were a big part of our vacations. You could see my dad's excitement as he looked at what was available and imagined how we could turn it into dinner that night.

We would use a little hibachi barbecue for grilling and the small stove in the caravan for everything else. Of course, visiting local restaurants and tasting regional dishes was always part of the adventure too.

During the day, we would spend time at local beaches or visit historical sites. Nothing was rushed. Everything felt relaxed and present.

As I continue my journey of coming back to myself in my fifties, I feel this part of me returning in such a strong way. I crave adventures like these and that way of living life—with curiosity, joy, and play.

That is the foundation of Lifealicious. It is my inspiration. And it is also a tribute to my father, who taught me from a young age to embrace new adventures, new foods, and new people without judgment.

Life is delicious.