Mixed Plate: Being Thankful (for Shameless Self-Promotion)

Tis the season... for another moment of Shameless Wasabi Prime Self Promotion! Because, really, that's what the holidays are all about, right? Actually, it's more like The Holidays Make Me Feel So Freakin' Thankful for Everything in this Wacky Life, mainly the opportunity to be able to do the work I enjoy doing, have it pay the bills, and have kind folks like you take a minute out of your hectic day to take a peek. It means a lot to me, and don't think I don't appreciate it as we near Thanksgiving!

My biggest announcement that's worth getting put up on the refrigerator door is having a photo I shot of the roasted tomato flatbread at Black Bottle Postern getting the OMG-I-Can't-Believe-It Cover spot on the latest issue of 425 Magazine. I contribute regularly to their Flavor column, but getting the cover was such an honor and thrill. To wander in a grocery store or past a newsstand and see a photo you shot on a magazine cover is unbelievable. It's weird and awesome, all at the same time! I love having the regular column, as it has me exploring different dishes every month, revisiting old favorites and discovering new places -- it's like Food Exercise, it makes you step outside of your comfort zone and try new restaurants. It sounds simple enough, but you realize how so few people make it a point to try different eating places; we are creatures of habit, rarely wandering outside our comfort zones. I have to say, having it be part of your job makes the exploration a priority I wish more people would consider.

I remain continually thankful for being able to explore with my appetite, and for that, I'm appreciative for 425 Magazine, for giving me the regular kick in the behind to get out there and satisfy a hunger for discovery. If you happen to see the issue on the newsstands, pick up a copy -- there's great pieces about local restaurants as well as soundbites of favorite bites from local food folks. You'll see a familiar face or two, I guarantee it!

Another big item on my Thankful List is being able to integrate my graphic design/illustration work with the food and beverage industry. For the most part, a lot of my design work tends to stay within the realm of small business/tech -- a lot of work you'll never see, as it was never intended for the masses. But every now and then, I get a really fun project, one that lets me get my Creative Boogie on. I was very fortunate to be able to design the event logo and illustrations for the upcoming Saint Nick's Winter in Woodinville event coming up on November 30th through December 2nd. This was a really fantastic project -- fun wine-themed logos and illustrations, working with an enthusiastic team, and the joy of being able to show Mom and Dad: look, your daughter's making artsy booze! They love this stuff.

If you're in the area and able to attend, St. Nick's is a weekend-long wine-themed holiday celebration with tons of local wineries participating in tastings and open-house events. It will kick off with a tree lighting event Friday night on the 30th at Chateau Ste. Michelle, and then a big evening wine tasting at the Chateau -- I'm looking forward to attending that one, so I hope to see you crazy kids there! Head to the event page for ticket information -- some things might be sold out, but the weekend-long open house at the wineries looks like a fun way to kick off December. It's getting to be that time of year for parties and dinners, and bringing a bottle of wine is always a perfect and easy host gift.

And cheers yet again to Drink Me Magazine, for letting me create boozy-themed recipes for their magazine. I just saw the latest South of the Border issue come out, and I'm craving a tequila cocktail this very second! Loved developing the latest recipe, a mole sauce using a smoky Scotch ale, which is tasty stuff for the chilly days ahead. Head over to their website, as they keep a digital copy of the magazine for those who don't live in the Bay Area, where the magazine is distributed.

Cheers to being thankful for gainful employment! - Photos by Wasabi Prime

And so the Thankful Train continues along its way, my honest-to-blog appreciation for being able to do creative projects and consider it another day at the office. It's rare to be able to do this, I realize this more than anyone else. I've done my hard-time in Maximum Security Corporate America, locked in the Cell Block D of cubicle-land, bouncing a rubber ball against the walls of my brainpan, a la Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, imagining a cinematic escape involving a motorcycle jump over several other vehicles. It's not all easy-going and magical fun food days, it's still a long, hard road of doing a lot of other work to be able to afford the time to do the fun projects. But I wouldn't change any of it, and all those people doing the same thing as me are nodding their heads in agreement, I'm sure of it. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to do any and all of this, and a lot of the thanks go out to all of you who are reading this right now. Writing a food blog is a healthy regiment to keep inspiration and all things edible fresh in my mindgrape, and the encouragement to keep going comes from readers, folks on Twitter and all the wonderful people I've met along the way. So I send a hearty Wasabi Thanks to everyone out there -- none of this would be possible without you and your kind words of encouragement. Thank You.