It started as a joking comment on Facebook. It grew into an idea, took hold as a dream, and solidified a goal. 50 restaurants. 21 countries. 6 continents.
The date was June 2, 2015. I was driving to my office, listening to my favorite radio show, Elliot in the Morning on DC 101. They were discussing the release of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015 list. I was instantly hyper focused on the conversation, listening for ones that I’ve been to and memorizing ones I need to visit. With laser precision, I listened as they read off the list, and when the segment ended, my brain ran wild with dreams of mind blowing culinary experiences from far away lands.
You see, I’m a psychologist with a food obsession, a photography compulsion, and a chronic travel problem. My Facebook friends know me as the go-to guy for restaurant and travel recommendations. Between work trips and conferences over the past 14 years, I’ve been to every corner of the globe, except Africa and Antartica. And while I’m exploring these places, I compulsively take photos of the landscapes, the architecture, and the scenery. And while I’m eating, I take photos of my food. I realize that some of you are perplexed by this phenomena, but what you’re not getting is that food is art. It’s not about taking a photo of what you’re eating, it’s about capturing the dish in a seductive way (hence the term “food porn“), so that others say, “Damn, I NEED that!” Photography is art. Food is art. The Chef is the artist, and I memorialize their creations through my own art. The problem is that I blow up my friends’ Facebook feeds with food porn and travel photos, to the point where some have been publicly irate, while others have begged for more. The overall consensus is that the photos have been a good thing, and my Facebook friends enjoy living vicariously through my culinary and travel adventures.
So here I was, walking into my office, pulling up Elliot in the Morning’s Facebook page to see the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list with my own eyes. And to dream. I had only checked off one restaurant: Per Se. There were 49 magical places I still needed to try. The Facebook post went up:
At that moment, it was just a joke. A thought. A dream. Apparently my Facebook friends thought so too, only five people liked the post.
The next day, I came home from the office and found a brochure from UCLA Alumni travel waiting to be discovered. Destiny had struck. The Facebook post went up:
My mother and I took UCLA Alumni Travel’s Flavors of Provence tour (offered by Orbridge) two years ago. It was an incredible experience. We spent the week with Michelin Two Star Chef Edouard Loubet, staying in his bastide, cooking in his Domaine de Capelongue kitchen, hiking atop the mountain to pick herbs for the evening dinner with him, and shopping with him in the Lourmarin market. It was a foodie’s trip of a lifetime. The Flavors of Spain trip was definitely next. And the dream took hold. I would dine at the #1 restaurant on the World’s 50 Best list! (And this post got five more likes than the last!)
The List was transitioning from dream to goal. I emailed my friend and colleague Mike about the list: Two of the 50 Best are in Bangkok, and we’ll be there at the end of the year for a conference. Would he be up for hitting one or both? The next day… BAM, we had a reservation at #22 Nahm. Our friend and colleague Lori caught wind of the culinary festivities that were being planned and asked to jump in. The dining adventure was building momentum. On June 16, the rest of the gang confirmed they wanted in, and I made the second reservation… BAM, #10 Gaggan. The goal crystalized. The List was taunting me, challenging me to take it on.
On June 20, my Saturday morning yoga class left me in a particularly reflective mood. Having a quiet brunch by myself at my favorite place, I enjoyed the peace of the morning, and thought about where I had been and where I was going. I had recently gotten out of a relationship and my friends were asking if I would be focusing my energy on finding my life partner (which was code for online dating and blind set-ups). That thought was depressing, if not downright stomach churning, it’s not where I wanted to be. I pulled up a document my financial planner/attorney/realtor/guitar player/college best friend Chuckster had shown me a week ago: the Holstee Manifesto. Its philosophy is the same as my own. The words resonated with me: “Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.” “Live your dream and share your passion.” “Travel often.” “If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing the things you love.” The Facebook post went up:
Fourteen likes and two shares, my Facebook friends are catching on that something’s brewing. One commented that she loved this post. I replied, “I have an idea I’m chewing on. It’s going to be big. And it’s based on the philosophy of this document.”
I raced home, pulled up the list, and reorganized it by country. I already had the Bangkok trip booked with both of their 50 Best. What about my other upcoming trips? I’ll be heading to London in a week and Chicago in a few months. I tried daily (and desperately) to get reservations at The French Laundy when I was in Napa in April, but it was closed for renovation, so I planned on going back soon, perhaps in August when I’ll be in LA. My sister Mem is always happy to have me visit her and her family in NYC. My friend Viking has been asking me for years to come visit her in Denmark. I’ve been telling my “Little Sister” Dunnah that I’d come visit her and Danny in Italy. Mike said he’d show me around Hong Kong. Lori and Lees offered to host me the next time I was in Australia. Despite three trips to Singapore, I’ve never been to Restaurant Andre, and Nan’s out there right now. I’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan, Teri and Bern are both there. Chuckster and I have often talked about having him tour me around his native Germany countryside. Mom would love a return visit to France, and she and I were already planning to take the trip to Spain. I may have a work trip to South Africa coming up. I would love to return to Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland, three of my favorite countries. Other than visiting my father’s homeland of Guatemala, a work trip to Colombia, and a few college trips to Tijuana and Rosarito, I don’t have much South America experience; Mexico, Peru, and Brazil would be awesome. And when did I ever think I’d be visiting Shanghai and Moscow?
This. Could. Actually. Happen.
The dream became a goal.
It’s now June 26, 2015. I leave today for London. I have a reservation at #7 Dinner and am waitlisted at #20 The Ledbury, hoping beyond hope I’ll get in and check another one off the List. This is going to be a time and finance intensive effort. I have no idea how long it will take or how I’m going to afford to do this. I still have to do my regular work and take all my work trips, I don’t have limitless resources. But I can chip away at this, make progress, find a way. I’m contacting The World’s 50 Best Restaurants to see if they would be willing to meet while I’m in London to discuss the List and the Quest, and to help where they can (just getting reservations at these restaurants is next to impossible!). I’m a 1K flier with United and will be flying them and their Star Alliance partners, perhaps they will be able to help with the flights. And I’m a Gold member with Marriott, and their HQ is just a few blocks from my business, perhaps they can help with the lodging.
I don’t know how this is going to work, but it WILL work because I’m determined. This is the lesson I want to share with you all as this journey begins. As a psychologist, I always encourage people to pursue their passions, to strive to be the best they can and never sell themselves short, to have goals instead of dreams. Dreams are aspirational, goals are achievable. Get out there, people! Suck the marrow out of life. Live it to its fullest. Experience cuisines, cultures, and ways of life that are different from your own. Spend time with old friends who have moved far away. Make new friends. Have enriching life experiences. Change your life for the better. Find a way to achieve your goals. Get out there and LIVE.
The Quest begins now…
– Dr. Russ, June 26, 2015