Summer dreamin’

Buenos Aires is a dream right now.

The Fall weather is warm and sunny. It’s almost as if Summer hasn’t left us.

The days are long and filled with too many tasks, meetings and errands and the nights stretch out with kitchen work, tomorrow’s game plan and endless emails.

LUCKILY Game of Thones Mad Men are back, and Joffrey is dead, so there is some light…

And as I prepare for this major life change I’m trying to take a moment to stop and reflect. I tend to not do that, ever! And it’s probably for the best, ya know, for the whole growing, learning, and maturing thing.

In the past ten years I - lived in New Orleans -> spent the summer in the jungle in Costa Rica with my bestie -> moved to NYC unexpectedly from a big massive storm -> moved to California -> moved to NYC -> attended culinary school -> explored Central & South America -> fell in love -> moved to Argentina.

In the past four years I – settled into Buenos Aires -> became bilingual -> started and maintained a blog -> opened a puerta cerrada restaurant -> learned how to build websites some SEO nonsense -> visited home, twice -> explored Europe -> cooked insane amounts of pork fried chicken.

AND NOW- opening a restaurant. A real deal, en blanco restaurant in Argentina.

I don’t think it has hit me yet. Everything that’s happening. Yes, practically all of my money is gone and there are literally walls being broken down, it’s happening, for real, but it still seems like a dream.

ME, Liza, opening a restaurant? That’s crazy. I’m just a little girl!!

Before you know it I’ll be a fried chicken line cook restaurant owner working 7 days a week nonstop. I know that’s what I’m signing up for. I’m actually looking forward to it, a lot. But for now I just want to take a look back at the past few months and try to be grateful for how I got here.

I’m Summer dreaming…

Sushi filled nights and hidden bars with my British BA bestie… <3

Renting cabins in Tigre with my Argentina familia….

Estancia life and this unforgettable spinach quiche…

Back in the city I would hide in my room with the air conditioner blasting while organizing life and hanging with Momo el gato.

I lived off of avocado black bean salads, ceviche, cherries and rabas for a good 3 weeks…

But most of all, my beloved terere…

Danny from NYC came for a visit.

He’s so much fun.

Most of our meals started off like this this…

And ended like this!

It’s so necessary to be around good people. Uppers not downers.

Speaking of, this little bear came from Barcelona and graced us with his presence for 2 whole months!

Joacqo and Ticol together is just the cutest thing.

They’ve been best friends since they could walk.

Niños.

Happy laughing silly little boys.

Marce liked Ticol’s new bathing suit so much that he went out and bought one in pink.

Who’s the confident man wearing the short pink bathing suit? That’s Marce, ladies.

The spotted one in green, he’s mine.

Friends, asados, pools and rose, can I get an order of that por favor?!

Natalie also came to Argentina this summer.

Both of her parents are Argentine but she resides in Brooklyn.

Her aunt is Ticol’s blueberry farming godmother.

That makes her and I cousins, right?

We’re family.

Todos.

Natalie and her boyfriend Colin first went to Suipacha when they landed in Buenos Aires.

We met them at the farm and spent the weekend together.

It was like Christmas.

They both brought so many goodies from the states!

Later we shopped for five dollar alpargatas (the original Tom’s) and played T.E.G. while hangin’ with the dogs and sipping on Fernet and vino tinto by the pool.

This dreaded hairy ass (photo below, not the boys!) was the funniest.

He followed us all through the berry fields.

His bum was covered in dreadlocks! He kept backin’ it up, rubbin’ it on everything- the house, trees, the table, us.

Poor guy, I think it was itchin’ like crazy.

The sweetest man brought me a bag of frosted pecans all the way from his Texan hometown…

Southern hospitality at it’s best.

Over the weekend I skyped with one of my all time favorite people in the world. She calls me Minelli and I call her D. I don’t think we’ve spoken since I was in NYC in September.

We met in college and played lots of racquetball together, over 10 years ago. But most importantly she’s one of those friends that when you’re around all the goodness is heightened. It made me miss my friends so much. New York friends. NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) friends. BA friends who have left. My sister.

I hate how fast time goes by and how little we get to be with each other.

How do we change that?

Do all of us need to become ballers so we can afford international travel all the time?

I LIKE THIS PLAN.

Damnit, D, I can’t believe we didn’t win the lottery!

These connections. They’re so special and I’m so fucking grateful.

For now I keep you all in my heart, sharing the adventures together wherever I go. Dreaming of our past, present and future.

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