If I'm going to do a write up on a restaurant, I'll often head there with those very intentions, camera in hand, so that I can return and give you all a nice, detailed, photo-filled report. I'm going to bypass all of that this time--not because this restaurant does not deserve the full shebang, but because I was treated with such consideration on our last visit that I'm still feeling grateful two weeks later and don't want to wait any longer to tell you about it.
One of the things Chris and I love most about our neighborhood is the abundance of small, independently owned restaurants and shops (I still avoid making eye contact with the Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins combo that unfortunately popped up here a couple months ago). Testaccio is one of these fantastic little spots. It's a classy-casual restaurant that offers traditional Italian dishes and great wine. It is always one of our first suggestions when friends and family visit and we have never left disappointed.
I woke on Saturday morning to find that I had officially lost ten pounds since beginning my weight loss journey several weeks ago. It felt good. But even more than that, I felt good. I felt good enough to pop out of bed and take Nilla for a brisk walk with Chris before even thinking about doing anything else at all.
This may seem simple but it is not how my days typically begin. Mornings have been difficult, almost painfully so. Each day, I blink my eyes open, drift back off for another half an hour, and repeat several times before finally lumbering out of bed, feeling achingly far from rested. I throw down a puppy pad for Nil, put on a pot of coffee, and sink into my day. Only during the past week has this started to change.
As a food blogger, I often feel pressured to write recipes that present with a certain “wow factor.” I think it’s in part about wanting to be innovative and interesting, and when I develop those kinds of recipes I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment, like I’m really stretching my creative muscles. Plus, the pretty, complicated, or outside-the-box dishes are a fun addition to any food-centric narrative.
I think that it can be easy to get caught up in cooking to impress, though. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to flaunt your culinary prowess, but it’s not exactly a sustainable daily practice. It’s certainly not the norm around here, especially as of late. Sometimes you just need to eat. Still, when deciding what to make for dinner, there are many times when I find myself questioning whether what I’m about to cook will be blog-worthy.
