Brin Eats Denver

Whew. There it is. Out with it. This post has been in my mind for months, a sentence popping in here or there. I planned on writing it sooner. Like, at least a month ago sooner. But it was too hard, to new, a bit too sad until now.

I moved. Back home to Denver. After months of deliberation and wondering I decided that it was time to leave Portland. I have always known that I didn't want to stay there forever, or even long term. I have also always known that I wanted to return home to be with my family and play in the Rocky mountains. I also knew that leaving Portland would never be easy, and that I would never be 100% ready to leave such a wonderful city.

I leave Portland with mixed feelings. I am leaving the coolest, most liberal, most radical, and most progressive city in the country. I am leaving a region that produces some of the finest foods. I am leaving friends, an amazing dance community, and a sweet and wonderful man who I have had so much fun with and learned so much from. I will miss the endless selection of restaurants, my home away from home (New Seasons), and the abundant farmers markets. I will miss riding my bike over the Steel Bridge on an old train trestle so close to the river that it feels like my wheels are on the water.

But I am also leaving that dreadful rain, and dark and dreary winters. For the first time in five years I am looking forward to the wintertime. I look forward to skiing snow covered mountains and waking up to a snow covered city. I am with my family again and will be present for the birthdays, parties, graduations, and holiday celebrations that I have missed so much. I look forward to the sunshine. As an adult I will reconnect with the city I grew up in; I am excited to relearn Denver.

I am also looking forward to a new culinary experience, working with new regional ingredients, and seeing what Denver dining has to offer. In this space I hope to explore the tastes of the west.

Thanks for being patient and I do promise to post more from now on. I have been cooking again and have a recipe or two up my sleeve to share.