AKA: Some of the Best Memories Are Made Around the Kitchen Table.

 

 

Food has a way of taking us back in time faster than anything else.

With June 19th right around the corner, I wanted to dedicate this Foodie Friday to something very close to my heart—family, cooking, and the memories that are tied to both.

My dad’s birthday is June 23rd, and when I think about where my love of food and cooking came from, it starts with him and my mom.

Growing up, food wasn’t just something we ate. It was something we did together.

My dad would eat almost anything—except sweet potatoes (which my mom absolutely loved, of course). That was one of those classic family “differences” that always made us laugh.

But more than anything, he brought a zest for life to every meal.

I’ll never forget one dinner we had at a white tablecloth restaurant in Bardstown, Kentucky. Nothing overly fancy, just a nice place for a family meal. My dad speared a piece of fried chicken, and somehow it launched across the room. We all just lost it laughing. That moment stuck with me more than anything on the menu.

That was my dad—fun, full of life, and never taking things too seriously.

He was also an incredible cook. He even attended classes at the Culinary Institute of America, and he carried that love of food throughout his life. At the same time, he served our country as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army, keeping things running during Vietnam. Strong, steady, and grounded—but also someone who knew how to enjoy a good meal.

And being from Belgium, he could make cream puffs that were absolutely unforgettable.

So many memories… so many meals… so much laughter around the table.

This is why I love Foodie Friday so much.

Because at the end of the day, I hope every family has a reason to stay home, cook together, and create those moments that become memories later.

And if I had to pick my absolute favorite?

It would be the fries.

Not just any fries.

The ones made in a big Le Creuset pot filled with oil, right in the kitchen. The kind you cook twice—first to soften them, then you pull them out, crank up the heat, and fry them again until they’re perfectly crisp.

Double-fried, golden, and absolutely perfect.

We’d top them with a little mayo and Dijon mustard, and honestly… nothing has ever compared since.

That’s the kind of food that doesn’t just fill you up—it stays with you.

So here’s your Foodie Friday challenge:

Cook something at home this weekend.

Sit down with your family.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment, perfect house, or perfect plan.

Just make the memory.

Because those are the things we never get back.

And I hope this weekend, you get to enjoy a meal that makes you smile long after the plates are cleared.

For me, I’ll be thinking about fries, laughter, and the people who taught me that food is really just love you can taste.

Happy early birthday, Dad. ❤️

And as always, if you’re thinking about buying, selling, or finding a home where your own memories can grow, I’d love to help.

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