Life Lessons from the Perfect Meal

1. It's not about what you're eating, but who you're eating it with.

2. It doesn't have to be expensive - with some creativity, the simplest ingredients can form the most unique combination of flavors

3. A meal always requires some careful thought and planning - but not too much. Easy does it best.

4. It can't taste that bad if it was prepared with lots of love.

5. Don't be afraid of trying something new - you never know what you'll create

6. It's OK to make mistakes, or if the dish doesn't come out perfectly - it's knowing what to change for next time

7. Much like experiences, each course in the meal could be perfect in it's own right, but if consumed at the wrong time, or with a different pairing of flavors, would not achieve it's full potential.

8. Using what's in season and available makes the best meals - searching for resources you don't have is a waste of your time and energy that could be put into creating a better meal instead

9. It starts with good ingredients - no amount of seasoning or sauce can hide what's truly on the inside

10. Only the Chef knows how to pair the perfect wine for the perfect meal.

The search for the perfect wine is a complicated affair. It must complement all the courses in the meal, it must appeal to all the diners' palates, and it must be drinkable at the current moment in time. It is often a rare find, and sometimes can cost more than the perfect meal itself. To the lay person, the search for the perfect wine involves so much sacrifice (time, money, effort) that settling for a good wine is satisfactory. However, for the true connoisseur, it is worth giving up everything just to bring the perfect bottle to the table. After all, without the perfect meal, the perfect wine is merely a shadow of what it could become.