新年好!

It's the new year! As you can see, buried in cases, Spanish classes, and other (fun) school-related activities. Fun-tivities. Something simple for dinner, away from family. Some pork ribs I had in the freezer, some rice. But I had to drink something that reminded me of wine, as cheap and borderline drinkable as it was. So, a Shaoxing wine normally reserved for cooking. More a symbolic gesture, really, but it worked. Looking forward to big things in the year of the horse!

DF

Feliz Navidad!

Amigos, Feliz Navidad! Nursing the mother of all hangovers, but it just means that we had a good Christmas Eve. Funny, how things are done just a bit differently here in Spain. Maybe it's because I'm not with family, not doing those familiar Christmas things ... maybe it's just adjusting to life without case preparation. The fact that the internet is down in Toronto isn't helping either. There's Christmas spirit here, with the lights and all, but it takes more than lights to give you those warm fuzzies inside. But no complaints. Helped a friend cook Christmas Eve dinner, and we had a small party to celebrate, toasting to our new lives here, and to our new IESE family.

So, I've written up a proposal for a new wine club at IESE. I'm confident with it, that we'll do big things. The thing I've been thinking about most is our mandate. What exactly do I want IESE Wine & Spirits to achieve? Sure, we want our members to learn something, to increase their understanding of wines, spirits, cocktails, and beers. But we also want them to have fun, to be genuinely excited about exploring the world of alcoholic beverages. And of course, we also want to increase IESE's brand in the industry, and to bring in professionals to the school. How do we achieve that? Our mandate will evolve, and continue to be refined as we go along, but here's our beginning:

The mandate of IESE Wine & Spirits is to deepen the understanding and appreciation of wine, spirits, cocktails, and beers, from both a hedonistic and business perspective.

Lots of work to be done these holidays. Let's get to it.

DF

fulfilling obligations

Still playing catch-up. A few weeks ago, we had family friends over for dinner. We take turns, and it was our obligation turn to host. Out to the market in the morning, picking up the most amazing live B.C. spotted prawns, among other things.

We shared my (school) news with everyone. No one cared. Not a single fuck given. But it's cool, I wouldn't have cared either. We can smile and act all nice, but at the end of it all, we all need to be selfish to survive here. My first chance to drink some rosé this year, and one of my favourites - the Mas des Bressades Cuvée Tradition from the Costières de Nîmes. Fresh, vibrant, and finely structured.

I got into a fight that night. Actually, not a fight. A spirited argument over parking improperly in our condo's very limited visitor parking lot. I was drunk and aggravated. Who cares if it ended up in a real fight - one would end up in the hospital, the other in jail. I was so drunk, my opponent so cunt-ish, that really, I didn't care. The running theme of the night I suppose. So now that this dinner is all done and over with, maybe it's time to finally consider my own. Two more months to go. Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

DF

The Decision 2013

Umm, in this fall ... man, this is very tough.

In this fall, I'm going to take my talents to Barcelona and join the University of Navarra's IESE Business School as an MBA candidate.

That was the conclusion I woke up with after months of agonizing about where I'm going to spend the next two years of my life. Like I said before, I feel like IESE is going to give me the best opportunity to change my life now, and change the next 30, 40, 50 years of my life. I mean, I'm looking forward to it. To say it was always in my plans ... I can't say it was always in my plans because I never thought it was possible. But after the application process with IESE, and all the things the organization has done since, it was hard to turn them down. Those are some great people I met, and, you know, you add me, we're going to be a really good team.

All silliness aside, this has been a really tough decision, and something I've worked for the past 17 months towards. It wasn't a decision that I took lightly - in fact, this was possibly the most anxiety-inducing decision I've ever had to make. I felt an enormous sense of responsibility, as my decision would have consequences that would determine my career, my life, and many other people as well. While at several points of this process I was deeply concerned about the effect this decision would have on others, at the end of it, I had to put my goals first. I'm at a pivotal moment in my life, at the age of 27 - I'm young, but not young. The time to get things going is now. 

I want to thank my friends and my family, loved ones, for all the support. I started this process in January 2012 with no real end game planned - just an understanding that studying for, and earning a high GMAT score was the first step. That came and went, and then the applications started. Seven in total - seven schools, each with their own requirements, their own essays, their own ordeals. Months of work, of edits, of hair-pulling, not to mention all the application fees paid ... and then the only thing left to do was to wait. And I fucking hate waiting. That feeling of helplessness, of someone else deciding your fate - nah son, I don't do well with that. But after being invited to interviews, and the Assessment Day in New York, here we are. 

And now the real work begins. This decision has already exacted a heavy price, personally. I don't know what the future has for me, what I'll find in Barcelona. But I just have to be brave, to go after that adventure and dream.

DF

DF turns 27

Twenty seven years ago today, I was but a gleam in my mother's eye. And look at me now. Did we know that after all the years of school and tutors, hours spent in front of the piano and in art class, the end result would be this? That despite (or in spite) of all the mentoring in finance and accounting, I'd want to devote my life to wine? What a fucking idiot I am. That smile that just says there is no plan in place.

It's all come full circle. As a high schooler, you want to go out for birthdays, go out all the time to prove that you're a grown-up. And now that I've been out of university longer than I've been in it, all we want is to live a BFB (Bang for Buck) lifestyle. And all I wanted for my birthday was to eat my mother's cooking at home, with the friends that mean the most to me. Yes, it's not particularly exciting, but we get to relax and drink a lot of wine. Not having to deal with the logistics of going out means that the 8 hours or so we have with each other are entirely devoted to talking, eating, and laughing. Good times, and the thing I'm going to miss the most when I leave for school.

We had a long dinner last night - no surprise, but what made it epic was the wines I wanted to drink. We focused on one Niagara producer - Thirty Bench - and one varietal - riesling. A horizontal of both their estate blend, and 3 single vineyard bottlings, across the 2008 and 2007 vintages, and one 2005 as well. A very interesting, enlightening tasting - full tasting notes to follow. Of course, we moved onto martinis and Old Fashioneds afterwards. Memory a little blurry after that. My mother cooked all the foods I love, from pig's trotters to her soy chicken to steamed fish. Lots of sashimi and uni on the table as well, and greens to balance it all out.

A wonderful evening, satisfying and filling the appetite, and heart. Many thanks and much appreciation to the loved ones in my life. 

DF

calm before the storm

So it's about 4 hours before dinner, and most of the prep work has been completed. All that's left is to set the table, give the wines a quick taste, and wait for my buddies to arrive. The calm before the storm. I love these moments before big dinners, when you go get groceries with only a rough idea of what you want to serve - what's fresh, what's seasonal is always the fundamental theme. This is most likely the last birthday I'm going to have in Toronto for a long time. And while a bit sad, we make the most of these moments because it's sometimes not so much what you eat, as who you're eating with. 

My last day of being 26, and maybe I should be a bit more reflective, but I want to get going. #DFdoesdinner.

DF

Happy Chinese New Year!

Toronto's been hit pretty hard with snow this past week ...

... so we stayed indoors and began prepping for our Chinese New Year's feast ...

... Friday was a snowstorm we haven't seen in a long time, but you gotta do what you gotta do - both days downtown for me, attending MBA interviews and the World MBA Fair ...

... but we got out from under the snow to gather with the rest of the families on Saturday evening to celebrate the New Year ...

... where I stayed away from the wine, and woke up Sunday morning fresh, my breakfast channeling José Andrés.

Happy Chinese New Year!

DF

As we wave goodbye to 2012

A lot has happened in 12 months. A year ago, I said it was time to get to work. Well, I did. And while I'm still waiting to see if all the hard graft will bear any fruit, this whole business school application process has taught me a lot about myself, and focused what I want to be doing. From not really knowing what the plan was in January of this year, to plunging headfirst into GMAT prep - to proving that diligence and hard work pays off at the exam, to putting together a shortlist of schools to apply to. It's all been a long road - a year of nothing else but thinking about an MBA. On a personal level, a lot's changed too. When it rains, it fucking pours and at times, it's all been a bit of a mess. I like order and procedure, but then again, sometimes I like chaos too.

And so the work continues - no time to be letting up. The next few months may be a pivotal time that'll determine my next 40 years, as they say. So at this time, I remember and remain deeply indebted to my friends - my true friends - who always have my back, who always have my happiness and best interests in mind, and who always, always, speak the clear, unvarnished truth. Much love and appreciation. For the first time in what seems like years, I'm hopeful for the new year. And I'm looking forward to beginning my adventure. 

Happy new year.

DF

it's white and merry

It snowed last night in Toronto, our first snowstorm of the year. Back to work today, after a quick few days off ...

... managing to get in one dinner with the people I love, tasting a few things from my past ...

... opening some old wines ...

... and learning something new in the process ...

... to spending Christmas Eve with family friends, and drinking something decidedly humbler ...

... where I finally got everyone to take a group shot ...

... and of course being able to drink with my brother again as he spends the holidays with us ...

... where we had a chance to sample some Ontario sake with hotpot ...

... among other things ...

... and with some new toys. It's been a good few days off - hope everyone's had a wonderful holiday so far as well!

DF

it's finally over...

I sent out my 4th and final business school application last night. When I started this whole process, I had all these grandiose, Ivy-League dreams. A few months later, I've been decidedly humbled. This whole thing has taught me a lot about myself - I feel like I'm in a much better position to answer the questions Who are you? and What do your career to be? Many thanks to my friends who've supported me through this whole process, who've had to endure my moaning and groaning. And a special debt of gratitude to my family friend who was always there to edit my work and give me honest, direct feedback - someone I could ALWAYS rely and trust to give me the straight truth. Much appreciation.

So, a few weeks off for the holidays, before I start stressing about other things ... like when/will I get an interview request?! A never-ending struggle, a never-ending fight, but I think I'm up for it. Now ... let's drink and make merry!!!!!

DF

HBS application, submitted

 

My hands are still shaking a bit, and I feel queasy, but I just submitted my application to Harvard Business School.  It's been a long 2 months, but finally, I got my first one done.  Many thanks to friends and family who've given advice, support, and encouragement throughout this long, tough process.  I can't thank enough the ones who were so kind to give their time and help edit my essays and write recommendations.  Much appreciation.

So now we wait.  Will all the patience and hard work be rewarded?  Or will the path be a bit different than intended?  Whatever happens, I'm filled with gratitude for the loved ones I have in my life, who've always had my back.  Now . . . let's go have a drink!

DF

the long weekend is here!

Wooooo, it's the long weekend! Lots of fun things planned, starting with dinner and wine tonight with an old friend back for only a week from Chicago. And then, cooking dinner for a special friend tomorrow night - with the only thing planned being the wines, ha ha. Fun. Olympics on full blast, after that terribly boring, nondescript Opening Ceremonies. When Mr. Bean is the one and only highlight of the whole thing, maybe it's time to start asking if you've hired the wrong guy. I've been having a hard time working on my MBA applications. I despise self-reflection, because really, the only thing I can say about myself is this: My name is David, and I'm a wino.

Have a great long weekend everyone!

DF

Canada Day in Niagara

A little last minute, but decided to go have dinner in Niagara yesterday. Maybe catch the Canada Day fireworks (didn't make it). What a great day, beautiful weather and all that. Spent the afternoon washing, detailing, and waxing the G-mobile until she was all decent and ready for the road - after all, we don't track city dirt into beautiful wine country. I left to pick up my dinner companion, setting off to Niagara at 5 pm. Leave late afternoon, you must trust me on this, to avoid traffic.

A 7:30 reservation at Treadwell. Fabulous food, and then we set off for the Falls. At least the lights were on. So many people, my goodness. Certain groups just setting blankets down on the grass, everywhere - it must be an ethnic thing. And then at 11, everyone suddenly gets up, and the traffic simply stops. We chilled a bit until 12:30 before setting off. Avoid the 420, trust me on this again. Back in Toronto just after 2 am. A great Canada Day!

DF

happy drunk on seafood

Weather warming up fast, so the weekend following my successful completion of the GMAT was the perfect last chance to get in as much shellfish as possible. Out to Diana's Seafood in the afternoon, to see what was on ice. Kumamoto oysters from Washington state, clams from British Columbia, and the most amazing sea scallops. Picked up a jar of trout roe as well, brilliantly orange and deliciously fishy. West coast striped prawns from our local fishmonger at Sunny to finish it all off. There's just something so pure and true about seafood, especially when you want to do these long, multi-course dinners. You almost don't need any significant seasoning, cooking times are short, and the pleasure of freshness gives it almost another dimension outside of taste and texture.

We were celebrating a few things - being done my exam, yes, but more importantly, making up for Mother's day. My cousin sent an email that weekend, with photos of this Italian restaurant he took my aunt. Thanks a lot bro. It's never the same when it comes a few weeks late. But being drunk on seafood is the best kind of drunk. And we drank some nice things too . . .

DF

4-28, uncork and swirl

If I was in a better state of mind, I'd have planned the wines out a bit better, I suppose. More coherence from one to the next. But we had a good time drinking, finishing with a 2001 Les Ormes de Pez, elegant and subtle, at the cusp of maturity. But the most satisfying? Goddamn, if it wasn't the simple, humble muscadet.

DF

4-28, prep and then turn on the gas

Shit never gets real until I cut myself.

We start with oysters on the half shell, Kushi and Fanny Bay. Dressed with ribbons of cucumber and lemon juice. Mussels, plank salmon, beef, scallops on glass noodles. Then, squid and celery, asparagus, and a bunch of other greens I don't know the English names to, all in the Shanghainese-style. We ate long and hard, and for one evening at least, all was good and proper.

DF