For Sam
Sam, I owe you more than I could ever hope to repay. You taught me what hard work and self respect are. You taught me how to roll with the punches and always land on top of every problem, no matter how enormous- from layoffs to breakups, debt to distance. In all the years we knew each other, you never buckled, you worked out every single thing life threw at you. You signified badass in everything you said and did. You taught me what food and eating were, something I missed in all the years before I met you. Thank you for all of it.
The balut we had at Short Round. Oysters at EaT. Cocktails at Sapphire. Fried crap at Quarterworld. Brunch at Space Room and Jam and countless others. Every time we closed to kitchen and went to whichever haunt. Buying the whole Eem menu to compare against Pok. The time I served you at Bamboo. The time I served you at Fish & Rice. When I made mojo for you and Andy for 4th of July. The time you took me to see the Blazers rock the Nuggets this past December. And every single karaoke night. The replacement copy of Kitchen Confidential you bought me. Thank you for all of it. All fancy meals are now dedicated to you, forever.
One night in 2017 after closing Pok, you, me, and Elody sat at the Richmond until 2:30am planning out all the steps we’d each need to make our lives right. And for years after, we’d cite that conversation, mentally checking off our lists, judging our success based on progress, praising each other for how far we’d come. Never forgetting our NJ roots, proud of where we came from and where we made it. Sam, I’m so proud of you, and I miss you so much, and I promise every step forward is for you.
