A Little Love Letter to Food (and Breakfast)...

Valentine’s Day always brings up the obvious: fancy dinners, reservations, chocolate-covered everything.

And don’t get me wrong — I love a beautiful meal. I love an excuse to make something special.

But as a private chef, the older I get, the more I realize that love doesn’t always show up in the over-the-top moments.

Most of the time, love looks like something much simpler.

Love looks like the ingredients you choose.
The rituals you return to.
The comfort meals that never fail.
The way you take care of yourself and the people around you.

So in honor of the day of love, I thought I’d share a few food things I’m loving right now — the little things that make life feel fuller.

And then I want to tell you why, this year, I’m skipping the big Valentine’s dinner… and making breakfast the special meal instead.

Because honestly, the first meal of the day deserves a little extra love too.

If you’ve been around here for a bit, you know I’m big on this.

Not because everything needs to be fancy — but because quality ingredients make even the simplest meals feel nourishing and grounding.

My partner and I recently bought a half cow from a local farm (shout out Bastrop Cattle Co here in the Austin area), and it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made.

There’s something so satisfying about knowing where your food came from… that it was raised well, sourced locally, and handled with care.

The meal might be simpler because I’m spending a little more on the ingredient itself…

But I feel better.
And it tastes better.

We also love getting meat and produce from Farmhouse Delivery here in Austin. There is something to say about getting food less than 100 miles from the farm to my doorstep. Not only do you get to support farms when you shop local, but you appreciate the food more. It just tastes better. Sometimes a quick google search for something local in your area (that might even deliver!) could be the best decision.

It’s old-school in the best way: real food, real sourcing, real connection.

And to me, that’s love.

(Want to try out Farmhouse Delivery? Get $25 off with code WINTERHARVEST)

Listen.

Valentine’s Day is cute and all, but a warm chocolate chip cookie is forever.

There is nothing complicated about it. Nothing pretentious.

Just butter, sugar, chocolate, and comfort.

Warm and gooey, fresh from the oven… what more do you need?

Sometimes love is grand.

Sometimes love is a chocolate chip cookie.

One of my favorite little rituals:

Making coffee after my workout, stepping outside, and sitting on my back patio, pup on my lap, for a few minutes while the sun comes up.

No phone.
No rush.
Just warmth in a mug and a moment to breathe.

It’s such a simple thing, but it genuinely feels like a form of self-respect.

A tiny daily reminder that life doesn’t always need to be loud to be good.

This one might sound random, but I mean it.

A Vitamix is one of the most versatile tools you can have in a kitchen.

Soups, sauces, smoothies, dips — it makes everything creamy and smooth in seconds.

And not all blenders are created equal…

I recently cooked at a client’s house that didn’t have one, and I was humbled immediately.

Let’s just say: once you’ve used a Vitamix, it’s hard to go back.

It’s one of those kitchen investments that makes cooking easier — and cooking easier makes cooking more joyful.

Here’s the thing:

Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year.

And my partner and I? We love breakfast.

We love slow mornings.
I love good coffee. He loves good tea.
We love making the first meal of the day feel special.

So instead of stressing over a big dinner reservation or trying to make something overly complicated…

This year, why not make breakfast the moment?

Why not make the first meal of the day feel like a love letter?

Extra butter on the toast.
A beautiful plate of eggs.
Maybe some local steak from the freezer.
And a sweet treat like blueberry pancakes to top everything off.

Nothing extravagant.

Just a little extra care.

Because that’s what love really is, isn’t it?

Not the performance.

The attention.

The intention.

The simple choice to make something ordinary feel special.

So if you’re not feeling the pressure of Valentine’s dinner this year…

Maybe do breakfast instead.

Light a candle in the morning.
Make the coffee slowly.
Cook something simple with really good ingredients.

And let that be enough.

Happy Valentine’s week, friends. 🤍