Dear Holly: Your First Time at a Japanese Steak House

5 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

This past weekend you got to go to a dinner theater, of sorts. We went to a Japanese steak house and it just so happened that you got a front row seat for all the action!

The show started out with a bang… or should I say, flame.

I held on to you tightly as we felt the heat and saw the huge flame right in front of us.

But in addition to being entertained by watching our food get cooked in real time, you also truly enjoyed the meal!

I’m glad we were able to go there and have a great time together.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: McDonald’s Hotcakes are an Event

5 years, 2 months.

Dear Holly,

Last Wednesday made the first time where I got to witness the very serious ordeal of you getting to enjoy a special breakfast at your preschool: Hotcakes from the drive-thru at McDonald’s!

It was a tradition that apparently started several months ago when one of your friends from school brought some in. From there, the trend caught on among the other students.

Usually I’m the one who picks you up from school and Mommy drops you off.

But last Wednesday, the day before we left for our retreat to Big Canoe, Mommy had to drive to Nashville for work, so your “once a week” hotcakes treat fell on my turn.

You were so proud. You take things very seriously as you spread the butter evenly on them!

It’s hilarious- and it’s very sweet.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: The Corn Behind Our House Sure is Getting Tall

10 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Ever since we moved into our “new” house 6 and a half years ago, we’ve been fortunate enough to have farmland on the other side of our back fence. For the past couple of years, it was soy that was being grown behind our house.

But this year, the farmers switched it over to corn.

We were out of town for just a few days, and when we left, it probably wasn’t any taller than your sister. But when we got back from our trip, the corn had grown taller than our fence!

I have a feeling that corn isn’t organic…

Love,

Daddy

Is Downtown Golden, Colorado Vegan-Friendly? Easy for a Plant-Based Diet? Yes.

Yes. You can easily survive on a vegan diet in Golden, Colorado. I experienced this myself last week when my wife and I mapped out our own “plant-based” tour of Golden.

I have to say, though- it didn’t take much effort. We learned that most restaurants in Golden have at least a couple vegan menu items, or they will find a way to modify an menu item to accommodate.

Somewhat curious on several menus was the presence of the jackfruit sandwich, as seen above. By default, it was my favorite- and my go-to menu item whenever I got the chance.

Specifically, I had it on two different occasions at Buffalo Rose, which would easily become our favorite restaurant.

And while I normally don’t indulge in dessert, I was so glad I made the exception for their coconut flan; see below.

My wife was crazy about their “cauliflower buffalo wings”:

As well as their hummus plate:

If you’re in the mood for Thai food (which I always am, after spending two summers there in college), then you will surely enjoy Thai Gold Restaurant.

And you will definitely want to check out Tributary Food Hall & Drinkery, which contains several different “street style” restaurants featured inside the building.

I personally recommend Kona Bowls Superfood, as seen at far bottom.

For breakfast each morning, we enjoyed trying out each of the local coffee shops.

In other words, we did intermittent fasting in the mornings, as we would have some coffee and then immediately going on a 2 hour hike until it was time for lunch.

So we only ate two meals a day: lunch and dinner. Our breakfast was coffee, plenty of water, and the hike.

It goes hand-in-hand that with Golden being surrounded by so many state parks and hiking trails, Golden would naturally draw in people who would demographically also happen to appreciate a plant-based diet. If that’s you, then make your way over to Golden!

Dear Holly: You Picked a Fresh Strawberry from the Garden and Instantly Ate It!

4 years old.

Dear Holly,

You have been interested in the strawberry plant that Nonna started growing this year. You knew that once the green strawberries turned red, they would be ready to eat.

I just happened to with you as you walked by and said, “Nonna, look, it’s a red strawberry!”

After wiping the dirt off of it with her shirt, she handed it to you to eat.

I didn’t believe that you would actually even try it. I was wrong…

Three quick bites later, the strawberry was gone. That is the freshest fruit you have ever eaten!

Love,

Daddy