Drugs, Friends, Food

I went to #btv this weekend, always quite a trippp man....
but no I did not trip. I did take a trip yes, to burlington but no drugs for me, although they were, as always, everywhere.

Burlington really is a drug friendly city. Good drugs, clean drugs, dirty drugs, mild, hard, they're all there. I'm sure you can find a mutlitude of drugs in any city and maybe it's just the people I know... but I just always encounter drugs in this city.
Even when I first visited Champlain college with my mom the smell of pot was evident. Sometimes whole streets in Burlington reek of pot.

Burlington is obviously a trigger for me. The people I don't want to see, the houses I use to get fucked up in, the drama, the drugs...
I am at a point now, though, where that stuff doesn't matter. I am really happy with life and I don't want to get fucked up. Don't get me wrong the smell of sweet mary jane is so enticing but I know what I have to lose and that I have very little to gain with that stuff.

It is nice to be in VT and see old sights. Old places I loved, like My Little Cupcake, and people that have helped me be a better person.

Although people are constantly fucked up in Burlington they still manage to be cool humans, most of the time...
Every time I go to burlington there are at least three people that give me props and tell me they admire me for my sobriety and what I'm doing, which is really cool in my eyes.

I don't know how many times I will go back to Burlington, VT. The number is definitely limited. There's not much left for me there.
It's an interesting vibe this last visit.

People are either still in college- about to enter the real world, lingering in burlington after college, or have entered the real world in Burlington. Some people love where they are at, emotionally and physically, and others absolutely hate it.

I am really glad I got out of Burlington. I'm glad I don't pine for it anymore. It's good to miss it because I really had something to miss but it's fading now, it's not the same.

I will say though, I am extremely proud of my best friends in Burlington. They are doing amazing things. From putting on music festivals, start up business projects, to landing jobs and being dedicated and working hard to finish school. I am so happy to have them in my life and love that they are doing amazing things with theirs.

I am happy to be in Philly. I am happy to have a life I care about building and making better. I am happy to have friends, and that I am constantly making new ones.


Life is good for now. And I'm really happy about that.

I will say, I did a lot of eating this weekend, and everything was delicious. NOT JUST CUPCAKES, but mostly the cupcakes.

Smoke Kitchen

Both of my parents cook, which is where I get my skillz from, but one of them does it for a living.
A lot of people know my father as Chef.
He's cooked in the kitchen of restaurants, run the kitchen, and even been a cooking instructor.

For as long as I can remember my dad has talked about opening a food place of his own. Over the years the ideas have changed and developed. I remember when I was little talk of a bar/ laundormat, very cool concept.

Finally my dad, Chef Latona, has figured out what he wants to open.

Smoke Kitchen.

Smoke Kitchen is going to be the place to get your rotisserie chicken (if you're in the philadelphia suburbs). Like any great chicken place, there will also be killer chicken sandwiches, salads, and beautiful seasonal veggie side dishes!

"WHY- Everything we do is from a passion and love for food. We truly believe in a hand crafted flavorful product and the challenge of creating great food that is accessible to all. We know wood fired rotisserie chicken cooked by people with passion is the best thing you will taste- just like the food your Mom or Grandmother or Dad or Grandfather made you because they and we cook with love and the idea of nurturing those we care for. 

HOW- Hand crafted food cooked by highly trained chefs with total respect for the best products that we can find. Procuring free range chickens and local vegetables and then turning these items into simple wonderful wood fired dishes that you will want to eat everyday. The way to translate this love of nurturing and giving everyone really good flavorful food means that they will have a new and lasting food memory.

WHAT- We make damn good slow cooked rotisserie chicken, that is good for you and your family! We believe in hand made ("Fatto A Mano") vegetable side dishes based on locally sourced and seasonal availability. We craft products like pickles, house made tomato sauce, berry compotes and more to sell too."

If you're into food, especially chicken, you can support this project!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/smoke-kitchen

Also follow them on twitter @smokekitchen 

and like the smoke kitchen fb page!