The Sartorial Menu - Fashionably Delectable

Food first and foremost is devoured through the eyes. Its an assault on the visual senses first that most of the times either appeals or repeals how food is perceived before it is consumed. You eat through your eyes. The initial foreplay with the eyes leads on to the remaining senses which then leaves them in a heightened state and thereafter pleasure.

Too me, same goes for the sartorial sense. Like food, it is a visual experience that not only enhances the experience of the sartorially elegant, but to also the viewers. 

I've always considered myself to be savvy in the sartorial sense. Dressing to and for the occasion was lesson learnt quite young and perhaps, a lot of what makes up for my sartorial senses today was influenced by my dad. Its one thing when you are invited to a wedding in town as it gives you a wider playing field when deciding on the clothes to wear compared to when it is out of town. In my case, its in a different continent with the world's biggest ocean in between for added measure. Meaning - you decide carefully and you pack well. Nothing worse than having a sartorial faux pas half way round the world with no backups on hand

So, keeping that in mind, presenting the sartorial menu for the wedding:

Option 1: An Alfred & Son grey two piece suit.

Option 2: A Daniel Hechter two piece self stripe suit.

Needless to say both of them will be travelling with me to the wedding. The latter acting as backup in the event that the first one should not work. Given that the weather in Santiago right now is similar if not same as that in Wellington/Christchurch, these two should do well and be comfortable throughout the evenings festivities. Well, that's that sorted. 

Bacon - A Love Story. No seriously, that's the name of the book

So walking past the book store this morning on my way to work and look what caught my eye? The title of the book I think captures the sentiment carnivores, no I stand corrected, pork-a-ores have for this heavenly porktastic meat. Wonder what reviews came off the book? Time to do some research. Yes, can I please have an extra side of bacon?

The upcoming Chilean wedding - not mine

One of the first messages I received last year on Christmas was from Juano with an un-assuming subject line - Feliz Navidad. Given that it was the holiday season, I thought this to be nothing more than the annual festive greetings. Well, was I in for a surprise. His message was simple:

"Hello Mr. Hazra!

This e-mail is to notify you that...... I'm getting married! Yes, I asked and she said yes, so conventionally that make us bride and groom, Vero is very happy and I'm really happy too. This was yesterday!

Well, now the preparation, and the place, and the invitations and rings, fighting with the family, and all of that, usual stuff for I wedding so Ive heard... that takes some time to get all set, so I decided to tell you pretty much in advance, that you are invited!. We are planning for late september-early october to make it coincide with Vero's brother who's teaching literature in germany.

Although of course we know it's a great distance from the other side of the pacific we would be very happy to have you here!

We'll, I saw you were on annual leave, so get back to me when you get the chance!

Big hug!,
Juano."

With me being out on the farm for the summer holidays on annual leave without access to the interweb, the message came across a while after. I did get a txt from him saying, he had sent me a message and while it sounded a bit vague at first, I thought nothing more of it than the usual banter that we usually exchange via email.


The bro had proposed to his long time girlfriend Veronica (who I shall be meeting for the first time in a week's time from now and excited). Normally the quip would be to make an honest woman out of her, however with this one, I think it was to make an honest man out of him hahaha.

The decision however was made pretty much after reading the first sentence of his email. I was going to a Chilean wedding next year and the reply to him was simple in return: Ready or not Santiago, here I come! Over the next couple of weeks, the dates were finalised and the auspicious occasion was set for 10 September in Santiago.

Given all this happened in January this year, the initial excitement waned off for a bit as the months went by. It wasn't until I bought the air tickets that the whole trip got real and from then it was counting down to the wedding. Not only does this mean another food odyssey coupled with some quality time with a few bottles of Carmenère, but catching up with old friends, making new ones and some good old frivolity. Not to mention being a part of Veronica & Juano's big day and celebrate with them as they take their vows to a long, fruitful, exciting and fun filled life that lies ahead of them.

So, having said that, the countdown has begun. The many avatars of pisco await and this time, unlike last time Juano, we will NOT be drinking them out of vases. I have been forewarned that the normal wedding celebrations in Chile, do not finish till 5.30-6am the next day and somehow I think they are not kidding from the last time I went out partying with Juano. 

Ready or not Santiago, here I come.