Hello and a Happy New Year to all! Our 2023 was full to the brim. Another year of travel, both for work and for pleasure, which meant we ate at an exorbitant amount of restaurants. So many, in fact, that in lieu of “dry January”, we will be embarking on a “no restaurant January”. This means no eating out, including, if our will power is strong enough, french fries (french fries and a martini….god help us). We decided this in the midst of a particularly indulgent holiday season, realizing we had reached our breaking point. We were spoiled with meals this year!!! Normally, we don’t subscribe to this wellness as a one month only kind of thing, but we are very much in need of a general resetting, especially before we start traveling again (oh boy) in February. Sometimes, you really do need to “listen to your body”, it is a temple, after all!! Obviously, given our line of work, we are not sure how realistic this is, so we’re mainly using it as a way of examining the ways in which we consume, and how prone we are to giving into all levels of temptation. We’ll update you on how “no restaurant January” goes - we’re not hopeful.
That being said, and for what is likely a questionable segue, the main goal for 2024 is to focus our energies on opening our own restaurant (!!) Hopefully none of you will be in the midst of an eating out cleanse when we open, and will come…to eat. The planning stages are in full swing- putting together a deck, taking meetings, searching for potential spaces. It is very exciting and we will touch more on this later, just a small tease of what’s to come. In the meantime, we have an event in New York to announce, and then we’re headed to London in February, for a two week residency at 40 Maltby, one of the most fantastic restaurants we have ever been to. This will likely be one of our last overseas popups. Between gearing up for a restaurant and planning our own wedding, we will have our plates more than full. We love a challenge, naturally.
These very big plans have left us reflecting on the year behind. We did and saw so much and are incredibly thankful that this popup has allowed for that for so long. Which brings us to! Our Year in Meals. Some of these are specific “restaurant experiences”, others more markers of a good time, some just seemed especially appealing when we were scrolling through pictures on our phone, all are special and delicious in their own way. Can’t wait for what’s to come and to host you all at an official Ha’s one day (hopefully) very soon.