It was one of those meals-- not the best ever in my life, but perfect for that moment in time.  I didn’t travel far-- less than a block down the street from my apartment-- nor did I go anywhere special-- an inauspicious wine shop that happened to serve food.

I literally drove by this place for the better part of a year, never paying much attention to it.  I’ve eaten at the pizza place next to it several times.  I’ve had coffee at the shop right next door to it.  My dry cleaning gets done three places down.  And I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve used the ATM right in front of the place. 

Food has become another way we identify who we are.

"I only eat organic dairy products."
"I try to eat as local as possible."
"I'm a big supporter of the meatless Monday movement."
"I only eat fish that is proven to be sustainable." 

The food world is filled with these statements; it seems we're constantly moving from one trendy topic to the next-- all in search of a "foodie" identity.

When did we become so obsessed with cooking things quickly?  On “Iron Chef America,” contestants duel it out to create a gourmet meal in just one hour; there’s the quick fire competitions on “Top Chef;” Rachel Ray only cooks in 30 minutes; and now we have a show debuting on the Food Network where competitors have 24 hours to open a restaurant.  Enough already!  Food isn’t all about speed!

France, for many food lovers it’s the highest plain-- food Nirvana, it just doesn’t get any better.  Two weeks prior to Dine & Cook’s launch, I spent ten days in Paris and southern France.  Yes, the food is good, amazing.  Did I have the best meal of my life in France?  No, and that’s just fine with me.

After returning I told several food lovers this and they were appalled.  They accused me of not searching hard enough, for not planning my trip more thoroughly.  I did plan, I planned too much in fact.  I did search and came up with some hidden gems-- places where the locals only know and eat at.  For me, the reaction back home sums up the state of food today.  A small, but vocal minority has put food on a pedestal; turning it into a vehicle to advance class and for the lack of a better term, snobbery.

Everyone's favorite globetrotting, trash talking, Rachel Ray-hating chef, Anthony Bourdain spoke to MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Monday night to discuss among other things, his new book "Medium Rare," the differences between American and Asian food courts, and his hatred of the hamburger.

I wrote most of my debut editorial two weeks ago in France, at the time it only seemed appropriate penning my thoughts in the city that created haute cuisine. Unfortunately due to several circumstances beyond my control, launch was delayed and pushed back a week. With that said, my original editorial has been postponed till next week, because I feel that I, as editor-in-chief and founder of this site, owe you an apology. Ultimately, it was my fault for not launching on time and for that I am sorry.