Origins of the Blog: Romancing the Stone, Part II: Mom & Deb in Colombia

It was at the vegetarian-friendly restaurant that we stumbled into in Cartagena our last night on the coast that it became clear that food just can't be a part of my travel blog. It is an entire topic all on its own. And so we began brainstorming titles, and it was Mom who came up with the brilliant idea. What better name could I think of than a tribute to the great eater (and cook), my grandpa, August (Gus) Thomas Sr.?

"It was an elegant sufficiency. Any more would have been an overabundance..."

What a classic phrase, and so apropos for the way I was raised to eat: with passion and gusto, and a bit of gluttony thrown in to boot. Eating for the Thomas' (and the Gaissers for that matter) is about sensual gratification.

And so, here is a brief review of some food enjoyed on my recent journey to the Caribbean coast of Colombia with my Mom & aunt Deb:

Republik: Thai curries & Vietnamese noodles in Bogotá

Hilton restaurant: avocado & shrimp salad & seafood crepe & swordfish in passionfruit sauce with mashed potatoes, Cartagena

Pre- & Post- shot of snapper lunch, Taganga

Kitchen where they made us homemade lasagna from scratch to order & a shot of the diners, Cartagena

Cream of veggie soup (a bit late), stuffed mushrooms, and fresh veggies with chicken in a mushroom sauce @ a tourist trap in Cartagena

Killer salsas, deadly passionfruit cocktail & the place setting @ Andres D.C., Bogotá