We always like to say that we met in a Whole Foods parking lot. Whole Foods was opening a new store in Berkeley and they invited local vendors to sample their products to the public as a way to build up a buzz in the neighborhood. Our Muffin Revolution table was right next to the Baron Baking table where Dan was sampling his bagels. I had seen Dan at The Berkeley Kitchens before (the building both of our kitchens were in), carrying his surf board down the hallway, and was intrigued by this cute guy in our building, but I never had the guts to introduce myself. At the Whole Foods event, I was struck by how relaxed and calm Dan was, with an easy going sense of humor. After that day in the parking lot I started inventing lots of reasons to "accidentally" bump into Dan in the hallways or outside his kitchen.

After dating for 4 years, it was long overdue that I go out East to meet Dan's family and experience his New Jersey roots. The day after we arrived Dan took me on a tour of his childhood homes, schools, and hang-out spots. We ended up at the George Washington Bridge at sunset, New York City was shining gloriously across the Hudson River. With the golden hour light bathing us in a shower of pinks and yellows, Dan asked me to marry him! He had wanted to propose long before, but it didn't feel right until I had met his people and seen where he came from. We kept it a secret for a couple of days, but on New Year's Eve we broke the news to his parents in the middle of a 4 course seafood feast that his Dad was cooking up. After the crab, shrimp, clam chowder, smoked salmon, and baked clams, we lit fireworks in the backyard and celebrated an exciting new year to come.