Other than the obvious ones that occur during major holidays or milestones, this is our favorite tradition and we relish that it occurs once a week. It’s our Friday afternoon happy hour that started as a way to unwind after a busy week, but now is our dedicated family time to ring in the weekend. While it’s been in practice for the better part of a dozen years, not only the intention, but the spread has changed over time. From a simple charcuterie board with the predictable pairings of cheese, cured meat, nuts, and olives, I’ve upped my game to things like Parmesan truffle fries, mini caramelized onion pizzettes or smoked salmon dip with crostini. While my family enjoys the surprise of what bites I’ll whip up, the beauty lies in the anticipation of unfiltered conversations around our kitchen island, with our favorite tunes scratched out on a record player for background music. It’s mine and my husband’s excuse to pop a bottle of bubbly because, well, every Friday night is worth celebrating; or we’ll uncork some favorite local red or white wine.  The clamor of the food platter hitting the countertop and clanking of champagne flutes or wine glasses grabbed from the cabinet, are sounds we yearn for as the weekdays pass. Family time is everything to us and this beautiful tradition of ours all started over a decade ago when we were American expats in Australia.

The natural whirlwind of that lifestyle with a husband battling the challenges of being a foreigner working in another country and my life as a mom with two young kids in tow as I attempted to navigate school and Aussie life, made weekends even more appealing. So, to kick it off, I’d make an appetizer to pair with a drink for my husband and myself and that’s the inception of our Friday afternoon happy hours. To elevate the simple charcuterie board, on Friday afternoons I’d pack up the stroller with empty bags (and my son) to carry the necessities back home. My daughter would help me push and we walked to our favorite bougee grocery shop, where it seemed as though they polished every piece of fruit and veggie before putting it on display. I’d then swing by the bottle shop, but made sure to tell my toddlers to not touch a thing or make too much noise, as I deciphered which Aussie or New Zealand wine, my husband and I would enjoy that afternoon.

Shortly after we returned home, I’d receive the, “I’m headed home” call and within 15 minutes we were indulging in our fancy cheese, salami, and fruit that was extra shiny. We’d chat about our wins and hurdles from the week and plan our typical Saturday beach outing. Life was beautiful! While our surroundings look quite different now, as have our conversations given we have two teenagers who are active participants in them, it’s a reminder of how significant family time is, and I appreciate that it’s the beauty of food that brings us together.