I'm Marianne.

I was lucky enough to be born to two parents who embraced adventure long before it was so fashionable to do so. My earliest memories include rides in kimchi cabs to Itaewon, the finer points of chop stick manipulation, ghost towns in western desserts, turtle soup and, of course, the Magic Kingdom. My parents never let school stand in the way of exploration. Between counting armadillos along the Tamiami Trail and tasting pork rinds from a machine, I probably learned most of the finer points of third-grade math and social studies in hotel rooms and the backseat of my parents' car.

So, I guess it’s really no surprise that I’ve finally decided to fully embrace that adventure gene. And as in all journeys, I am not sure where it will take me.

As I launch this project, I am staying in San Miguel de Allende, a lovely Mexican town, which has already proven to be an exploration of the senses beyond my expectations. The colorful place, with its cobblestone streets, lush parks, artisans of all kinds and roaming mariachi bands, had me at “Hola.”

At week’s end, I will return to my home base: Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood, where I will live, write and continue my search for the necessary ingredient.