Three nights ago was the first time I met practically everyone on the team in person. Funnily enough, I had not yet met Kim, Katie and Mary in person, the three ladies I work closely with in writing and editing articles, until I arrived with my co-worker Christyn to The Capital Grille, Los Angeles.

Seeing them in person versus on a screen was weird, but it took no time at all catching up with them. The entire team enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the restaurant in our own private dining room. I had heard about how good The Capital Grille is, so I had not eaten lunch that day because I was catching two flights.

For appetizers we enjoyed an assortment of dishes, including a seafood platter of lobster, shrimp and oysters, as well as a calamari dish and prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella. I forced myself not to fill up on this as I wanted to enjoy my entrée, which ended up being filet mignon. The whole table split a variety of sides, family-style, from asparagus to Brussels sprouts to potatoes. Throughout the different dishes, we also indulged in some delicious red wine.

Too stuffed for dessert, I took a few bites of the cheesecake they passed around. The cheesecake was perhaps one of the best I have ever tasted. Finally meeting and talking with everyone made the night amazing, as everyone on the Global Traveler team is so kind. I cannot wait for the next time we all get together.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor