If anyone was wondering, I didn’t, in fact, fall off the face of the earth- we did a “hit all of the amusement parks in Southern California” vacation with the kids-whoaaaa….

I have to admit, the thought of trudging through 3 amusement parks for 9 days sounded well, less than exciting, but after all was said and done, we had a great time... Read More

The Bell Rings: What am I doing here and can I go home?

We are given two large boxes. One is marked seafood and one is marked meat. Our strategy is based upon the theory that the mystery box contents will be the same as they were on the first day... Read More

I was on a recipe exchange list a few years ago when someone wrote in with a question. As easy as it sounded at first, I still had to stop and really think what my answer would be. The question was:

“If you could only have three things to eat the rest of your life, what would they be?”

After thinking about all my favorite foods etc., I real... Read More

Some of you have seen this before it was finished. Now sit back and enjoy the entire tale. The events chronicled here are a compilation of many competition experiences. The names have been changed to protect the incompetant, the skilled and the silly - except for my name. My shortcomings, foibles and my small measure of talent will be self evident. All the events... Read More

I usually don’t talk much about work and what I do at it. I have found that it causes animosity amongst my peers. As you may remember I am a private chef for a wealthy family. I am but one of many employees within the household. I am sometimes in awe and wonder of the things that happen around here. What I mean is the clients ever so changing idiosyncrasies. Wha... Read More

So once again in the slow time we are usually doing interesting things. With the 2006 Wedding Show now just 5 days til D-day it starts getting down to the “Come to Jesus” realities. That is when we have to start to ditch some of the myriad of things we are all go... Read More

Few things make the old adage “home-made is better” truer than mayonnaise.

You’ve seen the polls, arguments, etc. about which mayonaise is better. Arguements and fights break out over the subject. Families get divided, some members never speak to each other, and the children… its the children who suffer the most. Okay I’m exager... Read More

I was talking to my friend Kat in California the other evening, when my call waiting beeped.

Checking the number, I realized it was our youngest son, Jon, and I laughing asked Kat to wait a minute. I knew all too well what the call was about, simply because of what time it was.

Dinner time, to be precise.

You see, Jon met Amanda some months ago, ... Read More

As I write my first blog I think about the use of fusion cooking, I myself classify my own technique as a type of world fusion, but one must take into account that even our wildest creations can easily boggle the mind of front of the house staff struggling to try to explain it.

I have been guilty of crossing the pond one to many times incorperating to many ... Read More

My uncle Chick died recently, he was ninety-five, and it got me thinking about just how much he shaped some of my early food memories and helped steer me toward a life in this business. Uncle Chick and Aunt Avy (short for Avonelle, a good solid Hoosier name) were Indiana farm people... Read More