I am just a regular, ordinary guy that loves to cook, hence the title. I work a blue collar job Monday through Friday, pay my bills, raise the kid and get some free time with the wife every now and then to enjoy life. I do not have a formal education in the culinary arts, but have worked in the food service industry. I attended cooking classes at home and abroad, traveled to some beautiful countries and immersed myself in cultures dedicated to food. Over the past 30 years, I learned a lot in the kitchen and this is my journal.
As far back as my early teens, I can remember spending time in my tiny kitchen trying to figure out entrees based solely on taste. As a child, my family would get to go out to a restaurant for dinner a few times a year. For me, this was like Christmas morning. I knew there was better food than hot dogs and processed cheese that I was being fed as a child growing up in the 80's. That is why, in 7th grade I got a job working nights and weekends at a small town fine dining restaurant washing dishes for $2.75 per hour. It is here where I was introduced to classic French cooking.
Cooking relaxes me and gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I look forward to weekends where I can spend the whole day planning, shopping, preparing, cooking and hosting a dinner party. I'll wake up early with a pad of paper and pen jotting down notes, searching for ingredients and coordinating flavors. For me, this is an ideal day.