Shaking Out The Tablecloth

I LOVE MANY THINGS. MOSTLY THOUGH, ITS FOOD.

MY BUSY WORLD IS CENTERED, QUITE HAPPILY, ON THE MANY PLEASURES THAT FOOD PROVIDES. I FIND FULFILLMENT IN TALKING ABOUT FOOD (PERHAPS TOO MUCH) - AND REVELING IN THE FLAVOURS, ATMOSPHERE AND MEMORIES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

PUT SIMPLY: I SEEK IT OUT, EVERYWHERE, AND EAT MY FAIR SHARE.

I'M A COOK, PASTRY CHEF, WRITER AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. FEEDING OTHERS, TO ME, IS HAPPINESS. ITS MORE THAN SATIATING HUNGER, IT EXTENDS BEYOND.

IT IS CONNECTION. IT IS A LINK TO A SHARED EXPERIENCE. IT IS KNOWLEDGE AND MEMORIES. IT IS SOMETHING THAT ENCOURAGES YOU TO TAKE IN ALL THE MOMENTS THAT HAPPEN AROUND FOOD - AND BECAUSE OF FOOD.

I HAVE BEEN GIVEN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN RECIPES AND TECHNIQUES FROM MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE - AND COMB THROUGH PILES UPON PILES OF SPLATTER-STAINED, DOG-EARED BOOKS SINCE CHILDHOOD.  

AND THATS WHEN MY LOVE OF FOOD AND FLAVOUR STARTED - WHEN I WAS YOUNG. SO TO, A DESIRE TO TRAVEL. MY EARLIEST TRIPS TO EUROPE - AS A TENACIOUS AND DETERMINED TEENAGER - OPENED A FLOODGATE OF CURIOSITY ABOUT FOOD AND PEOPLE. THOSE TRIPS ALLOWED ME TO ENGAGE IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURE AROUND FOOD - SOMETHING THAT DIFFERED GREATLY FROM MY RURAL UPBRINGING IN CANADA. THIS CURIOSITY HAS NEVER BEEN CONTAINED.

IN FACT, ITS BECOME A NEAR-OBSESSION, ONE THAT HAS KEPT ME INSPIRED, HUNGRY AND TRAVELLING EVER SINCE.

LEARNING RECIPES AND TECHNIQUE ALONE HAS NEVER BEEN ENOUGH HOWEVER. YES, I LOVE THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT SURROUNDS FOOD BUT UNDERSTANDING INGREDIENTS AND TECHNIQUE IS ESSENTIAL TOO.

DISCOVERING MORE - BEYOND THE OBVIOUS, BEYOND THE PRECONCEIVED OR ASSUMED - IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO, I RESEARCH ENDLESSLY, STUDY OLD COOKBOOKS, TRAVEL MORE AND (LUCKILY) SPEND TIME WITH AMAZING AND EXCEPTIONALLY WISE PEOPLE.

THIS IS HOW I HAVE BETTER COME TO UNDERSTAND FOOD CULTURE AND FOOD HISTORY - AND WHY I APPRECIATE BOTH SO MUCH. IT IS WHAT PUSHES ME TO BE BETTER IN THE KITCHEN AND ON PAPER. ITS THE RECIPES AND INGREDIENTS, AND THE PRECIOUS MEMORIES OF TASTE AND TIME.

ALONG THE WAY, I’VE BECOME A DEDICATED STUDENT AND METICULOUS OBSERVER. IT HELPS MY WRITING AND CULINARY PROGRAMS. IT HELPS ME TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, YES. BUT, PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY IT HELPS ME SHARE WHAT THE MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE, MOSTLY WOMEN, HAVE TAUGHT ME OVER TIME.

THEIR RECIPES, UNIQUE METHODS AND AMAZING LIFE EXPERIENCES WERE LITERALLY LAID ON THE TABLE - AND THEY TRUSTED ME TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING BIGGER WITH THEM. THESE WOMEN HELPED MY PERSONAL GROWTH AND SUPPORTED MY AMBITIONS.

THEY ALSO TAUGHT ME HOW TO PRESERVE MOMENTS - AND RESPECT TIME. THEY SHARED THEIR WISDOM AND HISTORY. THEY SHOWED ME THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING ROMANCE AND PLEASURE IN AS MUCH OF LIFE AS POSSIBLE.

BY LIVING WELL, BUT SIMPLY. BY BUILDING EMPATHY. BY BEING CONFIDENT AND DEFIANT. BY SHARING ABUNDANTLY. BY STRUGGLING, YES, BUT WITH GRACE AND FORTITUDE.

WRITING HERE, FOR YOU, PROVIDES A SPACE TO SHARE ALL OF THIS AND MORE.

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