In an Attempt to Put Forth Some Effort.

Recently my "godmother" and a best friend of mine both remarked to me on my love of food, and my inclination to communicate well by writing. My "godmother" said that with all of the attention I pay to food, cooking, beer, and wine, I ought to do something with it. I bring my camera to meals, and photograph the dishes and wine. During my darkest times, unable to eat from heartbreak, the only thing that could get my mind off of love and into the saltine crackers at my side, were television shows andaudiobooks about food. In fact, as I go through life, I realize that the culinary arts and the relationship people have with food is truly one of my stronger passions. When the perfect pizza becomes Utopia in it's simplicity, I am consumed. Consumed by that which I am consuming. Run around that for a while.

I believe cooking is like making music, and eating is like listening to a new album. The chef can create all types of food, all genres of music; and it can be as simple and acoustic as 3 ingredients, or it can be a symphonic layering of ingredients. Or it can be a bombardment of ingredients that don't always make sense. And in eating, you get to explore a new offering from our artist. Upon first taste, you may have a song that is clearly your first favorite. The cheese offering is usually the thing that catches me. But as you keep tasting, you hear the violin of the leek, the hum of pistachio paste... and then after enough listens, you may even find that the

track you thought you disliked the most, is actually quite spectacular. I may try those beets again!

As Virginia Woolf said, "One can not think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well..."