My Love Affair with Food

Food Philosophy…Fresh… Simple…Local…

My love affair with food began when I was a child; my mother introduced me to cooking at a young age, as I would often get underfoot while she was making her homemade bread. The smell of fresh bread baking still brings back fond memories and I make it to this day. I have a batch in the oven right now as a matter of fact.

From these humble beginnings, I got my first taste of a restaurant kitchen as a dishwasher while still in school. I adapted well to this environment and it eventually led to me learning the business from the ground up. Now more than 20 years later, I have never looked back.

What amazes me most about cooking is that no matter how long you have been doing it, there is always more to learn. It allows us to be creative, experiment and discover new flavours, textures and dishes. It is almost magical how a few simple fresh ingredients can be turned into something wonderful. Unfortunately, today’s busy lifestyles have led people to eat so much processed and genetically modified food, all in the name of convenience. There is a lot to be said for the taste of a local carrot…fresh picked from the garden… or the delicate aromas of slowly braised venison Osso Bocco.

I believe in simplicity…it should be the goal of every great chef or cook to produce a truly memorable dish using the fewest ingredients possible. Don’t ever be afraid - let the flavours of the ingredients speak for themselves. If we use quality ingredients, proper techniques and put passion into the dish, the results will be tastefully delicious. Most importantly… don’t rush, give the food the time it needs for flavours to marry. If we follow these few simple rules, success is almost guaranteed. We must always challenge ourselves in the kitchen; or better yet… let the ingredients challenge us. What can we do with these beautiful heirloom tomatoes, or this generously marbled organic beef? The possibilities are endless.

As a chef I am conscious of where my ingredients come from, how the animals were raised…what was their diet… how the vegetables were grown…is the seafood sustainable etc.? My passion for food comes from within; there is no better feeling in the world than sharing a delicious meal that you have prepared… with family, friends or even total strangers. To see the smile on their faces, as they taste a dish… you can tell how much they are enjoying it….and that is priceless!!!

Until we eat again, Yours in Food & Wine...

Chef