A bit about me…

I am a dedicated food enthusiast, creator, experimenter and purveyor of love for those around me thru food.  I am not a chef, I have never set foot in a formal cooking school.  I have spent many hours ‘studying’ via traditional and modern media learning what I could from the likes of Emeril, Alton Brown and Tyler Florence and a host of others.  More recently I have been enjoying Ree Drummond’s ‘The Pioneer Woman’ and Damaris Phillips and her ‘Southern at Heart’ show.

I am a huge devote of Cooks Country, Cooks Illustrated and Americas Test Kitchen.  All of this learning builds upon a legacy of love-thru-food that was started by my father, who was the original ‘huckandchuck’ cook.

I gravitate to any medium which explains to me the ‘why’, not just the ‘do’.  Alton Browns Good Eats is a prime example of this, as are the America Test Kitchen / Cooks Country / Cooks Illustrated sister shows and publications.  From this learning of the ‘why’, comes understanding what is going on in any recipe – from that comes the freedom to begin to experiment.

My wife and I live in central British Columbia, a couple of hours from where I grew up.  Our home town is about 90,000 people, and offers what we feel is the perfect balance of community feel, while still being able to access all the things you need to operate a day to day life.  We have some great eateries, as well as access to an awesome farmers market and a decent selection of specialty food shops.  We are only 4 short hours from Vancouver BC, so when we do need a run to the big smoke (where we lived for 20+ years before coming here) it is not too far.

I have traveled quite extensively over the years in both Canada and the United States.  If it is true that an army travels on its belly – then I am an army of one.  Whenever possible when traveling, I really try to avoid the interstates and the chain restaurants.  I want to experience both the people and the food of each region I travel thru.  If you have ever seen ‘Feasting on Asphalt’ with Alton Brown, you’ll get the idea.  I have discovered so many amazing regional foods, and met so many amazing people in both countries – experiences that fed both my belly and my soul.

I love to cook for family and friends, and I love to learn.  Increasingly, I am doing more ‘huckandchuck’, than working from recipes.  Sometimes it is a hybrid, I read a handful of recipes on something I have taken an interest in, then combine them into something of my own.  Sometimes what I come up with is the result of a one-time creative effort (Prawn Cocktail a al Entre), sometimes it is the result of literally years of working to get something just right (Pop’s Pancakes).

Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat, the K-9 Kids need a walk.  Oh yeah, we have two dogs who keep us equal parts busy, amused and shaking our heads.  One is a 75lb German Shepherd, and the other a 15lb American Eskimo (German Spitz).  One is definitely the Alpha, and I am sure our Shepherd remembers longingly back to the days when it was her.  You can read about their adventures from time to time in the Kennel section of the blog.

All right, were off to walk the dogs, but your welcome to hang about the kitchen and make yourself at home.  We’ll be back sometime soon.