About

"Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It's about honesty. It's about identity." - Unknown

Inspirations

What I love about food is that it has the potential to bring people together. Sharing a meal and exploring food culture - with family, in the neighborhood, city, or somewhere else entirely - can create new relationships that may have seemed too daunting to form before.

Two of my biggest inspirations in the culinary world are my grandfather and mother. My mother, chef of all foods as well as great seeker of new eats, has exposed me to a diverse selection of dishes wherever we happen to be in the world. My family believes that I've acquired my discriminating taste from my grandfather. Don't mistake this for being picky. Instead, I mean that I just have a keen sense of flavors and an aversion to cilantro (must be genetics!).

Another one of my culinary inspirations is Alton Brown. I became addicted to his show “Good Eats” which aired on the Food Network. It combined my love for science and cooking, explaining how and why certain techniques and ingredients are used.

Soon after I had the idea of creating this blog, I read John Baxter's Immoveable Feast. I fell in love with his complex combinations of flavors and beautiful dinner preparations. He concocted each dish based off of home cooking experiences, experiments throughout his life, and influences from his French in-laws. Not only did he describe the preparation, but also the research he had to do in order to procure the ingredients that would best fit his dish. The culmination of his "foodie" experiences throughout his life inspired the completion of this blog. I look forward to seeing how my experiences will influence my cooking and future.

This blog is a kind of food diary where I store memories and what I learn along the way. Grab utensils or use your hands and let’s dig in!

Bio

I'm a New Yorker, born and bred in the city that never sleeps. It’s an inspiring city, not only for its dining experiences, but also for its impressive cultural diversity.

Through food, I've learned about neighborhood histories by going to both culinary landmarks and hidden eateries. I'll never be bored with the constantly changing and countless food scenes in New York.

Trying new foods is not all that I’m interested in. Basketball has been another constant in my life since my grandfather took me outside and taught me to dribble. Lastly, I find that music plays a role in the foodie experience. Music is another facet that provides insight into history and people’s experiences, as does food specific to various celebrations.