THE ADVENTURES OF A WAYWARD CHEF

Every year, for the past 5 years, I’ve gotten this asinine idea in my head that I’m going to fast. How healthy of me, right? Last year, I tried fasting at a special “cleansing” resort in Thailand. Even surrounded by dozens of other fasters, I broke down after three days and gave [...]

The ground beneath me explodes as I rip a handful of weeds from the rich, dark soil. A lacy netting of roots clings for dear life to a giant dirt clod. I knock the extra dirt off on a nearby rock and throw the weed into my rapidly expanding weed pile. I’ve never gardened before [...]

“Love-matches are made by people who are content, for a month of honey, to condemn themselves to a life of vinegar.” ~The Countess of Blessington, 1789-1849
I read recently that bartering, though it’s been around for centuries, is the new ‘new’ thing and with the economy falling out from underneath us, the online bartering community has [...]

“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” ~English Proverb

As I head across the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is awash in a pale, grey-blue haze making the skyline look like a black and white photograph.
I’ve been anxiety ridden for the past 2 days as I, once again, packed my belongings for an extended leave. [...]

It’s been a while since I’ve written, I know. But every adventure I write about (or attempt to write about), whether it be trekking across Thailand (2 months ago), sitting in a café in Oslo trying to keep warm (last month), or grilling up pizza’s for Mrs. & Mr. X in Palm Springs (last week), [...]

Hey cool, I just won a Travelers Tales “Solas Award” for one of my early blogs about the first yacht that I ever worked on. The story is published on a travel writing website and may be included in a publication of short travel stories.
For those of you who are new readers to my blog [...]

Julia Child once said, when asked about what she thought of haute cuisine, “it’s so pretty on the plate, you just know someone’s fingers have been all over it”. And I reckon that her reaction to the esoteric food craze sweeping the nation right now might be similar.
I had a meal recently (before leaving for [...]

Mrs. X and I poured over the menu for the Christmas party, I made my prep list and work plan and the never ending grocery list…
Mrs. X is fresh off the jet from Christmas Party Hopping around The Globe and she is chock-full of inspiration… As a private chef, it’s easy to feel as if [...]

“Curses”, I grumble to myself as the private jet lifts off the runway. I should be heading South towards the warm waters of the Caribbean not North towards ice storms and power outages and sub-freezing temperatures! I wasn’t joking over the summer when I told my boss that I’d charge him double for making me [...]

I know, I know, I have a few dedicated readers that are feeling short changed. Please forgive me. I am taking a BRIEF hiatus. I assure you, I will be blogging again shortly.