My experience in the kitchen started early. My love for the outdoors and hunting wild game frequently provided a treat for the table. Cooking wild game can be tricky. When I needed help I always had my Mom to turn to. She was born and raised in Strasburg Va., real country with great country cooks, she was one of them. Mom showed me different styles of preparing wild game and how to present a meal which was full of flavor and pleasing to the eye. My Mom was a culinary artist, I learned early from the best.
Summer breaks from school required some sort of employment and I always opted for cooking in local seafood restaurants in and around Annapolis, MD. Here I learned speed, precision and a new focus on the paying customer. I was responsible for the nightly specials and allowed to improvise.
After high school I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While in service my cooking skills came in handy while spending weeks in the “bush” and having only Marine Corps sea rations to eat three meals a day. I would attempt to add some excitement to our meal by combining our separate sea rations together in a helmet, cook over a fire and spice it up with some Tabasco sauce and hot chocolate powder. My fellow marines seemed to enjoy the meals I served up, thus beginning my passion for improvisation with any ingredients available. I never have tasted anything like that again.
My career has turned to sales where I enjoy representing gourmet food manufacturers. My continued passion for cooking drives the business and allows me to enjoy my work. During a recent trip to Greece I met some of the finest cooks in my lifetime. I was introduced to the health and culinary benefits of cooking with olive oil and balsamic vinegars. With a new interest in these products I now enjoy preparing Greek and international dishes. Ariston Specialties of Greece has the finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars in the world. I now take great pride in representing Ariston Specialties name and vending their products at local Wine and Barbeque Festivals.
My love for cooking continues today while preparing meals for close friends and family.