Our Manifesto

Greetings fellow food lovers! I appreciate your interest in this platform. Before you spend any time digging in (pun intended), let me warn you. I hope to share additional perspective of the world through the lens of our need and enjoyment of food. This includes our need to remain mindful of the many global food-related issues and how we can participate in making the needed long-term change. Is it a lot? You decide. The goals are:

1. To provide fun and exciting dishes for everyone (from struggling students to gourmands).

2. To further incorporate international cuisines in our diets. We exist in a world, for the lack of a better term, which is a tossed salad.  We’re all in the bowl together and when you mix it up and add the vinaigrette, it’s something incredible.  This means it’s essential for us to have at the very least, a general understanding of what is happening around us.I believe food is the best way to help us understand each other and provides a place to meet, despite our differences. You are probably already amazed by wealth of cultures around us.  I want to share more about how that food and culture has influenced history because it’s absolutely INCREDIBLE!

3. Like life, all my recipes are infinitely adaptable. Make them yours. You don’t like kale, add arugula or bok choy. If pepper flakes are your thing, add them to everything (maybe not dessert, you decide). I think you get the point, use your intuition.

4. A word on ingredients. Buy the best you can afford. Good, fresh, quality ingredients determine the quality of the final product. A French or Irish butter elevates a simple meal to new flavor heights.  A fresh baguette or bagel has the same magical powers. If you can, use them. Don’t forget the fresh herbs!  They are pretty and tasty. You’ll surprise yourself (and others, if they’re lucky enough to be invited to eat your cooking) with your talents.

5. Whether you are cooking yourself or enjoying a meal prepared by someone else, think about what it took to get those foods to your plate. Enjoy and consider the issues we aren’t addressing so everyone can have a plate in front of them. There is:

   • Food Insecurity: When I’m creating dishes, I try to develop fairly reasonable dishes that students can replicate. 60% of students nationwide suffer from food insecurity. We are living in 2023, how is this possible? Have a university nearby?  Ask how you can help from an individual student to a campus food bank.

   • Sustainability: Statistics tell us 40% of food waste happens before food stuffs reach the supermarket.  That means we can control 60%. It’s extremely important to concentrate on ways to reduce waste at home. Buy local, buy less, plan a little better.  I’m trying to personally improve on this one every day.

6. Understand the many global food issues and consider them. Focused attention on them starts the change process. Be sensible about what you and what others use to fuel your body and soul.

7. I wish for you to remember, preparing food, like life, can be messy.  Enjoy it, color outside the lines and, remember, “YOU DO YOU”.

8. Finally, if there is a food issue you’re committed to, PLEASE share it with me and I’ll consider it for the manifesto.  Let’s make the world a better place one bite at a time.