The Love of my Life



Banana Pancakes

Cooking has never been a task or a chore, it is a joy for me, it is a way of life. Food and cooking is a bond that everyone shares. For some people food is just a means of nourishment, but I believe for most it is an object of comfort, pleasure and a experience to be shared.
When I was a child watching my mother cook I was fascinated. It was like watching an artist. I would say "Wow! I want to do that" and she would teach me. When I got out of culinary school and started cooking in restaurants that fascination has never left me and I've always had this hunger to learn as much about food and cooking as I could.


Eggs Benedict



Today I cook not only because it is truly what I love to do most, but because I like to please people with my cooking. There is nothing more gratifying to me as to watch someone at home or the restaurant take a bite of the food I have made them, see them close their eyes and savour that bite, then the smile comes to their face and I know at that very moment, that in a very small way I have made there life a little better, even just for a second. That's why I cook.

My goal and hope for this Blog is to accomplish the same thing. By sharing these recipes and stories with people, I can in a small way make there life a little better with the enjoyment of food. To inspire people to get back in the kitchen to cook and share that enjoyment with others.

Peach Cobbler

As long as I can remember every birthday, holiday, day at the beach, family camping trip the food was the center of attention. There was always excitement around what Mom was cooking, what other dishes people were bringing and what time we were going to eat! Nightly dinners at my house growing up were as a family. My Mom would say "Eric, don't go far dinner will be ready soon". (My first name is Eric, but have been going by Michael for years) Trust me I didn't go far! We sat down at the dining room table, with no television on and had dinner together talking about our day. The only thing that has changed over the years, we still eat as a family when we all get together, but there are more of us.

Hot Chocolate and Toast



Spinach Quiche



I was born and raised in the south and southern cuisine has been a major influence in my life. I have cooked all over the United States and no matter where I cook or what type of cuisine, my southern roots come out in the food that I make. Those roots define my style of cooking and always will. I cook comfort food, I am not a food architect. Food can be cooked simply and still be beautiful. Southern food was and always will be about flavor and I cook for flavor. So enjoy these recipes, the stories and try to find the time to cook a little. It is my hope that you will be as happy cooking and eating this food as it makes me to share it with you!