catering

Who Would  Have Thought That A Chore To Most, Could Be Good For You!

Cooking can decrease stress…how  you may ask, because cooking involves all of our senses: the vibrant colors of fresh tomatoes,  the velvety texture  of butter lettuce, the sound of a searing tenderloin, the smell of crispy bacon, and last but not least, the flavors, oh the flavors we taste…perhaps it is these sensory cues that take us to another place, a quieter place, into a visceral moment, not thinking, just feeling.  When we engage is something that is creative, fun and inspiring, our mind is able to roam, slow down and escape stress.  That is where the magic happen!  You are creating something from scratch, something tangibly necessary to life, and something that offers immediate gratification (could that be the final goal?… in this society of now, now, now?)  Never…we do it for the moment, the peace, the  basic simplicity, and finally, the flavors we experience…now bid stress adieu and cook, cook, cook…

You May Just Be Surprised At What You Learn At The Kitchen Table!

A was reading an article on OldWays.org and found this to be interesting.  They finally gave the smaller, more informal kitchen table the respect it deserves.  Not just for eating, homework, games or even a place for guests to rest their feet as a meal is prepared, this humble structure serves a far more important role…it promotes togetherness, strong connections and conversation.  When my son was born, my best friends parents told me that they learned more about their kids lives during dinner than any other time or  place.  It was the place where conversation was king, no phone, no tv…just a family and their lives as well as the opportunity to practice basic table manners (God knows there is a shortage of this now a days!)  So give it a try, gather the clan around the table for a week of meals and be amazed by the conversation that simply happens.

Beginners Welcome Too, You Gotta Start Somewhere!

Several weeks ago, I received an email requesting a series of cooking classes on “all things Cajun/Creole”.  After chatting with the client, I surmised that she was younger than my average client, didn’t have the 15oo square foot kitchen I usually find myself in (the whole flat was about 350 square feet!), was budget conscience, and most importantly, wanted to broaden her cooking horizons.  I was in!  Anyone who is in it for the knowledge and know-how will be a fan for life.  We talked food, prepped food, cooked food and enjoyed food…my kind of afternoon!  As I made my way home, an email came through from the client, requesting open dates in November and expressing interest in continuing the classes through the upcoming year…wow, a fan of food, albeit a new fan of food, but a fan none the less.  Again, I was in and we are now planning for the upcoming year.  So what is my point you may ask…It is never to late, or early, to start pursuing your passion!  The kitchen is a fun place to be, why do you think it’s the focal point of so many fantastic  new homes!   So to all you aspiring “home kitchen culinarians”, make your grocery list and head to the store, it’s never to late to gain the upper hand in the kitchen.

Why Is It That The Our Sense Of Smell Is Like A Time Machine

Yesterday, as I was cooking for a client in what happened to be a somewhat public space where random individuals were making their way past my clattering pots and pans, I unknowingly was taking them back to their mother’s or grandmother’s kitchens.  Four separate folks slowed down, inhaled deeply and replied in their own individual ways…”wow, that smells great, takes me back to…!”  Why is it that smell invokes such deep and vivid memories?  It’s because the area of our brain that controls emotional memory lies very close to our olfactory nerve.  Those freshly baked cookies take you back to Grandma’s when you were young, the smell of Banana’s Foster flambeing may whisk you back to a first date and the smell of hot gumbo almost certainly takes you back to each years first cold snap.  These memories are imprinted on our psyche, and can bring on endless smiles and joy, so get in the kitchen and begin to make your own lifelong memories based on smell…your nose will thank me later!