Ottawa Foodies

Pictured: Last of my peas, July 6,2010.

I love to eat flavourful foods and love to make or cook them for friends, family and me. I also grow a lot of what we eat in the vegetable patch, herbicide and pesticide free.

My favourite drink is beer, though it's well water I drink most.
My favourite spice is cumin - it just turns my crank in savoury dishes.
My favourite fruit is the Ataulfo mango.
My favourite sport is hockey.
My lifetime's work in progress is bread making.
My secret passion is F1 motorsports, with IndyCar not far behind.
My biggest thrill is helping a student learn that they can do it!
The first cuisine to inspire me was Chinese (in the 70's), followed by Thai (80's), Mexican (00's) and Middle eastern (00's & 10's).
I used to read cookbooks for fun.
Favourite quote from a dinner guest: "It looks like the dog's breakfast but it sure tastes good!" ...cracked the lovely Rita, age 87, no longer able to help at the quilting bee but still sharp as a tack, referring to a Cuban Tamal en Cazuela I served to the quilters helping my wife and me.
The best food I've ever eaten was in a Swiss alp - raclette (served on excellent crusty bread) made on a stone by a fire by the farmer who made the cheese (while at the same time making farmer's cheese in a large copper caldron over the fire), and he also gave me a love for kirsch the Swiss farmer way - in a bowl filled with steaming coffee (weaker than weak), adding whatever amount of kirsch you desire.