Do you eat to live or do you live to eat? In my case, it is the latter part of the question. I make no bones about it (no pun intended).

I am completely wild about food. Wild about what I eat, where it comes from, how it is prepared, how it is served, how it is enjoyed, and what it does to the body. I believe we cannot isolate food to any one of these categories because food is a journey, a daily process. It is the whole enchilada, if you will.

Nowadays, meals are a status symbol of sorts. For instance, you have molecular gastronomy prepared by rockstar chefs. More often than not, these 21 course meals cause you to run and get a burger. On the other hand, how many more “fancy burger” joints can we tolerate? No mas, por favor.

For me food is never about the quantity, it is about the quality. Anybody who is driven by quantity will eventually live to regret it, if they live at all. Our bodies are sacred temples that house our soul. Why do we insist on running them down with low quality fuel?

That being said, I question people who take such care of their temples that they become preachy bores. I will admit that there are some (“some” being the qualifier) people who are: gluten, lactose, peanut, sugar, salt, shellfish, fish, meat intolerant…should I keep going? I think you get the picture.  I have totally re-done menus to accommodate guests that subscribe to one or many of the intolerances listed above only to find out the next time they come over, the fad is over and they are able to eat cake and ice cream again.

Eating well is a form of art and a form of being present. During a meal, you are enjoying the entire experience while using all your senses. No cell phones required. Chances are that when you begin to really understand what your body needs to be healthy and active, you will only take the nourishment you need. I am passionate about many foods, however I understand that having indulgent foods in excess will dull their flavor, and maybe even make me ill.

For me there is nothing more pleasurable each day than to prepare a meal. It makes me present and it is a way to show my love for my family and friends. My kitchen is always open to those who need a lift, a meal, a chat. The kitchen, and the dining room, is a sacred place where we can enjoy each other’s presence, and give thanks for the gifts of nature that nurture our bodies and our souls.

Bon appetit!