Four years ago when I racked my brain thinking of potential topics for the open-ended admission’s essay for Columbia, I could think of no better topic than my passion for food. I learned to cook early as a solution to my mother’s failed attempts to turn fresh, never packaged food into tasty meals. And I was obsessed with the food network, cookbooks, and serving dishes. But, while this early passion was for the material product and the technique to create anything my mind could think of, I soon understood that the power of food reaches far beyond the taste and smell of a fresh dish. Food is the true universal language. From the richest kitchen in the world to the family kitchen in the poorest part of the world, chefs of all kinds share their histories and make love through their passionate preparation of dishes.
This blog will focus on translating the language of food to the everyday experience. First, I will post (hopefully video post) brief tutorials intended to help college students gain the basic skills to survive as personal chefs focusing on dishes that will teach a range of techniques, use fresh and affordable ingredients, and take little active preparation time.
Second, the blog will reflect on food-related points of interest from around the web, books, magazines, and cookbooks in order to provide a more complete experience with food. With this I hope to not only shine a light not only upon cooking tools and American food habits, but to introduce readers to global food history and culture.
Finally, this blog will be a personal narrative of my experiences with food. Restaurant reviews, stories from the kitchen, and reflection on the meaning of food in my life and in the world will all be found here.
Despite my few years of age, my experience with food is diverse. With my own small business, in high school I mastered baking techniques with cakes, cookies, and pies that focus on taste and texture over decoration. At fifteen I worked on line at one of DC’s top restaurants Zaytinya and just after graduation I worked as a hostess at another Jose Andres marvel, Jaleo, where I learned the fundamentals of restaurant service. At Columbia I serve as a major event planner for the undergraduate student body and plan food events of all sizes and styles including catering a number of events myself. I also serve with the university’s dining department and advisory committee helping to bring events, better services, and healthy choices to the masses. Most importantly however, I am a passionate foodie who lives on a tight budget and even tighter schedule.
Join me on this journey through food. I look forward to your participation in this feast through comments.
Leave a Reply