Inspiration

So, where do you get your inspiration? I find it in a lot of places, some obvious, some obscure. I love to take trips to different areas, because it gives me new ideas for food. Recently, I went to Las Vegas. When it comes to food, I've been known to bend my rules and try just about anything for inspiration.

On my recent trip, I went to various restaurants and establishments to try what they had to offer. Some were amazing, and some were.... less so. In the Coke building, I had a beverage called "Beverly" (the clear glass on the left). Need I say, it was quite.... non-appealing. Considered an aperitif in Italiy (a digestion aid) it wasn't pleasing to the palate. Bitter, carbonated, and overall it made my stomach twinge. Others, more ispirational, like the mint bevvy on the right (it tasted like a cola while brushing my teeth, but in a good way).

Saint Delicious, I dubb thee!

Others were quite amazing. Vegas being a cultural mecca brings the best of the best of each nation to the strip, a focal point if you will: only the best arrive. If you're wondering what that is to the direct left of the straw, yes, that's a Twinkie. This was a Twinkie shake, and while absolutely absurd in calories, it was absolutely delicious to eat. Hey, I was on vacation, the waitress was lauding the shake, and I was intrigued. Let me say, it was so tasty, I was glad I didn't know the nutritional information.

Yes, this is a Kobe beef burger, with Blue Cheese and sauteed Oyster Mushrooms. Oh and the Fries were great!

While the trip was relaxing, I mostly enjoyed the various foods to be had. It opens ones eyes to new ideas and recipes to experiment with. Try a new food if you can! You never know what you might find to inspire you!

Cooking thoughts

Just an informative post, hopefully to motivate readers to start cooking, or expand your cooking realm. While I've not been professionally trained to cook, it follows in my heritage. Actually, it follows in everyones heritage. Cooking was an absolute necessity in every walk of life up to, and current in the world. While it may not have been fancy, your ancestors cooked, you've cooked. And why shouldn't you cook? You know what goes into what you're making. You put the parts together, you're feeding yourself and potentially your family. Why not cook?

People ask me all the time, where did I learn to cook? While the passion was always with me, I was never formally trained. I had the chance to go to professional cooking schools, which I hope to find the time to attend in the future. But my recipes and ability came from one simple thing: trial and error. I read a recipe, and I attempted it. The first trials weren't pretty, but I strived to make better food.

I look at recipies as merely basic templates. Some people consider family recipies to be the end-all-be-all of recipies. While that recipie may have been perfected over generations, how did they get to that point? It wasn't just attempted one day and amazingly good. It was made, and re-made with different variations over the years. What's stopping you from trying different ideas? That's what your mother and grandmother did most likely. I love to take recipies and tinker with them. It makes for astounding differences, and each persons tastes vary. So experiment! Have fun!

My solid advice is: start with good ingredients, have an open mind, and if all else fails, try, try again!