I was born and raised in New Orleans, a city where good food and cooking are some of the most important parts of our culture. I love this, and take every opportunity to cook good food and entertain family and friends. I like to cook most everything. I love seafood. Every year my father makes a HUGE pot of gizzard and seafood gumbo for Mardi Gras day. It is the best gumbo EVER! I successfully copied one of my favorite dishes from a local restaurant, Dick and Jenny's, for a dinner party. It was a goat cheese, cranberry and pinenut stuffed pork loin with a balsamic honey reduction. There was a lemon meringue pie that I made in the 8th grade that I will never speak of again!!!