Spent most of my career on airplanes, in hotels, and in way too many meetings. Got the chance to taste foods from around the world. Found that I had a very diverse interest in foods. Married a true "meat & potatoes" girl who had never traveled anywhere and was reluctant to try anything food-wise, plus - she hated cooking. It's worked great for 29 years. Before I would leave on business I would prepare meals she could reheat easily. Each home we've built allowed me to design the kitchen. She's very encouraging about my cooking which prompts me to try more and more new recipes. This web site is really a piece of my cooking world. I visit often, perhaps too often ...... and tend to tell everyone that I meet about it. I really like almost anything with a little heat and spice. I'm on an continuing quest to find a jar of Umami!!! My mother was raised in a very modest environment. Her mother was a truly lousy cook. How my mother ever became so skilled in our kitchen I'll never know, but she loved an adventure and often made our family meals memorable with limited resources. I remember cooking a meal for my girlfriend (now wife) many years ago that she just raved and ranted about to her sisters. One of her sisters was trying to win the heart of a young man, but like my wife, was a really lousy cook ...... more acurately ...... didn't enjoy cooking. So I prepared a meal for her sister to serve as her own doing. Good news --- she won his heart and they married ----- bad news --- he soon learned she couldn't repeat the meal. Without question ------ preparing sushi at home. From my days traveling I became a huge fan of sushi. Remember; my wife is a conservative eater so sushi is a BIG leap. I wanted her to like it, too. I called my favorite restaurant in Seattle .... got the instructions and list ..... bought the stuff .... prepared it ..... threw it out and ordered pizza. Won't try that again!!!