Well...my father owned a restaurant and bar while I was growing up so I worked in the food service industry starting at the age of 12. I also worked at a 5 star resort during college. After college I was a F&B manager at Paris Casino in Las Vegas. Currently, I live in Alexandria VA and work Marriott International in management. I guess all of my experience in restaurants and hotels has allowed me to gain a better understanding and respect for the culinary arts. I love making new things and experimenting. I would consider myself an intermediate cook and I can make pretty much anything. However, I can't guarantee it will be great the first time!!! I like to grill outside. Also, I enjoy making Asian, Italian, and comfort food. I guess my recipe box is pretty eclectic but is mainly filled with variations of basic dishes. Once in awhile I will make something more complicated but with everyones schedule it is easier to stick to classics. I don't know if I have any family cooking traditions. My mom makes a hell of a lot of mean dishes which include her shrimp risotto (my fav). I think any traditions I can think would come from my grandmothers on holidays. My mother has 10 brothers and sisters and I am the oldest of 26 grandkids so holidays are crazy. There are always turkey, ham, and all of the trimmings. I think that I always look forward to going to her house for those meals! Anything that I make is a triumph! Come on...i'm awsome Emmmmm....nothing yet...Check back when I try and actually do a full turkey dinner, that may be interesting!