Greatest cooking influences were/are my mother and grandmother. I also took some basic culinary courses in college which unleashed a real passion for cooking and baking, as well as entertaining. Ethnic cuisines, home cooking ...I can't put my finger on any one thing. I just love to cook and it is most definitely my passsion. Birthday dinners! I do special requests as per the honouree! Then of course Thanksgiving and Christmas like most everybody else! I'd have to say Pie Crust. For some reason I was always intimidated by it, but now I've established a reputation for my flaky crusts! And as well, my mother in law who is a real gourmet, claims my Osso Bucco and Risotto Milanaise is the best she's ever tasted! A fondue that almost ended in a fire!!!!