I'm the oldest of three siblings. I come from parents that love to cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I have been cooking for many years and learned at a very young age. I have been married for 23 years and am a father of two sons. I have an extensive background in customer and food service. I love preparing home-cooked meals for my family, friends and my sons' buddies. I like to prepare meals that are delicious and down-to-earth. I have a great time experimenting with different foods and ingredients. I enjoy coming up with something different and original, especially when cooking for others. I like to make a statement with my meals. Hispanic, Asian or American - just good, simple and well prepared. I grew up with parents who loved to cook and "play" with food. My parents were never afraid to put something on the table that wasn't a "sure" thing. I had the privilege of learning from two people that ventured out of the ordinary and gave in to pure speculation and the love of food. The one tradition that I would pass on is to be true to yourself and your food. Any triumph in food comes from experimentation and confidence. I have never gotten discouraged in the kitchen. If I prepare a dish that isn't great, I immediately want to know what went wrong. I always strive to improve upon the negatives and enhance the positives. It might take a few tries, but, in the end, you may have a great dish to offer to friends and family. Never give up! I have attempted a few dishes that just didn't turn out well. You can tweak it all you want, but if it still doesn't work, it's not going to work. I have learned that some dishes are meant to be and others are not. Do what you can, but don't try to exceed your own expectations. Cooking is an art. Take the time to enjoy it and give it all you've got. Otherwise, it's a waste.