Self taught in cooking. Learned by trial and error, lots of errors!!! My mother couldn't cook anything unless it came out of a can or a box and never used spices. Best lesson ever learned about cooking for others, if it doesn't come out, you can always order in!!! I love to grill, however, where I currently live I cannot use a grill, so I'm learning how to recreate my grilling in the house. Formal dinners for friends and family. Presentation is everything! And of course good friends!