While growing up, I lived most of my life overseas. My dad insisted that we try all the local dishes. This has carried over into my adult life. My greatest thrill is to cook along side someone who is from another country. Here I learn how it is REALLY done, not what a restaurant does. I enjoy anything extreme - spicy, sweet, sour, it's all good. My favorite is Mexican Food, Persian, Thai, and good ol' Southern My family is from Alabama and family reunions are the rage. We usually have around 150 close relatives show up-"Potluck" funny thing is every year every person brings the same thing they did the year before. We all have our family favorites. We all ask one another to bring it. Imagine how surprised we would be to find out that Aunt Mary makes something else besides Red Velvet Cake? Helping my Iranian friend cook dinner for a wedding. Everything was so interesting and yummy! Making hungarian goolash with tofu instead of meat for a vegetarian friend. ICK!