Born in England, but raised in the good ole' USA. My father was a career cook and worked in resturant management and finished his career selling institutional foods. His specialtys were english dishes including his famous "Yorkshire pudding". Anything, southwest in flavor. Mexican is always good at my house. I also live to barbque coming from Kansas. Smoked barbque brisket in the summer with cold beer and swimming. Ahhhh... I have had many triumphs, but consider the only important triumph is when I cook for a special guest and they are pleased, and impressed with my cooking. I once left a small amount of grease in a pan on the stove. It soon filled my apartment with 4 feet of thick black smoke from the ceiling down. Fortunatly, quick thinking and a fan saved the day. Oh, and the "kilz paint" covered up the embarrasing mistake.