I have worked as a professional cook a few times over the years but not at the present time. I love being in the kitchen with my significant other. Some of our favorite times together have been made in the process of making a meal. I love complex, multi-step creations. We are currently working on the perfect Beef Wellington. I learned a lot of the "old ways" from my Paternal Grandmother. I've gone back to using lard in pastry because I just can't get what I want with any other method. I am by luck a "natural" in the kitchen and it's very rare that anything I make "flops". That said, I'm a better baker than cook as I like to stick to specific measurements. My significant other is trying to break me of that and we're getting there... ;-) I once made puff pastry that didn't, AT ALL.