Latest Articles
I live my life in pursuit of many interests - music, travel, gardening, enjoying the great outdoors, and of course cooking.
I was born on the West Coast of Canada into a family of German heritage, and grew up with many multicultural friends and influences in the kitchen. These varied cultural heritages are what now inspire my culinary pursuits. I am an amateur cook who has both a passion for good food, and limitations imposed by a students' budget. Thus was born the Frugal Bon Vivant.
There is another reason that I love cooking, and that is the immediate satisfaction that it brings, both in the delicious food to be eaten and in the sense of accomplishment that follows. I am a classical pianist and I spend many hours every day at the piano, practicing for the next performance or the next opera. Music itself is, of course, deeply and profoundly gratifying, but the technical work and discipline that it requires is tiring. Sometimes, at the end of a long day of practicing, I have the feeling of having worked hard but having accomplished very little. Cooking dinner after a day like this serves to remind me that some efforts produce immediate and tangible results, which I think compliments the musical part of my day very nicely and brings balance to my life.
I share with all my best wishes for a lifetime of music, creativity, travel, love, and of course, good food!