Inspirers

I have had the good fortune that many of my friends are outstanding cooks that have taught me about food preparation, aesthetic appeal, and the importance of it, and have inspired me with their passion for food, its preparation and consumption. Some of their advice has been solicitated, but often it happened as a side-effect, while preparing ingredients, cooking and eating together.

Some people have suggested that I purposely select my friends that way, but that is not true.

At times our own light is rekindled by a spark from another person…

University of Montana Professor of Drama Emeritus, Bill Raoul, was not only a loved instructor, but a respected professional set designer who published several textbooks on the topic. Those who knew Bill knew he had two passions: His knowledge and love of opera and classical music was one. His other passion was cooking and entertaining guests in his Missoula home. The “Hot Shrimp in Shell” on this website is a Bill Raoul recipe. The ambiance and atmosphere Bill could create was extremely important to him. He was the only person I have ever known that had a “Dish Room”, a room with shelves all around that housed his many dish-sets. Bill was also my mentor and my friend for a quarter of a century!

I feel very fortunate to have started a tradition with my friend Chris W., many years ago. Every Christmas season we are making a holiday liver pate together. Throughout the year, we cook, share, experiment, alter and improve recipes. Chris has a wealth of knowledge about food and food preparation and can taste herbs and spices in a dish like no other food connoisseur I know. The Tuna Tartar recipe on this website, Chris made for me and my wife once and it got us hooked!

Bill R. does not only provide thoughtful, compassionate legal representation and is a skilled mediator, but he is also a brilliant chef that I have the honor to have in my circle of friends. Bill is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, in New York and was a private chef for 20 years. His clients included well-known personalities in politics, finance and entertainment, including Princess Diana, Whitney Houston, Mick/Keith of the Rolling Stones, Glen Close, Tom Hanks, Adnan Khashoggi and many more.

I am grateful for the friendship I have with Daniel B. in Germany, who I met 35 years ago in High School. We have been friends for over three decades and while we don’t get a chance to see each other often in person, we talk on the phone and video chat frequently, exchange recipes on a regular basis and send photos of food creations across the ocean.

………..I am grateful for their inspiration, their guidance and for passing on their spark to me!