Desperately Seeking Crab

I desperately seek crab during the crabbing season here in South Australia but I also desperately seek any good food, whether it’s by the side of the road, on a train or in a posh restaurant. I’ve been told that I suffer for my food like many women suffer for fashion or high heels. But food isn’t the only thing I desperately seek – I also seek out great wines (often at great value) and am passionate about studying both food and wine’s botanical, social and economic histories. I am exceptionally fussy about a good restaurant experience and believe that a smile goes a long way from the servers.

Born and raised in Hawaii, I am an island girl at heart. I then left my heart in San Francisco (and Napa) after over 10 yrs and currently, Adelaide, South Australia is my home. At 18, I studied art for a semester but dropped out. Then at 20, I studied Pâtisserie in London but working as a pastry chef made me sleep deprived, gave me zits and no social life. I was lucky enough to work at Chez Panisse twice as an apprentice because the crappy bakery (which is no longer in business probably because they made me use moldly fruit) I worked at was nearby. It was a truly awe-inspiring experience and has been my benchmark for restaurant excellence ever since (met Alice Waters on my first day)!! I went onto work as a travel agent and eventually made my way to the wine industry as a wine educator for the iconic Robert Mondavi winery (were you ever on one of my tours? If so, let me know!) I never took for granted how lucky I was to have my office in the Napa Valley, no matter how far I had to drive (3 hrs/day) and loved the social life – the parties, food, wine & interesting people. I have loved to write since I was a kid and hopefully getting my B.A. in English and my M.A. in Gastronomy (www.gastronomy.adelaide.edu.au) will fulfill my dream to write a book someday and open my own food-based business.

Meanwhile, as long as my musings on eating, cooking and foraging for food makes another food-crazed person smile, then I’m absolutely elated.

ABOUT THE CRAB ACCOMPLICE

My partner in crime really helps talk me through ideas for the food blog. Not to mention he’s an amazing editor and the resident computer geek (he wrote me a program to make some functions for this blog a lot easier!) He endures me buying endless amounts of produce that I may or may not end up using and also tends to carry the shopping bags at the markets. Thankfully, although he’s British and grew up on a fairly bland diet compared to my multi-cultural experiences, and not to mention that he was a picky child, he now eats just about everything except for raw onions, melons and stinky natto which I love.

DISCLAIMER

Sorry if my spelling goes back and forth from American to British English. I was educated in both “languages” and am no longer sure which spelling feels more comfortable for me. Thus, you may see color/colour, specialise/specialize, encyclopedia/encyclopaedia…you get the gist. I wouldn’t be surprised if the occasional Australianism creeps in too (and NO, we don’t say “Put a shrimp on the barbie!”)