Yesterday I turned 50. Today I decided to start a blog. It's an interesting age this 50. It's like standing on your tip toes at the edge of the Grand Canyon. There's the chance you may fall in but the view is so big you can't get close enough to it. It's scary and exhilarating at the same time.

I spent the weekend with the highlights of my life. My friends. One of the few things I've done right. They are all amazing, unique, creative, and...heh.heh..forgiving. I also made some new friends which is always a treat! I've worked with many of them over the years, some were customers turned friend, others I've traveled with, lived with, slept with, and all of them I've cooked with. We're all kinda "foodies". Our parties always include a lot of great food, warm bread, yummy wines, and a ton of laughs and conversation. We all have our favorite way of cooking so the menus are always worldly. I do Mediterranean, Bern-Indian, Jen-American, Denis-Asian, and it goes on and on.

In the summer we get together and cook out in my yard (photo above). I have a big fire pit in the center of my patio so everyone can stand around it and participate. Several years back an old boyfriend bought me a 36" wok for my birthday, (at least the wok was useful) which I place in my round Weber grille. I prepare the mise en place and Bern or Mac man the grilles. It's awesome. We toss in mussels, clams, rice, vegetables, chicken, shrimp,whatever. It makes great paella, and steams shell fish beautifully. This year I'm going to attempt baking bread on the grille. What the hell, cavemen did it....right?

I'm in the process of writing my first cookbook which will include some of these fun recipes and
the recipes from my restaurant, KeKA. I'll post them here for you to try and if you have any tips or cool cooking ideas please send them to me. Next time I'll tell you some funny restaurant stories and attach some photos but right now my 50 year old hangover has caught up with me so I need to lay down!

I would have never started this blog without the insistance of one of my favorite people on the planet, Tina Givens. Once you read her blog or go to her website you will get a glimpse of the kind of cool people I'm lucky enough to have as friends. Treat yourself! It's really fun,
tinagivens@blogspot.com or http://www.cidpear.com/

also check out my friends Chris and Gina's new place in Panama at http://www.ranchodecaldera.com/