At various times I’ve earned a living as a bluegrass musician, store manager, baker, computer programmer, magazine editor, waiter, and a few other things. Although this list implies a short attention span, during all those years — in fact, since I was six — I have been a cook. As a cook I’ve sought food that gave me pause, dishes that demanded my attention, flavors that evoked passion.

Currently I live in Knoxville, Tennessee where, perhaps inevitably, I cook for others as a personal chef, teach others to cook, and write about food and cooking. The money sucks, the life is good. I’m a frequent contributor to NPR’s Kitchen Window, the guide to “Cooking for Two” at the New York Times’ About.com Web site, and a food correspondent for the social networking site, Gather.com.