Being one who loves to cook and eat out, I thought I'd start a thread for any and all things related to cooking, eating, food history, family recollections, favorite food writers, recipes, and the like.

Do you feel a certain connection to friends through cooking and eating together that is much like a musical connection? Both are nourishing to the body and soul. Who are the people that have influenced your cooking and eating tastes and habits? Any favorite recipes to post? Just a few questions in what I hope to be a very open ended discussion about all thngs food related.

For starters, my family has most influenced me. My mother is a great cook, and has opened a world of food for us. The Julia Child revolution affected her and helped further open up her repertoire and fueled her natural curiosity. My sister is a food writer and lecturer, cookbook author...and one hell of a great cook, too. My father cooked Chinese food for the family every Wednesday night. outside of family, there are two food writers who most influence me: Claudia Roden, and Paula Wolfert. If you like Eastern Mediterraneran and North African food, you can't go wrong with them.

Chanteyranger