@Chef George S.
I live in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley -- the most beautiful place on earth! I share my home with a friend and way too many cats. I am a licensed massage therapist with an office in my home. My maternal grandfather was a chef, and it is his picture and name I am using. Both sets of grandparents owned (and cooked for) their own restaurants. My parents were awesome cooks. We are slow food advocates. We don't buy out of season or out of region foods, unless there is no alternative (bananas come to mind here). I am so fortunate to live where I do. I can buy all my meat from local farmers (humane practices, no antibiotics or hormones, no feedlot mentality). Oregon produces great artisan cheeses from cows, goats and sheep. Seafood? Dungeness crab season starts this week, and we have fresh salmon, shrimp, scallops, mussels and bottom fish available year 'round. I will match our local fruits and vegetables against any in the world. I can buy organic, locally grown and stone ground flours in the bulk bins of a low-cost supermarket. Oregon wines and specialty beers are a great accompaniment to any meal.