I grew up in a restaurant. In fact, my family, my two sisters and myself lived above the restaurant. I learned to cook standing on a chair in a restaurant kitchen on a 10 burner stove. My mother was an excellent baker and learned how to make all of my Italian grandmother's recipes. My father was the chef in the family. He taught my mother how to cook. My father was first generation Italian since his parents came from Italy. He lived in New York before he ended up in Maryland. My mother was a mixture of Scottish, English and Irish from Louisiana. My parents were both in the army and met when they were stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Before the Army my father and my uncle owned an Italian butcher shop in New York City. In the army my father was given the task of managing Army mess halls. My father knew more about meat, fish and poultry than anyone else I have ever known. My mother was a chemist doing ballistic research. When my parents taught me to bake and cook I learned how to apply chemistry in my dishes. My father taught me how to prepare and cook meat, seafood and poultry. I was so fortunate to have grown up in a restaurant family. Our restaurant was named The Bayou Restaurant in Havre de Grace, Maryland. I seats 500 people. My family owned and managed it for 35 years and it is still probably the largest and most popular restaurant in Harford County. It has been serving customers for over 60 years. Both of my sisters and myself have always enjoyed cooking as our favorite hobby. I am always looking for new recipes to try as I get bored if I make the same recipes over and over. It is a thrill to make something that is better than most restaurants that we go to. I ave 3 sons who are grown and on their own, two of them are married. I am still waiting for grandchildren. I live in Melbourne Florida with my husband and 2 parrots. We watch the launches from Cape Canaveral from our garage. It is exciting to feel the rumble from the large rockets that rattles our house. We live just a short 15 minute drive from the Atlantic Ocean. I moved to Florida 30 years ago and I wouldn't live up north again. I don't miss the snow at all! I would rather look out the window and see horses all around our neighborhood and enjoy the sparkling blue pool most of the year round. It is wonderful to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine on the lanai watching the sunset. I am looking forward to finding many new recipes on this website.
