So, I took a random sampling from some of my closest chef colleagues and we all agree that we gained our love for food and cooking from dear old mom.

I thought it would be fitting since we just celebrated Mother’s Day that I pay homage to all those mom’s, grandma’s and mother figures who made impressions on future culinary stars.

Some of us  started cooking while holding their mother’s apron strings, most of us were inspired by the treasures served at the family dinner table — or possibly, if their mothers’ priorities weren’t in the kitchen, learned to cook in self-defense — maternal influence can usually be found in a chef’s cooking.

Just another sign of the consumer voting with their wallet…

Read the full story here:

Wholesale Clubs Grow Sales

One of my favorite chef mentors and colleagues is leaving his namesake restaurant group.

In an LA Times article, Tourondel states ” This has been a great run for me…I am looking forward to staying involved in a handful of BLT restaurants while pursuing other culinary projects and new opportunities.”

If you haven’t added his cookbook to your collection, you should!