Hello, my name is Nick and I love to cook!

I've loved food my whole life, but my love for cooking began when I was around eleven years old. My mom had just started work at her new job, which required her to work late hours, and my dad was usually away on business. This meant that I was frequently left with preparing dinner for myself as well as my two younger brothers. Normally I'd just make chicken nuggets or grilled cheese or something like that. But one night my brothers and I were watching TV and happened to come across the show Chopped on the Food Networkchannel. I was fascinated. From that day forward, I was hooked.

Every day after school, I'd watch cooking videos on YouTube for hours. I idolized chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Susur Lee, studying their techniques and unique flavor combinations.

Over the years, my recipes have turned from microwaved chicken nuggets and grilled cheeses, into pork adobo, tikka masala, ratatouille, crème brûlée, chicken shawarma, and even an entire barbecued pig!

If it weren't for the incredibly intense and demanding lifestyle, I probably would have enrolled in culinary school and pursued a career as a chef. However, I decided to attend UGA as a biology major. As it turns out, there are a lot of things that I've learned from my classes that I have been able to apply to my culinary endeavors. For instance, in my microbiology class, I learned about fermentation and how it is used for the production of certain food items. I used what I learned to make cheese, kombucha, and yogurt, all in my dorm's kitchen. I even have a batch of soy sauce brewing in my fridge!

Cooking has been incredibly kind to me. I'm happiest when I'm in the kitchen. It has been an important creative outlet that has helped me battle my depression and anxiety, as well as providing me with a plethora of experiences, friendships, and even life lessons that I doubt I would have otherwise.

My culinary journey has given me a more positive outlook on life and taught me how to appreciate every detail it has to offer. Food isn't just a means to survival, it's one of the greatest privileges of being alive.