Day 1

1. I grew up in Austria, an hour south of Salzburg

2. We lived just up the road from where some of the van Trapp children were born

2. I am a trained Chef

3. I played Ice hockey with Thomas Vanek, now playing in the NHL

4. In any sport where I can choose the number you will find me with either 20 or 29

5. My favorite color is blue

6. I work on the Interislander as a On Board Services Supervisor and am based on the Kaitaki

7. My favorite dog is the beagle

8. I am currently attempting to learn Thai

9. I failed a whole year at school, mainly due to lack of interest

10. I really dislike people that will promise a mountain and give me a ditch

11. I accidentally broke a car model of the VW beetle that was presented to Hitler which belongs to the Porsche Family (Dad used to work at Porsche Design)

12. My occupations of choice are Psychologist and Historian (modern history)

13. I can watch any horror movie, but can not leave the room after The Ring or The Grudge because I get that scared

14. I have a huge collection of Ice Hockey sports cards

15. I am a only child.

30 days of me

30 Days of Me

So, I’ve joined the list of ladies taking part in this ‘30 Days of Me’ challenge which begins today and – argh! – I’m already behind.

Everyone else has started.

Here’s what I’m going to be doing:

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends

Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Day 14- A picture of you and your family

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

Day 24- A letter to your parents

Day 25- What I would find in your bag

Day 26- What you think about your friends

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

Day 30- Your favorite song

finding new love

I have always found it interesting that food defines us as who we are. We look to differences in the international cuisine and sometimes even incorporate others traditions into our food and have the witty sense to call it something trendy and mysterious. Like "fusion". I tend to smile when I read reviews by critics who think that the term is something we should bow down to and all adapt to it. What rubbish.

Moving on though, is there really anything more exciting that trying a type of food or dish that you try for the first time? That feeling you get when you first get that first flavor in your mouth that puts you in a conflict because you know you will be wanting more? Those of you who know me will already now this story but I was in northern Thailand two years ago and was introduced to what is called sai krok. To us it is known as the Chiang Mai sausage.

I was speechless. The bursts of flavor of kaffir lime and curry paste let me know that I would be missing that dish until I came back. It is usually eaten dunked in num pla pik, which is fish sauce, palm sugar and chillies along with sticky rice. This is a dish that sums up how you can make something amazing from something as simple as a sausage. Now I have been able to trace down a place that made these as a special order for us a while back but although it was very close to what we had in Thailand it wasn't the same. It was missing something. It was missing humidity, petrol fumes from the two stroke tuk tuks and it was missing that smoky flavor you get from the teak charcoal they use for their satay bbq's on the street stalls. It was missing the hustle and tussle of Thailand's night life in and around the night markets and the sweetly smell of inner city fumes mixed with the smell of the best and one of the most traditional food in the world. It was missing the character of the surroundings of when I was first introduced to this dish. What I did have was the same great company of friends and family. That is what food should be about. It brings up memories when you smell it and it wakes those senses you thought no longer had because you have been exposed to mass produce food, of which taste has less character than a sleeping accountant.

That trip those years ago has in fact no defined me and influences not only the way I look at food now but also how I cook. So how about we step back and have a look at what we perceive as good food. Of course if you like your MacDonald's go there, I wont stop you. But what I am telling you to do is the next time you're somewhere and find a food you have never tried, eat it! Really, whats the worst that can happen?

The first step

So here it is... the first blog, so I am a slave to social media and advances in communication. At least i'm not looking to buy Kabballah bracelets.

Food. What is it and what does it stand for? According to our wise, over one billion friends at Wikipedia, it is:

(Food) any substance eaten to provide nutritional support for the body. It usually consists ofplant or animal origin, that contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins,vitamins, or minerals, and is ingested and assimilated by an organism to produce energy, stimulate growth, and maintain life.

So it keep us alive. Awesome. Makes me grow too (all ways). And it also covers vegetarians, even better because it will keep Peta off my back. But from my standpoint food is about much more. Its about our lives, our backgrounds ... our upbringings.

Be it Italy (a huge obsession with New Zealanders and to me one to most boring cuisines in the world if not done properly), India, Japan or Germany, most of us have one thing in common. Memories of a meal when we were young. Be it a loaf of bread, a balanced curry, a good bowl of ramen or a fantastic meatloaf made from offal. We all share one culinary dream: we long for a meal that satisfies us and releases those hormones that please our minds and bodies (oysters help) or justify that bill (alcohol excluded).

More to that, no matter where you are in the world, you will go in search of a meal to either tell your friends about or to simply keep yourself satisfied. Personally I have always looked out for that perfect little morsel that will sweep me off my feet. That little mouthful of screaming hot goodness that asks you to come back for more from the other side of the world. Where will you find what I am talking about? Well thats up to you and your own decision to make that step away from that comfort food you get on Sundays or the industrial culinary barbarism you just heated in the microwave (admit it, you thought $4.00 was a great deal). If you're on holiday make that step out the hotel door. Get away from the neutral alleyways of the 15th floor, away from the blandness of hotel buffets and get lost down that little side street in Bangkok or Venice. You will find that those are the most likely places to find that little food stall that give you exactly what I am talking about.

I grew up in a town called Zell am See in Austria. There is a saying in the German language, "Liebe geht durch den Magen". Translated that means that love goes through the stomach. How bloody sexy. But taking the unappetizing translational aspect of that sentence away they are right. Eat right and feel satisfied is what it really means. I sometimes feel we, us people of the western world, forget about those important values we used to have with food at times. More and more coverage is coming out on how meat is processed in the States and how tomatoes are strip-mined in Texas. We have become accepting of that and are paying the price. Why oh Why?!

Over the next few months you will find rants and raves about food and people involved with food. Its a passion of mine since I was a child which lead to an early and halfway successful career in Kitchens in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I though I would include a recipe (read guideline) for a nice little dressing I use for salads. You'll never need that sweet chili sauce from the supermarket aisle for a Thai Beef Salad again. I Promise.

1-2 bunches Coriander washed

2 cloves of garlic

2-4 red "scud" chillies *

Juice of 3 to 4 limes

Dash of Golden Boy Fish Sauce (aprox 3 tbsp)

aprox 2 tbsp of Palm sugar, shaved

dash of warm water

You can either make in a mortar but I recommend a food processor as its quicker and 'binds' the dressing a bit better. Just put them all in together and bobs your uncle.

* Skud chillies are also known as Thai chillies or mouse shit chillies. These Chillies should be respected when used and only use minimal amount if you haven't used them before. If you don't like hot food, harden up.