My love for cooking started at a young age. At five, I would watch Julia Child on television and cook along with her using my easy-bake oven. I eventually graduated to my parents stove and cooked some of the best dishes an 11 year old could do such as french toast, pancakes and soup.
In my teens and early 20s I started working at restaurants as a waitress. I was paid well. I started going to college and got a "real job".
I've always yearned to go to a culinary school. My dream was to attend the Culinary Institute of America. It was in my backyard. It was an expensive pipe dream my parents could not afford. I ended up at SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Albany.
Roll ahead 20 years and I'm now attending Schenectady County Community College dabbling in their culinary program. I love it. It's affordable. It's accredited with American Culinary Federation. It works with my crazy life style.
I'm not ready to quit my day job. It pays the bills. I can spend the time learning to perfect my pie crust, cook meats well and make sauces saucier than they have ever been. Cooking is my art. A wonderful way to express myself with spice and color and texture.
Maybe someday I may have the time and money and where withal to open my little sandwich shop in Gardiner, Montana. Bison on Bicycles. Till then I'll continue doing what I do and see what opportunities present themselves :)
Suzi <3
