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In the Mood for Food's Interests
General
vegan cuisine, organic gardening creating gourmet food, making my own tempeh, natto, amazake, tofu, soymilk and other nut and grain milks, learning about vegetarian cuisine from around the planet, shakuhachi, sex, fermentation, cinema, Wang Kar Wai, macrobiotic, shojin ryori, koto, experimental music, pumpkins, cooking, baking, pickling, amazake, tofu, miso, burdock, green tea, shakuhachi, honkyoku, lark music camp, belgian beer, single malts, matcha, modern dance, lotus root, rappini, choy sum, pinot noir, yuba, Rothko, peaches, apples
Music
Watasumi, George Lewis, Anthony Braxton, Coltrane, Peter hammill, Kazue Sawai, Toru Takemitsu, John Cage, Yuji Takahashi, Pauline Oliveros, Yoshio Kurahashi, Steve Lacy, honkyoku, shakuhachi, Katsuya Yokoyama, Morton Feldman, Richard Sinclair, Claire Marchand, Marley, Tim Perkis, Frank Gratkowski, Jane Rigler, Bach, Shoko Hikage, Alex Cline, Dana Reason, Chris Brown, Beethoven, Bob Marley, Tim Perkis, Robert Wyatt, Johan Sebastian Bach,
Movies
In the Mood For Love, Wang Kar Wai, Tampopo, the Big Night, Eat Drink Man Woman, Chungking Express, Annie Hall, Richard Linklatter, Alphaville, Yasujiro Ozu, Wim Wenders, Kaurismaki, Hou Hsian Hsien, Jim Jarmusch, Ki Dook Kim, Juzo Itami, classic kung fu cinema, Ugetsu, Teshigahara, Imamura, Mizoguchi, Hitchcock, Maggie Cheung, Herzog, John Waters, Tony Leung
Television
i use it for my dvd player though cable would be nice for iron chef reruns and international soccer games. oh, and the Simpsons, of course! Good Eats.
Books
Fast Food Nation, Ecological Cooking, Artisan Baking, The Heart of Zen Cuisine, The China Study, Dogens message to the Cook,
Heroes
Watasumi, Pauline Oliveros, Wang Kar Wai, Coltrane, Kazue Sawai, Matthew Sperry (how much you are missed), the soba maker at the shop in koto-ku down the block from the basho museum, and the first person who figured out how to make miso...
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Major: ethnomusicology
Clubs: new world ensemble, center for participant education
1990 to 1993
University Of Florida
Gainesville,Florida
Graduated: 1988
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Anthropology Ethnomusicology
About me:
In the Mood for Food, a vegan personal chef and catering business, based in the food mecca of the San Francisco Bay Area. I create beautiful, tasty, and very healthy, culinary delights.
I started cooking when I was very young, and some of my earliest memories are of helping my grandmother in the kitchen. It didn't take me long to realize how much I love feeding people and feeding them healthy, well-made food that truly sustains them. Although i worked in some restaurants in college and grad school days, I realized that that part of the food industry probably wasn't suitable for me. I hated the mass-produced, assembly-line feel of industrial kitchens. Besides most kitchens do not let you take evenings off for concerts, let alone disappear for a few weeks while on tour.
I decided to start In the Mood for Food, creating personalized, vegan menus for individuals and catered events in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the Mood for Food draws on my studies of traditional Japanese and Chinese cuisines but is fusion-based, incorporating techniques and flavors from many cultures to deliver food that is always delicious and unique. Although my business is based in the San Francisco Bay area, i have catered events in Southern California and am very open to travel.
What Sets me apart from my colleagues
I make virtually all of my food from scratch including integral ingredients like tempeh, miso, soymilk, and coconut milk. I am possibly the only chef in the Bay Area who makes my own tempeh! It has a wonderful, rich texture and a remarkably better flavor than tempeh that is mass-produced and sold in plastic. Plus, making these foods from scratch means that In the Mood for Food is a green, sustainable business with a low environmental impact, since I dont use many pre-packaged good when creating my meals. Running an environmentally friendly business is very important to me which, along with common sense means I use local, seasonal, organic produce whenever possible.
Our Clients
In the Mood for Food is an ideal compromise for busy, health-conscious people who want to eat delicious, balanced, healthy meals but simply dont have the time to invest in preparation, cooking, and clean-up.
We are also a great resource for people who are battling chronic health conditions; such as cancer, AIDS, and other immune disorders. I myself am a very long term survivor of Leukemia! Our foods help bring your body back to optimal health, giving it the nourishment it needs to recover from disease and injury. And because we make everything from scratch, there are never any hidden ingredients to worry about great for people with allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Our Services
We can prepare food on site or we can bring high-quality, individualized, delicious vegan meals to your doorstep. Generally, I act as a personal chef, bringing you a weeks worth of meals that you can reheat at your convenience. But I am also fully equipped to cater private parties from intimate dinners for two to events of up to 150 people.
Our menus change constantly, but always feature local, organic produce, great flavor, and fresh, vibrant food. Please see my blog for current menus that are being offered.
Pricing
In-Home Cooking - $45 per hour plus cost of ingredients for multiple meals prepared at one time.
Delivered Meals are priced by dish
Catered Affairs and parties are priced per person, based on menu, venue, staff and more. Please inquire about your specific needs and desires.
*Please Note I am always open to discussing barter or trade for my services*
My culinary influences and approach is very similiar to my approach to music though i have formally studied music most of my life. I like to study traditional ideas and come up with innovative creations, mostly via improvisation.
vegan cooking classes are offered in my home in West Oakland, once a month. Private classes at your location or mine are available and group classes are also available.
The name of the business comes from my favorite film, Wang Kar Wai's, "In The Mood for Love".
Currently combining my love of gourmet vegan food and world class music with monthly dinner/concerts. Held in a private home, i prepare a 4 course, gourmet vegan meal and it is followed by a solo concert of some truly world class musicians. Performers so far or who are scheduled are: Yoshio Kurahashi, Joelle Leandre, Frank Gratkowski, Sinan Erdemsel, Shay Black, Riley Lee, Vinny Golia, Mark Dresser, Sami Shumay, Simo Tesla, Jane Rigler, Jie Ma, Philip Gelb, Kyle Bruckmann, Kaoru Kakizakai, Lily Storm, Dan Cantrell, Chris Caswell, Roscoe Mitchell and Diana Rowan.
But then I think, 'what if I die?' today, or tomorrow, or next week? Or, tonight for that matter. What good is it to save things? I do this with books, too.
I haven't watched the film yet, and I had to turn off this youtube video so I wouldn't see anything. I might watch it within the week. I so want to save it, though. Pacino + the beginning of autumn = Can't beat that!
I got Chinese Coffee for eight bucks yesterday!! Mint condition. I had to share the news with you! No, I haven't watched it yet. I'm going to save it for a rainy day.
HAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHhAHAHAHAAAA!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA... OH MAN... Woody Allen is a genius!
I love those clips. Especially the one when they're waiting in line at the movies. McLuhan - LOL!
I'm so excited about ZELIG. Have you seen BANANAS? I think that might be next on the list. I'm saving PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO for a special occasion. Maybe this fall/winter.
