The Longer Story
I’ve always loved fresh food. Some of my earliest memories are stopping at roadside food stands to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. My dad would drive a few more miles down the road to break out a picnic by a stream in a park. Sometimes he’d stop at “U-Pick” orchards to pick our own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and apples. I often ate more than what went into my basket!
We traveled a lot because my dad was a missionary and traveling preacher. We seldom ate at a restaurant or stayed in a motel. Instead, we stayed with families from the local church who would always greet us with an amazing home-cooked meal. Complete with dessert (but no wine:-)
If my dad wasn’t preaching, he had a fishing pole in his hand. Every spare moment was by a lake or in a boat. He’d catch the fish, clean & filet them, and we had fresh fish for supper. In Minnesota it was northern Pike, walleye, bluegill and bass. In Alaska (where I was born) he caught salmon and halibut.
My elementary school years we lived in a small town in Minnesota. My mom had a huge garden with tomatoes, beans, peas, carrots, cabbage and lettuce. There’s nothing like the full crunchy flavor of a carrot pulled out of the ground (rinsed off with a hose of course). Or tomatoes that you could eat like apples…so tasty on their own, fresh picked off the vine. My Aunts and Uncles and cousins lived right out of town on farms. There we picked fresh corn on the cob and gathered eggs from the chicken coop. On butchering day, I had the chore of plucking feathers. So you can see why I believe so strongly in local food, prepared with our own hands… not a faceless drive-through where the food is mediocre at best.
More memories: we got our milk, cream, and butter from a dairy on the edge of town. My mom bought meat at the local butcher shop. There was no such thing as prepared meals or processed food in the grocery store - only the staples - flour, sugar, baking soda, etc. My mom was an excellent cook and baker. She made her own noodles, Sunday pot roast dinner, fried chicken, and the best cinnamon rolls ever.
Fast forward to adult life and my career as a self-employed graphic designer. I was fortunate to have many clients in the restaurant, gourmet food, and hospitality industries. I worked closely with Gordon Sinclair of Gordon Restaurant in Chicago. During its years in business, Gordon earned many awards, including a Top 10 Restaurant in America and National Addy Award. In my work for culinary schools, I worked with top chefs and kitchens across the country, including the Head Chef of Disney in Orlando, and Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. Luxury hotels and resorts (Hyatt, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and Loews) client work took me to Santa Fe, Puerto Rico, Scottsdale, California, Hawaii, Germany, and France. Each destination I soaked up the local traditions and cuisines. Personal travels have taken me to Italy, New Orleans, Mexico and the British Virgin Islands where once again I was fascinated with the nuances of the local food scene.
Meanwhile, Heather’s family experience was a mom who regularly hosted dinner parties. These dinner parties were exciting events where people came dressed up and her mom was the gracious hostess…making sure everyone had a drink in their hand and engaging them in conversation and much, much laughter. She could make anyone feel welcome! Heather carries on in her mom’s spirit today as we host dinner parties at our own house and do our private dining events.
Caring for each other and our planet is in my heart and soul. I was a child of the 50’s and 60’s when families ate together nearly every meal. As a teenager during the 70’s environmental, anti-war, and civil rights movements, we were passionate about peace & love. When the farm-to-table wave hit in the 80’s, I realized “we are what we eat.” When we eat real food, we are more in touch with our world. It makes a difference.
I’m pouring the sum of my entire life experience into “Dinner is Served by Rich.” I intend to bring as much beauty, joy and love to a creating healthy, delicious meals where everyone is welcome. Let’s slow down long enough to enjoy pleasant conversation around great food (and wine).