How it all started

Getting hooked on cooking (and eating) was quite a slow process for me. My mother hates cooking, so my impression from home were not the best. She did cook for us all, and she cooked well. But there was no joy, no passion, about food and cooking.
What really changed things for me were my foreign friends. These women came from countries where cooking is an important part of the culture. One day I would eat Turkish food, another day Nigerian, my head and palate were simply spinning around with all these new flavours. Finally, food and cooking took on a deeper meaning. To these my friends, cooking and decorating food was truly an art. They gladly shared this with me, being so pleased that I appreciated what they were creating.
The next step, of course, was travelling. Seeing how the food was grown added even more depth to eating. I still remember the first time I saw a lemon tree, it was on my honey-moon in Italy! My husband laughed when I got all excited about a tree. Together we travelled the whole world, eating our way through countless strange (to us) dishes. When I liked something I would ask how they prepared it, or buy a cook-book when I got home.
Today, I am the one cooking strange food. One day we will eat Thai food, the next day Italian pasta, yet another day Ethiopian food. All cooked by me! My mother is so impressed. She still doesn't cook much, but likes to taste things when I prepare them for her.
To me, food is a hobby. Learning about food and cooking is interesting, not only eating!