@Hungry Hogareno
Semi-professional--have worked in restaurants for 25+ years and working in the kitchen is my best therapy. I love to try new and different ingredients and techniques and parse out most of my experiments to friends & family and any other willing guinea pigs. My favorite cookbook, right now, is "The Art of Simple Food", by Alice Waters--amazing recipes, information and advice for any level of cook. Here in the desert, you've gotta try Wangs, Roscoe Grill, Copley's, Tyler's...to name a few. My all-time favorite restaurant is Huggo's on The Big Island of Hawaii--the food is pretty good, but the ambience & location are what put it over the top.