About

hi, just letting y’all know this is just a little outdated. i’ll updated soon. love and well wishes, chase.

Hey there, thanks for visiting my food blog! My name is Chase and I’m a 21 year old  student at the University of Alabama. I am currently working towards a degree in marketing with the hope of attending culinary school after college in an effort to put all this schoolin’ to use and avoid a “real” job. I have a deep passion for all things culinary— cooking, plating, eating, drinking— you name it I love it. There’s really no telling when my obsession with food started. Maybe it was the Easy-Bake Oven for Christmas when I was a kid (…embarrassing)? Cooking spaghetti dinners for my parents when I was 13? Maybe it was my mom forcing exotic foods in my mouth at any moment in between or watching my dad stand over a cast iron skillet and witnessing the glory that is deep fried chicken? Truly, it’s anyones guess. All I know is that it’s a passion which has slowly grown and evolved to the point of nearly taking over my life (in a good way, of course).

Why I Cook

To me, cooking is an art form. It is a way to express my inner-creativity, to tap into that dreamy, constantly evolving side of myself to ask, “what do I feel like eating today?” Like an artist with a brush or a writer with a pen, I use my mind and my tools to realize my creative vision. A thoughtfully prepared meal has the power to invigorate the senses and enliven the soul–to bring about feelings of childhood comfort, of fiery ambition, of submissive succulence. In my world, a plate of food is not simply a plate of food. It is a delicate work interwoven with elements of hot and cold, sweet and savory, saltiness and bitterness– of soulful aromatics, contrasting textures, and beautiful colors, each working in harmony with the aim of bringing pleasure. Most importantly, cooking has the ability to bring us closer to the ones we love, closer to our culture, closer to our environment, closer to the food we eat, and closer to our self. It is this meditative, healing, and often enlightening craft which has taken me on an interesting journey filled with good times, creative success, and the occasional disaster which, above all else, explains why I cook.

What I Cook

I grew up in the south, Alabama and Georgia actually, so for better or for worse I tend to deep fry everything in mounds of butter. Just kidding. I do love southern food, though. Crispy fried chicken, okra, sweet corn, field peas, green beans, cornbread and bacon formed my culinary foundation. So, under the influence of nostalgia for good ole’ home cookin’ it’s only natural that I consider southern food to be my forte. To keep things interesting I inject the flavors of Italy as well as what I’ve learned from basic French technique. I’m always up to try something new!

What I Hope To Accomplish

It may seem a bit odd to think, “what can I accomplish through cooking or with my food blog?” I guess it’s possible to simply cook, report, and move on. Not for me, but I’m sure it’s possible. When I look out, I see a world starving for the warmth that great food can bring. Eating is such an integral part of our life and I find it such a shame to see great food replaced by thought-less, emotion-less, half-hearted and unhealthy meals. Not to get all “fact-finder” on you, but the average time spent in the kitchen declined from 6 hours a day to only 1 hour a day in the past century alone.  Part of this can be attributed to innovation, sure, but most, I think, is due to laziness, lack of education, and a general change away from a home-cooked meal on the dinner table to fast food,preprepared, and frozen meals. I’d like to show that great food isn’t complicated and it isn’t limited to restaurants. With a little knowhow and a good attitude tasty and healthful meals can be prepared at home. More than anything, I want to help people realize the importance of spending time in the kitchen to make great meals with fresh, local produce around those they love the most.

My Other Interests

If I’m not talking you’re head off about cooking, it’s likely that I’m either ranting about music or travelling, two other huge interests in my life. Because I love exposing people to new and cool things, I will try to incorporate each into the website as much possible so be prepared for a few rants, travel stories, and great music.

Contact Me

If you’d contact me personally please send an e-mail to chaseblackwell44@gmail.com. Thanks!