I have loved the process of cooking since I was 5 or 6 years old. I remember watching my grandma cook, her letting me stir or put things in the oven. Then when I was in middle/high school and I took different Foods classes…I absolutely fell in love! I even took over the cooking for my family when I was about 14. My mom didn’t like to cook and so she pretty much turned the kitchen over to me.

I have worked in professional kitchens in just about every position (sous chef, prep chef, chef de cuisine…etc.), I have worked gourmet food shops, worked in schools (planning menus, purchasing, serving) both as a cook and manager and have run a private catering service. I hung up my apron with much sadness 4 or so years ago. Unfortunately…my muscular dystrophy made it unbearable to do that physical of a job.

As a female, immersing myself in a male dominated profession I have experienced the best and worse of male behavior in the kitchens. I do have big name chefs that I have loved and respected most of my life, both male and female.

I am sitting here watching the TV show “Chopped All Stars” and in the final round it came down to Chef Aaron Sanchez and Chef Nate Appleman…one of the judges was Chef Marcus Samuelson (he won TopChef Masters the 2nd season). I have to say,Chefs Samuelson and Appleman are everything that is bad about male chefs. Are they talented…yes! But they are cocky, snarky, mean spirited, arrogant, and very rude! I feel that they give the whole profession a bad name. I hate to watch them, I don’t want to see them succeed, and I hope they will just go away!

I love everything else about this show, but it really makes me sad that this asshole (Appleman) won…if the money didn’t go to charity I would probably be done with the show as a whole. But it is hard to get angry with a charity getting much needed funds!