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Live, Love Eat: A Culinary Journey by Chelsea Flamenco, High School Senior
My earliest memory of cooking was in the kitchen in our home in Santa Monica. I was seven years old, making Sunday dinner with Mom and I remember her showing me how food could be so beautiful and delicious. We later went to a cooking store to watch the famous chef Jacques Pepin turn a piece of cold salmon into Salmon Carpaccio. My mother used to take me to the Farmer’s Market every Sunday and showed me the smell of the different herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables of the season. I’ll never forget the canvas of colors, the smells and the shapes of my childhood. We traveled the world, not only on an airplane, but through our little kitchen…in our little home by the beach in Santa Monica. Cooking satisfies my passion for creativity. The plate is a blank page and my imagination is the brush.
Some people live to eat. Others eat to live. Either way, food is necessary. This is what has always piqued my curiosity because I am passionate about what is on my plate. Not only am I selective about what I eat, but also aware of what I need to fuel the mechanics of the body. Protein for my mind and carbohydrates for energy. Certain herbs ward off sickness. Tea is the healer of the soul. In my further studies, I look forward to learning the nutritional value of various foods. I can put into practice the practical matter of eating well and eating beautifully. It is my ambition to pursue knowledge in the culinary field and making a memorable dining experience for people like me who can’t wait for their next meal with anticipation and excitement (live to eat) and for those practical people who turn their passions elsewhere (eat to live). Food can be satisfying and gratifying for all.
For me, cooking is all about the senses; the sizzle as the food touches a hot, oiled pan and the knife chopping on the cutting board. The distinctive aroma of freshly chopped basil and the smell of garlic in the air as I prepare my favorite Bolognese sauce. The cold, soft feel of fish about to be prepared and the density of a freshly baked loaf of bread. Finally, the satisfying taste of a dish that came out the way I envisioned. It fascinates me that one ingredient can alter the taste of a dish completely. I love starting the process with an array of ingredients arranged on the counter, following a recipe and adjusting it to my own personal taste. It gives me such satisfaction to see the end result and even greater satisfaction watching people that I care about as their faces brighten when I bring in the platter – a visual delight – and taking their first bite and the look of pleasure on their faces for my offering.
It is gratifying to me to feed people. My culinary journey began so simply with a dinner prepared by me and my Mom and continues in finding myself immersed in tastes, smells, memories and the anticipation of more to follow. It warms something very basic inside of me to create, nurture and succeed. For me, food is sustenance. It is passion. It is art. Live. Love. Eat.
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