Welcome to Dezired Cuisine!

Let's get this party started!

Starting a food blog has been on my mind for quite some time now. Recently a great opportunity to begin one has presented itself & now I have some serious motivation to just get this thing going!

This thursday (in 2 days time), my fellow classmates and I have a powerpoint presentation due as our midterm (I love college) in a computer applications class. I immediately wanted to do mine on something close to my heart and also something I believe can be one of the most beneficial areas in someone's life. Food. 

About Me and My Adventure

Ever since I was brought into this world I had allergies.

This immediately caused issues with things like school, travel, social events, and restaurants, of course all leading back to the concept of food. During the first 75% of my life my mother would do her best to cook and feed me with the knowledge she had, but I needed more excitement, more flavour, more variety… I needed to learn how to cook.

It really all started for me when I moved away from home for the first time to a university residence, where I paid ridiculously steep prices to live with 4 other guys and be part of the "community". Before moving in, each resident was required to purchase a super expensive meal plan. This was fine as I knew the close proximity social gatherings & binge drinking parties would be well worth whatever I paid. Anyways.. I had to set up a meeting with the head chef of the cafeteria to make sure they could actually feed me. Which they assured me they could.

They were right, they could feed me, but the meals I had were a complete and utter let down. Boiled vegetables, french fries, grilled chicken... I paid $3000 for 8 months of this!?!? Can you say "rip off"? I didn't want to keep spending my Uni-Dollars on this so instead I made it a point to buy nearly all of my food from the grocery store and cook it myself. The rest of my meal plan money I spent on delivery from Swiss Chalet.. you know for those long study periods ;]

One time I went grocery shopping and a good Caribbean friend came along with me. As we passed the first few produce tables he picked up a white bulb and asked, 

"Do you use garlic?"

"No not really" I replied, "what do you do with it?"

"You NEED garlic! You can use it for anything!"

I really wasn't sure what to make of garlic at that point but after a couple bags of garlic, spices & many groceries later, we left the store. I was completely unaware of how this trip would eventually allow me step into an entirely new way of looking at food and life.

Fast forward over 4 years later and literally almost everything in my life has improved. In regards to food I now know more about the Culinary Arts than any other area of interest... food has quickly become my way of life. With the food allergies I have no one could simply teach me how to make incredible meals. No one could simply impart their intuition on me. I couldn't just work in a restaurant or go to school for it. Everything I know how to do now was learned the hard (and fun) way :]

I am now at the point where I want to show and teach others what is possible with food, and not only people with allergies but those without too. My recipes do not discriminate as many others do. This blog is for:

- Those who love incredible flavours, wholesome food 

- Those who are looking for solutions to their allergen-free & Vegan/Vegetarian cooking

- Anyone who wants to learn how to straight up COOK!

Already I have overcome so many barriers that held me back from discovering the true gratification and independence inherent with being able to cook and provide others and myself with exceptional nourishment. So far I have hosted numerous cooking “dates” with friends, exposed them and my family to a variety of knowledge, inspired those around me (including myself!), and I hope to continue doing so for as many people as possible.

Come dive into my world of food and discover your Dezired Cuisine!