I come from Cleveland Ohio and the foods I am used to being able to get cheaply and conveniently, either in restaurants or the grocery store just aren't available to me here in Johannesburg.  Hence I've had to learn how to cook a few of them.  I am one of those overly organised people that likes to have a place for everything and everything in its place and as a result, once a week, I spend an evening preparing and freezing dinners and lunches for the week - not for every meal - but for a lot of them.  There is something so wonderful about chasing everyone out of the kitchen and spending a few hours with a few glasses of wine and your favourite recipes.

I have 2 very small boys, 16 months apart, both under 5 years old. Felix is tall and skinny and only picks at food that isn't chicken or chocolate. Oscar is short and fat and destined to stay that way as he can't help stuffing himself 24 hours a day on any food that is within reach (including the cats' food and playdough).

When I'm not cooking (which is most of the time) I enjoy knitting, finding new music, watching the same movies over and over (which I also do when cooking) and I'm way past half way on a novel I've been writing. Oh yeah, I work for an agency that represents photographers, fashion stylists, and makeup and hair artists for the fashion, film and advertising industries.  My job is probably the coolest job on the planet - seriously.

Mexican, Cajun and verticle fusion food are my favorites, but I do venture off a little in to "Southern" soul food and modern British cuisine (thank you very much BBC Food).