Transition.

When I mention that leaving my job in the wholesale lumber industry was the best thing in my working life, I wasn't lying. I suddenly had time to myself. Time is a commodity that few people in the western world actually have. 

I got to read, bring infinite amounts of diet coke to Jemma and her best friend Barbara work and I got to relax. I didn't think about working or applying for work. I had a small severance and a little (very little) cash saved so I relaxed. After over twenty years in the same field I needed something different, I just didn't know what. 

One afternoon while screwing around on the computer I came across an ad on Craig's List,"Help Wanted, Chef". I thought, "hey I love cooking". "If Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay can do it, so can I". I answered the ad. I asked for an apprenticeship in the kitchen. The owner said yes. Two things. If you know me, you know I'm impetuous and a bit crazy. I will ask anybody anything about what they do just so I can see what they're about. The second thing is, this restaurant was no joke. When I say fresh, first class and non - corporate, I aint joking.

The restaurant was Farm Artisan Foods in Redlands. The chef and owner, Roberto Argentina was kind enough to meet with me and let me begin apprenticing in his kitchen. I am not certain if this was a test but I spent my first shift peeling hard boiled eggs. Six hours. I came back. I did mention that I was a bit crazy.

I apprenticed for just over four months. In that short time, I fell in love with food. Real food. Roberto's restaurant is one of the best around. Everything is hand made. I learned how to make pasta my hand, duck and pork sausage by hand, breads, salads, sauces, the list goes on. I was hooked. I even got to help butcher a pig one night. Working at the restaurant was a life changing experience. I could never begin to repay Roberto for the education that he gave me. He helped me find something that my life was lacking, a passion to create something. 

I decided that when I came to London, I would cook.

During this time, Jemma and I took a trip to London together. We stayed with Aarti and Gordon who have a home in the southern London. A borough called Camberwell. I went from being hooked on London to falling in love with it. Aarti and Gordon are the consummate hosts. They love London as well. We were taken to non touresty places. We met Aarti's family (A quick note, if you ever go to Aarti's mom's house, go there hungry. You wont be hungry when you leave. Aarti's mom is the best).  It was a wonderful trip. The wheels were in motion.