The subject of food is infinite and diverse. But at the center, all foods share the same purpose: to sustain and connect us. Food grants health and well-being. It unites cultures. It brings friends and families together. Food is at the center of so many of life's experiences.
My experience with food and cooking began at a young age. Growing up, my mom spent most of her time cooking meals in our home's kitchen. I'd watch her roast chicken, whip pototoes and steam green vegetables. She was the queen of the balanced meal. And that particular roasted chicken menu was her specialty. To this day, it's still one of my favorites.
During holidays, my Italian grandfather would come to our house and make homemade marinara sauce from tomatoes grown in our backyard in southeastern Virginia. He'd make homemade pizzas, meatballs and sausages, and use the sauce on all three. Every now and again, he'd let me help with the process. And on Thanksgiving and Christmas, our entire family would gather for seven-course Italian meals that began with antipasti and ended with cannoli.
Apple picking in Julian, Calif. Photo by Matt LeathermanAt age 14, I began working in restaurants. The first was a fine-dining seafood restaurant on the Chesapeake Bay, which I'm convinced initiated my love for fresh seafood.
By 18, I was living in California and had started college, where I studied journalism. I worked in steakhouses to help fund my education, and I cooked daily to garner the feeling of home. Although my restaurant career ended at graduation, the experience sparked a hunger for more knowledge about the world of food.
For the past 10 years, I've spent countless hours taking cooking classes, reading books and watching shows about cooking, testing recipes in my home kitchen in San Diego, Calif., and traveling for the sake of trying different foods.
Today, I'm the nutrition editor at Active.com, as well as a cook, food blogger and overall culinary enthusiast.
I'm fixated on the concentric relationship between food and health. I believe that food's center energy dictates the direction of our health, so within The Concentric Circle you'll read many posts on that very topic. Here, you'll also find approachable recipes, stories from the perspective of the home cook, tales from food travel, ingredient profiles, entertaining tips, and so on.
How to Get Around The Concentric Circle
If you're a chronological reader and simply want to stay up on what's being posted, starting on the homepage and scrolling will likely be you're navigation method of choice. However, if you're looking for something specific, say, a salmon recipe, the best way to find it is by using the search function, which is located below the logo header on the upper right of the homepage -- and on every page of the blog.
Another way to find topical posts is via tags, which are included at the bottom of every post. You can also e-mail me if you're having trouble finding something, and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
Thank you for sharing my passion, and welcome.
Photo by Matt Leatherman
Website logo design: Matt Leatherman