Welcome to my new blog series: the spotlight. I’ve been debating on some more personal topics to blog about , so I decided to share with you a little bit about the places I go and the things I love. Fair warning, a lot of these posts are going to be about food.

Growing up, my mom was always “dressing up” the food she made – mac & cheese would have little chunks of ham or tomato in it, Top Ramen would be brought to life with a cup of frozen peas & carrots, a little bit of orange zest cooked in with the cranberry sauce, or a pot of green beans would be more delicious with a few bits of bacon cooked in.

I hated it.

I remember a day that I told my mom that when I grew up, I was going to make normal food and not add a bunch of crap to it. She laughed and pointed out all the things I love that aren’t “plain” – fried rice, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or grits with cheese and gravy. I think she knew that some day, I would recant my statement.

Somewhere between that day and a rainy afternoon outing in Seattle, I decided I wanted to be a chef and open a restaurant. I had developed an intense passion for food over the years but being in Seattle, where there are so many wonderful eateries, intensified this passion. I knew I was a “foodie” when I realized that when giving directions, all of my major landmarks were restaurants.

When I wasn’t out enjoying a fabulous meal someplace, I was cooking up a storm. My “plain” Thanksgiving turkey transformed into a spiced apple/sage rubbed bird with a mushroom gravy. My fajitas were marinated in a chipotle-garlic sauce before grilling. I attended classes with Tom Douglas and Martin Yan. I loved experimenting with new flavors and methods, even when they failed.

Further research into the restaurateur profession uncovered the sad truth of the industry – high-risk and high-failure. Yeah, not for me.

So I’ve limited my enjoyment of culinary arts to eating at new restaurants and cooking in my own kitchen. Last night, I had the pleasure of enjoying a Tweetup with my Flagstaff Tweeps at the Tinderbox Kitchen. I had heard raves about it, but hadn’t yet had the pleasure of experiencing this delightful establishment in my hometown. Not only was I completely wowed by my dinner, I was amazed at the ambiance and the service.

We enjoyed happy hour at the Annex, then my mom and I headed over to the main restaurant for dinner. I had to snap this picture with my phone before devouring it – a Kobe Sirloin, topped with a blue cheese fondue, marinated onions and bell peppers, served with pepper fries. I had to refrain myself from licking the plate. Seriously.

I can’t wait to go back.