Bacon & Vodka? Why of course! Who doesn’t like bacon or vodka? Not only are these both quite tasty as well as awesome ingredients to use, they are part of my heritage.
My mother was originally from Tennessee and my father was born in Russian. Bacon is a staple in the South, consumed almost as much as water, and, well, vodka . . . the Russian connection is obvious.
My father was an amazing cook and taught me a great deal about cooking. When I graduated high school, a friend owned a 3-4 star restaurant in New Jersey called Ruga. He learned of my passion for cooking and my desire to become a chef. He hired me as a waiter to learn the business. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen watching and asking questions. The executive chef, Keith Champie (CIA trained) was a good friend, amazing chef, and great teacher. My level of knowledge and skill greatly increased and I was introduced to foods I had never even heard of or tasted. I adopted the rule for myself to try everything at least once.
Although I never did become a chef as my other passions and dreams took me in a different direction in life, I never lost my passion for cooking. My daughter tells everyone that her favorite restaurant is her dad’s. I have the same rule with my kids that I adopted while working at Ruga – just try it. Our friends are amazed that little children love Indian, Thai, Ethiopian, and many other ethnic foods at such a young age.
As my priorities in life have shifted, my childhood dream of being a chef with my own restaurant will never become a reality. However, I still love to cook! And through this site I can still share my culinary creations. I am confident your family will love this food as much as mine! Use them, share them, and include your children.
Enjoy!
Eugene Vereschagin