3 Project Ideas (and influences!)

As I mentioned in class I'm leaning in the direction of having a combination of several small projects that work together to make a full project. Here are some of my ideas so far:

1) Interview as many restaurateurs (both in and outside of Boone) as I can and find out their story (why they got into the business, how they got into the business, unexpected obstacles, etc...). In addition to putting together a write-up for each one I might be able to put together some sort of reflection paper on what I learned from their stories.

2) Put on a full dinner party. Charge between $10-$20 a person and have a full dinner with appetizers, main course, desserts, drinks, etc... Probably wouldn't want to do more than 12 people although it depends on where I'm doing it.

3) Put together a paper that encompasses everything I've learned while perhaps incorporating my own journey into it. I'm not sure if it's my love for Hunter Thompson or my hatred for most academic writing, but if I were to end up putting together a paper I couldn't imagine separating myself from it.




In regards to influences.... they're everywhere! Number one is obviously my passion for both cooking and eating. It was a huge part of my upbringing and I still eat food almost every day... Other than that I'd have to say two of my biggest influences are Mike Nelson (owns the restaurant I work at now) and Bill Norman (started several restaurants and is a family friend). I've always loved food but was weary of getting into the restaurant business. Growing up I enjoyed arguing all the time so my mother told me I'd make a great lawyer. I told her "you show me a happy lawyer and maybe I'll consider it." Mike and Bill are living proof that you can not only run a restaurant (and well I might add) but you can have a life and be happy at the same time. Seeing that this is possible is probably my biggest influence. Now with less detail here are a few more influences: Anthony Bourdain, Richard Carp, work experience, dining experiences, Pony & Eya Morell (Pasta Wench), Mom & Dad, my own hunger, the farm to table movement, and finally community/people in general.