Reece, the Romanticurean

Biography

I can’t say I learned to cook watching my mother. While being the sweetest person you’d ever care to meet, she had but one cooking method… FRYING! So, I learned all I have learned about food by way of life’s interactions and travels.

I started to travel the world when I was 17. Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Mexico City, Oslo, if can name it, I ate there! I have always had a very inquisitive nature and travel fed this aspect of my personality. A culture’s food can say so much about the people.

When I was 28, a Chef friend of mine, Gianni Centomo, (who had been Francios Mitterand’s Chef when he was Prime Minister of France) came to live in my home. He had a very famous restaurant in Naples, Italy and he wanted to break into to US market. So, while he looked for his new restaurant location, he cooked for my family for his “keep”. How lucky was I?

It was my exposure to this level of talent that sparked my desire to make a career creating beautiful, delicious food! I cooked for friend’s dinner parties, my own parties, charity events, etc…but I was doing it all for free. It took a few years of working pro bono, when it finally dawned on me that there was a huge desire for my services and I ought to just dive into the business and see what happens.

With many trials and many errors under my apron, I have paid my dues and learned my lessons. Oh, I’ve lots to learn, but is that inquisitive and adventurous personality I mentioned earlier that keeps me striving for new, exciting and tantalizing culinary delights. I want to continually learn, grow and better my Romanticurean self with every effort!

I’ve many clients which are single fellows trying to impress that “certain someone” with the ultimate romantic dinner. They use my iPod, my flowers, ...well...my TOTAL design!!!! And I am more than happy to add.....I AM BATTING 1000!!!  

I also have many “teaching” dinner parties or families too busy to cook and want healthy, fresh and beautiful food for their families. In short, I've done any and everytng. Receptions, Baby Showers, Charity Underwriter Parties, Special Dinner Parties and Events to name a few. if you can think of any event needing food (and DO let your imagination wonder, trust me!) I have done it!

My Company is called Romanticurean (the Art of Culinary Seduction). I feel food should seduce your palate with all 5 of your senses being thrilled!

1. First you hear the food prep and your sizzle of anticipation grows.
2. Next your food should look enticingly seductive.
3. Then the smell lofts and you take a deep breath and your senses ignite.
4. You take your first bite and the flavors explode taking you places you’ve never been before.
5. Lastly you hear the “oohs” and “aahs” of all those lucky enough to be sitting with you at your table.  (To see what happens after the 5th sense is ignited - you have to hire me! HA!!!!!)

I am also the Executive Chef at Thunderhill Ranch.