I’ve always loved both the science and craft of food. Growing up in Anoka, Minnesota (the Halloween Capital of the World!) my first job in food was as a Subway ‘Sandwich Artist’ at age 15. A high school science fair project in a nutritional biochemistry lab at the University of Minnesota led me to pursue my undergraduate degrees in food science and nutrition.

I headed West by motorcycle to ultimately earn my Ph.D. in Food Science at UC Davis. I discovered California Wine Country and a personal passion for wine, which eventually became a professional passion a few years later.

When it comes to food today, I enjoy coffee in all its forms, cooking breakfast with my wife and our two kids, and exploring the nuances of backyard BBQ with an ever expanding range of smokers and grills in search of the perfect brisket.