I first realized it while out duck hunting one day, but not after I’d already dedicated over half a decade to the restaurant industry and in someways was on the downslope of my Culinary career. . . . . . Food rules my life.

There are a few things that will drive me back to the truck during a duck hunt. Terrible weather doesn’t seem to be one as I’ve spend countless miserable days toughing it out in the worst and unsafest of weather in hopes of getting an opportunity to pull the trigger. Lack of ducks doesn’t seem to be a thing as i’ve spent plenty of days skunked and that never seemed to dull the shine enough for me not go back out the next day. Having other stuff to do doesn’t seem to capture me the way it does many people, maybe because of the type of work that I’ve been involved in most of my lifetime that allows my to donate large chunks of time to activity or it could be not having childern. One thing that will bring me in every time from the duck blind is hunger. Maybe its not even hunger as much as knowing that its time to eat. Sometimes it enters my brain as a tiny thought of. . . . . man, remember that little place on the way home that does the old fashion burgers cooked on the flattop griddle. . . . .yeah the ones they call the “works” with the lightly cooked onions and the butter toasted buns. Or then there is the . . . . . oh yeah I’ve got some of that left over venison cutlets in the fridge at home, that makes a hell of a good sandwich w the toasted english muffin with the garlic rasped onto its crispy surface and the generous smear of butter. Might as well pack it up when those thoughts enter my head. I found that if I were to pack a lunch I could last far longer in the field. Makes sense I suppose, not all that strange.

Even though I’m not involved in the food industry much anymore I still truly love food. That doesn’t mean I go dining at great restaurants. In fact it can be quite the opposite for me. Its surprising the crap that I will eat knowing what I know about food, where it comes from and how bad some of it is for you. I still dig on KFC on occasion, I love the A&W teen burger, chicken mcnuggetts. Then theres the cheap, simple foods. Food truck, vietnamese takeout, every taco stand alongside the road in Mexico. I love a good hotdog, You know . . the good ones, the ones that aren’t quite as bad and say something like “gourmet” or “100% beef” I have come to find over time that I am not a fussy eater but i do enjoy things cooked properly whatever they happen to be.

Anyone who knows me well or has ever done a guided trip with me would know that I don’t mess around with my food program on the boat. Now that I am doing the overnight camps its giving me an avenue to dip my toe back into the culinary world. This is how I prefer to be involved in that world these days.

I feel very fortunate to have been born where I have, into the family that I have, that thoughts of selective appetite and not having to think real hard about where my next meal will come from is not really a thing.

This one got away on me a little I could go on and on . . . . . But I’m hungry and I know that theres salmon trim in the fridge dying to be fried up in my eggs for breakfast.

Sitka deer seared “eye of round” poutine

Man's gotta eat