Tell us a little about yourself - your family or household, kids, pets, occupation, etc.
Hi, my name is George and I currently live with my wife in a home in Los Angeles, Ca. We have two adult daughters, both of whom live in town, close by, with their family and kids. Between our two daughters we have 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, ranging in age from 7 months to 15 years.
I'm originally from Japan, born and raised as a military brat. I eventually moved out of Japan after high school, after 18 years of living there and settled in Los Angeles. And I've been here pretty much ever since.
I've basically been self-employed all my life, beginning with a partnership in a small printing & Xerox company which lasted a few years. While I was doing that I met my wife who was a hair dresser at the time. I married her and we decided to get into the hair cutting business. The hair business started to expand so I decided to devote 100% of my time and energy to it and left my partnership in the printing co. My wife eventually stopped cutting hair and devoted her time to strictly running the business at one of the locations. And this is what we're currently still doing.
I love outdoor cooking, and have always had my share of grills and little hibachis over the years but have gotten pretty serious about the whole aspect of bbq'ing only several years ago. I love to entertain friends and family out in the patio with food prepared outside. I'm lucky to live in a climate where I can do this pretty much year round. And my sudden interest in pizza making only a year ago got me excited about building my own wood fired brick oven so I did just that. I use the wood oven for cooking lots of things now, not just pizza.
What part of the world do you live in?
I live in Los Angeles, close to down town, and very close to Dodger Stadium. I can hear the roar of the stadium crowd but live in an otherwise quiet street which runs along side a secluded hillside perimeter of the stadium park property.
How did you find the NCT community?
Like some of you, I was also directed to this site from another cooking forum. I also frequent other food forums as well but they are specific as to the type of cooking such as bbq'ing and smoking.
Do you have any hobbies besides cooking?
Yes, I love cycling, both mountain biking and road/street riding. You can say I've been a recreational cyclist for many years, and it's been a hobby that has never faded away from me. And in the recent years I've gotten into long distance rides, 100 to 200 mile single day rides.
If you could choose any profession or occupation, what would it be and why?
Since I love nature and the outdoors, I've always thought a National Park ranger would have been the perfect job for me. I just dig their life style. I don't mind being somewhat isolated in the middle of nowhere.
How and why did you choose your Username? What does it mean?
....LOL....it's exactly what it means. I wanted something obvious and that's the first thing that came to mind! I know, it's kinda lame....lol..
What is a typical day like for you?
A typical day for me is getting up around 6am, get into work by 9, sit at the front desk of my small business, and surf the internet several hours during the work day.
And when I get home from work 12 hours later I prepare food for the family if my wife hadn't done so.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Just being able to provide for my family makes me proud.
Give us 5 words that describe you.
Caring, loner, honest, arrogant, polite
Name 5 things that would be on your "bucket list".
Backpack the Trans-Pacific Trail
Self-supported bike tour through Asia and Europe
Vacation in Iceland
Cruise Alaska
Live in a lake side cabin somewhere in the pacific Northwest
Name 5 things you can't live without.
Bicycles, my wife, grills, nice legs, sushi
Tell us one thing about yourself that people would be surprised to know.
People are generally surprised to see that I can build things from scratch, big or small.
What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become?
Wouldn't think much of him, just an average guy on the street with a big smile...lol...
How and at what age did you start cooking?
That would be during college. Being out of the house and living on my own, I had to force myself to learn to cook. That's also when I became fascinated with quality kitchen gadgets.
Do you have a signature dish or one that you make especially well?
No, I don't have a specialty dish. All my cooks for the most part are average at best.
What 2 cooking tools/gadgets/appliances would you swap from your kitchen and what would you swap them for?
Since I have multiples of nice cork screws and a couple of nice blenders, I'm willing to trade one of each for a 36-bottle wine cooler and a 6 quart Kitchaid mixer.
What is your favorite restaurant meal?
That would be a nice hearty breakfast.....two eggs, over easy, bacon, hash browns, soughdough toast with butter, and a pot of black coffee. I can even order that for dinner, or any time during the day, for the matter.
Who would you most like to have prepare a meal for you?
My mother.