...creating great tasting, well crafted, eye catching food that transports to you an
old memory or creates new memories…
About Me
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/4/6/16460548/1359642799.png)
My name is Cornelius Smith and I have a passion for food and creativity which has lead me to the Culinary Industry. There are many things that I enjoy, but not as many things that I am passionate about. Cooking is one of those things that I get excited just thinking about it. I love the entire process of creating food for myself and for others. I love the conception process, when a flavor or favorite food item comes to mind and then I begin to think about what other flavor options I can add or how can I turn a favorite fruit into a sorbet or some more elaborate, tasty creation. How can I turn my favorite French toast into a cupcake or how to make a thanksgiving meal into a hand-held sandwich? I also love testing and tweaking recipes to match what I have conceptualized. Many people say that a smile is the universal langue, but I believe that food is the universal langue. People are able to communicate though food even if they do not speak the same langue, come from the same origins and it effectively tells a story about who they are, where they come from, and about their love of food.
Memories that Created Passion
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/4/6/16460548/1359646629.png)
I can recall waking up to the smell of butter and cinnamon baking in the morning, the sound of bacon being crisped in a cast-iron skillet, the vision of a table full of food that would make you want to just dive in and devour, the smile of my mom who had obviously been working on preparation for us in the wee hours of the morning, and the taste of love that she had poured into every detail and morsel of food laid before us. These kinds of memories have inspired me toward a love for food and its preparation. There are countless times that I can recall going to the farmers market with my mom, touching and smelling the fresh produce, not knowing what we were going to leave with but wanting everything that I saw. Every time that we left this cornucopia of fresh food there was such an anticipation of what we could possibly prepare with what we had chosen. Mmmmmm, I can still taste the fresh peaches that we used to can.
A Fusion of memories
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/4/6/16460548/1359646604.png)
I have been exposed to sights, tastes, experiences, and cultures that have fueled my passion for Culinary Arts. My mom, who exposed me to southern cuisine, “Soul Food”, also exposed me to different elements such as casual and fine dining. There is a time that we ate at a place called Border’s on the River when I was about 13 years old. I asked so many questions about why things were so colorful, and what they had put in the food that made it taste so different from what I was used to as a young child. Prior to leaving that night from that restaurant, I begged my mom to get one of the cookbooks that they were offering. I could not put the cookbook down. I read it cover to cover as though it were a suspense novel. I tried to create everything in the book even down to the most elaborate multi-layered mousse. Caribbean cuisine is also a huge part of my heritage. This part of me was exposed to lots of fresh fish, rich stews, exotic fruits and climbing coconut trees. I have lived in many places such as Washington DC, Virginia, New York, and California. The sights, the sounds, the people, the ingredients that were found locally have all been imprinted in my memories.
New Memories on the Horizon (Where I am headed)
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/4/6/16460548/1360082087.png)
My heritage and past memories have helped to kindle the fire that I have inside of me to create memories that will last a lifetime. The new experiences that I am encountering now are helping me to define who I am and how to accomplish my goals in the culinary industry. I have massive hopes and dreams to do extraordinary things in the marketplace by owning and operating a bakery, restaurant, having a catering line of products, and even becoming the next Food Network star. I want to be a part of that family reunion where grandma says “I remember when my mom taught me how to prepare this when I was a little girl” because she has had a bit of my peach cobbler. I want my food to be the reason that a married couple reflects on their trip to Paris and what they were eating when someone asked the question “will you share my life with me”, I want my food to be associated with the wonderful memories of a birthday, anniversary, wedding, gala, graduation, cotillion, baptismal, and first dates. Every minute of every day memories are being created. I want my food and I to be a part of what renews those memories and makes those memories last. I understand that this will take alot of work and commitment, but I am up for the task. This is more than a desire it is my passion. Let's make memories together.