My Journey ~
As the son of two Canadian restaurateurs, and the grandson of a European trained chef, I have had a passion for cooking all of my life! A food alchemist from a very young age, I can remember as a little boy experimenting with different flavor profiles, especially during my father’s famous “popcorn parties,” which he would often host for all the neighborhood kids. Of course, my popcorn concoctions were always one of the favorites and in high demand! Little did I realize at the time, one of those spice blends would come into play much later in my life, when in 1997, I would develop a hot sauce from one of my original recipes. Appropriately named by my wife’s 102 year old grandmother as Peppy Sauce, it is a “flavor enhancer with a kick,” and to this day is very popular with family, friends and local’s alike.
About the same time I was developing Peppy Sauce, I began a quest to teach myself all of the nuances of cooking. This included studying and practicing my cooking techniques and knife skills, mastering the ins and outs of balancing the flavors in a dish, learning the proper way to season food along each step of the cooking process and much, much more.
Thanks to all the cooks and chefs on television, especially Nick Stellino from the PBS television series Cucina Amore, I became empowered to believe that anything was possible when it came to cooking. Soon, PBS and the Food Network became my classroom, and I embarked on a 1 1/2 year period of time, where I would cook 1 to 4 new recipes from scratch every day; always remembering to cook "from the heart."
In 2000 my cooking skills would be put to the test, in a way I could never imagine. My wife, Carolyn, started to not feel well and at the urging of a good friend began working with a local and well-known nutritionist. In order to heal her body, she was put on a very strict diet comprised of fresh fruits & vegetables, free range poultry, healthy nuts & grains, and wild caught fish. Basically, everything else was off limits to her, and so began a two year journey of trying to create flavorful dishes that were tasty and healthy, so my wife could begin to heal.
Through her unwavering determination, my wife did eventually heal, and started on a quest to help others by becoming a certified Hypnotherapist, Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Healing Practitioner & Metaphysician. I too joined her on this quest, learning how to meditate, visualize through manifestation, and I also was initiated into the practice of Reiki. Soon, Carolyn began creating seminars and retreats, in order to teach others about the importance of eating healthy and the connection between the body, mind & spirit. In 2009, at one of her retreats, Carolyn requested I prepare a tasty lunch menu for her attendees that was 80% healthy and 20% indulgent, in the hopes of teaching them that healthy food can be delicious, and how to apply the 80/20 rule for healthy living. And thus, the idea for the “Saint & Sinner” cookbook was born. At that same retreat, one of her students said, "this is delicious, are you a chef?" to which I replied,
"I am Your Enlightened Chef" and everyone began to cheer! This has been my moniker ever since.
My journey has become one of wanting to inspire those who are not as adept at cooking
to roll up their sleeves, get into their kitchens, have fun and cook with passion, so we can all
"Make The World A Better Tasting Place!"
Andrew Andrew lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife Carolyn Paige and their beautiful black cat, Malachi, who is the CFO (Chief Food-Tasting Officer) of AMP Gourmet Foods.
Andrew Petlow
© 1997 - 2011 Andrew Petlow, AMP Gourmet Foods. All rights reserved.
