I just got back from almost two years of traveling through Oaxaca, Peru, and SE Asia to learn about food. I'm now back in SF and am writing a guidebook to Peruvian food. I'm still re-acclimating to SF which a beautiful but troubled city. I aim to show guests the good side of the city.

I am an explorer of science, ideas, culture, film, and novel experiences. I grew up in the deep south (which surprises many people), went to school near Boston, moved to Seattle for two years on a whim, went to Chicago for graduate studies, and moved to the Bay Area to use my new degree. I decided on a Thursday to move to SF and moved the following Sunday.

I used to throw a dinner party monthly in my San Francisco apartment where I would pick a new theme each time, write a menu, and cook for friends. My goal is to cook with people from all of the world (food is the universal language!). I share stories from my travel and food adventures at projectdinnerparty.com.

PHILOSOPHY

I am passionate about optimizing the boring things in life to make room for the good stuff. I am more interested in discovering new aspects of life and getting better at things a little every day. That doesn't mean that I don't do things on a whim or occasionally stay out way too late. I just live by the philosophy that fortune favors the prepared mind and think that the case can be made for moderation. That may sound boring, but I believe that it's ultimately fulfilling. Yes, I practice moderation in moderation.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting, Surfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I am especially interested in looking for guests/hosts that I can cook with but anyone that I can have a good conversation with

Interests

Telling stories through photographs and food

• culture
• books
• dining
• cooking
• partying
• traveling
• surfing
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Waking Life, Up, Contact, Gattaca, Lost in Translation, The Social Network, A Separation

Music: The Arctic Monkeys, The New Pornographers, Built to Spill, Sigur Ros, Icelandic, Iranian Pop, and discovering new music on Pandora

Books: Time Traveler's Wife, What is the What, Ishmael, Cool Gray City of Love, anything by Jhumpa Lahiri

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I worked in two restaurants in Cusco. I don't have any formal culinary training and didn't know Spanish when I started. I ended up falling in love with Peruvian food and traveling all over the country to interview chefs about their craft.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to share more than just couch space. I'd love to share photos, stories, and food. If you're coming from home, please bring an exotic snack or spice. I'd love to cook a traditional recipe from your country with you.

I'm a lot more likely to host guests that are into cooking or ones that have hosted as well as surfed.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My love for cooking and the stories that come with it

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Peru, Thailand, United States

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