“Thank you for this food. Amen,” my grandpa often hastily murmored as he shifted our holiday dinners from cooking to eating. He and my grandma had begun an annual tradition of gathering at the Gulf of Mexico for its white sand, emerald waters, and abundant seafood. I grew up experiencing my extended family’s diverse food traditions through this yearly gathering. Though I initially bound myself to a career in software, thru-hikes like the Appalachian Trail and Shikoku Pilgrimage rekindled my interest in the simple joy of food. Hearthfarer is my food journey, and I hope you’ll join me for part of it.
Dublin Cookery School
7 Sep 2024
Indian Masterclass
Learned to work with traditional spice blends, prepare a variety of sides like rice, naan, and chutneys, and combine these flavors with vegetables, seafood, poultry, and meat to create balanced, aromatic dishes.
Dublin Cookery School
26 Aug 2024
A Taste of Italy
Learned to prepare a range of classic Italian dishes, focusing on techniques for grilling seafood, creating flavorful sauces, and working with seasonal ingredients. Gained skills in preparing hearty sides and finishing with traditional desserts.
Belfast Cookery School
25 Aug 2024
Irish Bread Making
Learned the fundamentals of traditional Irish breads, including the preparation of wheaten bread, soda bread, and potato bread. Developed techniques for working with simple, wholesome ingredients to create hearty, rustic loaves.
Belfast Cookery School
24 Aug 2024
A Taste of Belfast
Learned to prepare traditional dishes with a focus on local ingredients, including hearty seafood chowder, slow-cooked short rib with champ dumplings, and rustic soda bread, capturing the essence of Belfast’s culinary heritage.
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School
14 Aug 2024
Scone Masterclass
Learned to prepare a variety of sweet and savory scones, mastering techniques for achieving light, flaky textures and balancing flavors, perfecting both traditional and contemporary variations.
Salt Eldhús
23 Jul 2024
Cook & Dine – The Icelandic Kitchen Experience
Learned to prepare traditional Icelandic dishes with a focus on fresh seafood, including techniques for pairing fish with vibrant salads, creamed grains, and rich sauces. Gained skills in making distinctive Icelandic bread and desserts, highlighting local ingredients like skyr and rye.
Momoko Kurashige
27 May 2024
Takoyaki Experience with Sake Tasting
Learned to prepare takoyaki, perfecting the technique for creating these savory, octopus-filled dough balls. Also deepened my knowledge of sake, exploring its various grades and learning how to pair it with Japanese cuisine.
Nakano Udon School
19 May 2024
Udon Making Experience
Learned the traditional method of making udon noodles from scratch, focusing on the key techniques of kneading, rolling, and cutting the dough to achieve the perfect texture for these hearty noodles.
Japanese 88-Temple Pilgrimage
Walked 750 miles to 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage from Ryōzen-ji, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan to Ōkubo-ji, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Hyōroku
30 Oct 2023
Soba Making Experience
Learned the traditional techniques for making soba noodles, focusing on the careful process of mixing, kneading, rolling, and cutting the dough to create delicate, flavorful noodles.
Savage Kitchen
11 Oct 2023
Wild Food and Farm Tour
Learned to identify and ethically harvest wild food plants with a focus on native and endemic species. Gained practical knowledge in preparing and processing these plants, while developing an appreciation for the cultural and ecological significance of wild foods in Hawai’i.
Appalachian Trail
19 Mar – 11 Aug 2017
Eastern American Thru-Hike
Thru-hiked 2,190 miles on the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia, USA to Mount Katahdin, Maine, USA.