I started this website as a means of making recipes that I hold dear, accessible to anyone who is willing to try them out. Although I have limited experiences cooking in a professional restaurant setting, probably about 4 months total, I've always had a love for nourishing people's souls through food.
Pre-Snookie
My real name is James Snoke, but Snookie is just a nickname my friends have called me by for a few years. I grew up in Northern California, near the Napa Valley. As a kid I was a pretty picky eater. It was until the 4th grade, when my family had to move to Perth, Australia, when my love for food really started. While in Australia my family got the opportunity to travel to Bangkok, Thailand and let me tell you, Bangkok was not a place built for picky eaters. One of our first meals that we ate featured all types of food that I had never seen nor thought to ever eat. What I felt when I took my first bite was like a lightbulb going off above my head. From there my family traveled to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the coast of Australia, all while simultaneously expanding my love for food. From Perth, my family traveled to Calgary, Canada, a city home to incredible Vietnamese, Korean, and Indian cuisine. By the time I had moved back to California, my body and soul were in love with food.
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During my time in college I got the opportunity to grow in my cooking abilities. From hosting hangover brunches making huevos rancheros for 20 people, to pumping out 300 burgers at tailgates, to hosting 8-course tasting menu's in my backyard. Part of what made college so special for me was that it gave me the opportunity to hone in my love for feeding others. To me, nothing is more sacred than sitting with family, friends, or even strangers and sharing a meal.
Currently
I am currently living in San Diego, working as a Construction Engineer, spending my weekends and free time working out, surfing, spending time with my lovely girlfriend Ilayda, and developing new recipes. I hope you enjoyed this little insight into my life. Have fun cooking!