About The Contrary Cook

My name is Michael and I am a contrary cook.

I say ‘contrary’ because cooking is *definitely* not in my blood and up until now I’ve been pretty much diametrically opposed to the whole idea of cooking for myself.

I eat out, get delivery, or eat prepared food every day of the week. I’ve been doing this for the last ten years. The guys at Mr. Shoes don’t even ask me my name, address or phone number when I call anymore. They just recognize the voice. The bartender at 2-Vine calls me by name when I walk in the door and assumes I’ll be ordering the steak frites and a double martini (which he has started making before I even sit down). I spend $200 a week at Wegmans on sushi, beer, pizza-rolls, german chocolate bars, and pasta bowls. The stove in my kitchen hasn’t worked in 11 months.

I figure, if someone is willing to deliver tasty food to my door every night or cook for me in a nice restaurant, everyone wins, right? After all, someone needs to support the local economy and put Danny’s kids though college, right?

Wrong.

I’m about to turn 40 (which means I’m about half dead). I need to learn how to cook and to eat healthy in order to save my own life. I’m a 270-pound sloth and I need to make some lifestyle changes. I know this and I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve had a great 40 years up till now…I want to live to enjoy the second 40.

I am starting this blog to keep a record of my trials and tribulations in this new ‘cooking’ adventure that I am about to embark on. But more importantly, this blog has been designed to keep me honest. My thought is, if I put myself out there, maybe I’ll stick with it.

I’m just a regular guy and this is just a regular blog. So don’t expect great writing, and don’t expect a success story. I expect I’ll fail a few times, and I’ll write about it when I do. Like I said, this project was designed to keep me honest…I can’t start the second half of my life by lying to myself.

A portion of the proceeds (if I make any!) from this blog will be directed to various diabetes research foundations as well as the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Wish me luck.

-Michael