About me
My name is Alex Kemp and my talent is…Cooking! I’m from Westminster, CA. Ever since I was 5 years old, I can remember always being in the kitchen and wanting to help out with anything that dealt with food. I started off “helping” by pouring the ingredients into the pots and bowls. I know… it would seem as nothing special now but back then I felt like the “master of the kitchen”!
Mom always accepted me in the kitchen, as she didn’t care to cook; she took advantage of my help in the kitchen. I didn’t mind, for soon I was able to start opening the cans and later using the stove, (that is under supervision!). As I became older, more familiar and practiced in the kitchen, I was allowed (finally) to use the knives and cutting boards, followed by total control of the kitchen! I spent every spare minute that I had making simple cookbook dishes.
When the family finally got cable, my Saturday morning cartoons turned to Saturday morning Food Network. For Christmas and birthdays I began asking for cookbooks, kitchen gizmos, knives, and especially Sur La Table gift cards. For the next couple of years my library grew, as did my knowledge about the various types of culinary arts. I had looked what seemed to be thousands of websites and magazines for cooking classes that weren’t “kiddy”, you know – ‘throw some cheese on this dough and let us bake it classes’, but failed to find any. So I just decided to stick with the books like ‘Culinary Artistry’ and the ‘Soul of a Chef’ for the basics on some culinary perspectives and techniques. Then I began not using the cook books and started to use my own imagination and skills to create my own unique recipes. The many hours spent in the kitchen have paid off with much improved knife work and drastically improved dishes
Getting serious about what I wanted to do in culinary arts, I envisioned eight dream restaurants and two charity restaurants before starting a catering business for small parties, receiving comments like, “Wow this is totally on par with that restaurant I just went to… how do you do it?!” That was the question I could not answer. It was like someone asking you to count to infinity. That’s when I began to look at this whole thing as a talent. I finally realized that I really do have a true talent! It was such a feeling that it made me want to say I challenge Bobby Flay to a ‘Throwdown’, it was just…amazing.
I gathered up some of my recipes and began creating my craziest dream ever…a cook book. I’m currently working on completing my book while still catering for small parties (15 or less).
Cooking Influences
Definately The Iron chefs and all the food network personalites. And most importantly Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page _Authors of Culinary Artistry_. My grandmas loving support too! ; )
United States Chef
Follow him
October 17, 2008Hi Alex! That's the one of the best, from the heart, profiles I've read. Thanks for joining! I really look forward to sharing some great recipes with you and trying some of your creations.
October 16, 2008Welcome to the site, Alex. Hope you enjoy all the wonderful professional chefs and recipes. Check out our KitchenAid Thanksgiving Recipe Contest and post your favorite recipe to win great prizes. Just invite your friends and family to vote for you!
