Did Mike pick the perfect setting to propose marriage?
A. Going out for dinner with friends is a very social thing to do. It also hid the fact we were going to get engaged. So yes, it was perfect. We’re constantly eating together as a group. That’s how we stay connected. Q. Describe your earliest food memories. A. Going to The Spice House when I was 6 or 7 with my mom (Kate Erd). I remember the smells and the colors of the spices we took home. And I always played with the old scales and the little weights used to balance them. Q. How did you learn to cook, and who inspired you? A. Both of my parents did the cooking when I was growing up, but their styles were very different. My mom follows recipes, so I learned to measure, and that’s the way I like to cook. For something that requires just creatively tossing things in a pot, that’s my dad’s style. We went out to dinner as a family every Friday night. Q. What is it about cooking that makes you want to be in the kitchen? A. It’s very relaxing. I enjoy the smells, tasting everything and tryin
