I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH FOOD.  I GREW UP ON BAYOU PETIT CALLIOU IN CHAUVIN, LOUISIANA IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INCLUDED ONE GRANDMOTHER, FOUR AUNTS AND UNCLES, AND TOO MANY COUSINS TO MENTION. THE UNCLES DELIVERED FRESH SEAFOOD AND GAME, THE AUNTS GREW THE VEGETABLES AND COOKED EVERYTHING, AND THE KIDS ATE.  AND ATE.  AND ATE.  I WAS A LOCAVORE BY BIRTHRIGHT AND MY EARLY IMMERSION IN FRESH, LOCAL, SEASONAL INGREDIENTS HAS INFORMED AND INFLUENCED MY CULINARY PHILOSOPHY. I LOVE TO COOK, AND ESPECIALLY LOVE TO FEED PEOPLE WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE INGREDIENTS I CAN FIND.  - CHEF MELISSA