As co-founder of Umami.Life, my passion for food and wine chemistry grew out of a childhood in a military family living abroad and my mother's cooking of the local comfort dishes. Beyond the borders of the American mainstream, I was immersed in European and Asian cusines throughout my childhood and teenage years. Those cultural influences led to a career in the wine and spirits industry where decades of exposure to exceptional wine and top chefs has helped me refine my own cooking -- creating a fusion of traditional comfort foods, Southwest, French, Italian, Asian and Middle Eastern flavors. As longtime residents of the San Antonio area, my co-founder and fiancée, Catherine, and I regulary share our culinary creations with local friends.