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Tacoma, Washington, United States
@ChefBIRD
Member since 2009
CURRENT MISSION To live each day with gratitude ------and discover the unique people, culture, geography, food, wine and adventure on Earth. ABOUT ME I am an artist, entrepreneur, teacher, nature-lover and extroverted-people person. I make traditional artisan, Italian-style food in homemade wood-burning ovens---some of them on wheels... Before I was a pizzaiolo, I was an elementary school teacher, National Park Service ranger and environmental educator. I learned how to cook from my mother and worked in many great kitchens starting in high school. I love and play music, especially blues. Johnny Winter, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield and other blues artists inspire me. My family, music, art, science (ecology), cooking and people form the foundation my life. PHILOSOPHY Living each day with reverence, gratitude and love with God. Taking time to cherish the love and goodness around us.....caring, forgiving, particpating, taking risks, helping people less fortunate.....and being appreciative of the beauty, creativity and art everywhere..
Interested in Art
Fluent in English
Learning Italian
Pioneer Badge
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING In April 2009 I visited Verona, Pescantina and Soave, Italy~~I stayed with Rafaello, Paolo, Danielle, and Noemi and their families---also spending a lot of time with their wonderful friends. I am very inspired my friends in Italy; their humor, graciousness, generous hospitality and warmth and deep passion for great food. COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE Verona, Pescantina, Soave Italy. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Music, Movies, and Books
Milk Avatar Clockwork Orange Troy Big Night Kids books by Robert McCloskey Patton Funny Girl Roger Dodger Secret Life of Dentists
One Amazing Thing I've Done
My friend and I brought medicine and humanitarian assistance to Guatemalan refugees in the remote jungles of Chiapas, Mexico (1983) Co-Founded HappyLife Productions (1983) Sailing chef on 148' Tall Ship Shenandoah ('85, '86, '87) in Martha's Vineyard Sailing chef on 100' Explorer; SE Alaska,; 1988 Founder, CEO; Ocean Fractal Co. (1996) Founder; CEO; Veraci Pizza, Inc (2004) Founder: CEO; Butter and Olive Oil, Inc. (2018)
Teach, Learn, Share
sailing oil painting ceramics cooking gardening blues guitar live music scene in Tacoma
What I Can Share With Hosts
Tacoma----City of Destiny
My Interests
Laughter, music, art, farmer's markets, reading, creamics, cooking, history, creativity, skiing, stories, celebrating, children, biology, pizza, pizza ovens, Italy, Italian cooking, people, farmers markets, slow food, natural, local food, recycling, human rights, justice, peace, connecting with people.....