Growing up art held as a special place in my life. Raised in the restaurant business I started out washing dishes ending up working on the line. Born and raised in the Rural Petoskey Michigan I worked on farms where farm to table was a way of life. Culinary art was not on my radar. In 1968 I entered the seminary graduating from my theological studies in 1971 as a Franciscan brother. Health conditions, including obesity, caused me to take interest in food leading me to ask permission to enter culinary school (I was committed to to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience) and allowed to enroll in the 2 year program.