Derien's Story
FOOD-“THE EARLY YEARS”
My earliest food memory happened when I was maybe 7 yrs old. My father was stationed at Sembach Air Base in Germany. I remember going to the Officers Club to have escargot. I couldn’t have articulated it then but I loved the texture, it was light and delicate, the flavor was “garlicly” just the right amount…It was delicious. So I guess I owe my father a THANK YOU for introducing me to this culinary world.
HOW THIS ALL CAME TO BE.
I always tell folks that I first started cooking when I was about 13-14. I remember my mother sitting my sister and I down one evening and laying out the plan. “Derien you are gonna cook twice a week, and Aleisha your gonna cook twice a week. I’m not gonna work all day, come home and cook for you all everynight…I’ll take the rest of the days.” I was up all night wondering what to cook? Well, I knew how to brown ground beef and I knew how to boil water. So, I browned a pound of ground beef (added no salt and no pepper). I found some egg noodles and some frozen peas and put them in a pot of boiling water. So, that night for the first time I fed my family. On the menu was a bowl of egg noodles, topped with ground beef and peas, not a lick of seasoning. I think I may have served some toast. I’ve gotten a lot better since then. From then on my sister and I had to help out in the kitchen. Fast forward nearly a decade to the family gatherings. My mother-in-law would host during my time in Oregon. It seems the job of grillmaster always fell to one of my brothers-in-law, and although I love them to death – the product coming off the grill wasn’t …let’s say… top notch. So one day as we gathered with the family, I suggested they give me a chance on the grill, and being the great guys they were, they agreed. Since that day my drive to explore all things “Food” has been ever-present. For the next few years I took as many opportunities as possible to get on the grill and in the kitchen. I cooked mostly for my in-laws and a few friends that may happen by for dinner. If I remember correctly, it took quite awhile before I produced anything that tasted appetizing at all. But I kept at it, and eventually, I happened to make some chicken on the grill that folks seemed to like. Pretty soon people were asking for the chicken at their bbq’s and I was more than happy to provide. I loved that people like the food, I enjoyed watching people eat it, watching them come back for 2nd’s…it all excited me. I had caught the cooking bug.
I had my first paid job in the spring of 2007, just before I was to move here to Colorado. It was a wedding with some out of town folks from Texas, and I happened to be preparing beef brisket! If any one is going to know if the brisket is good, it’s people from Texas…talk about being a bit nervous, yes I was. After nervously waiting and watching the guests, eventually they started to come back for seconds. The brisket was a hit! I graciously thanked them all for the positive feedback and comments. That day, Latimers Kitchen and Catering was born!