You may know that Nate is hilarious (mostly) and an awesome dad (pretty much always), a Redskins fanatic (sigh) and generally cool guy (I know he’s reading this). What you may not know that he is also a food savant.
He’s the guy who can stick his nose in a glass of Tempranillo and tell you exactly which berries are in there. He stocks more kinds of salt in the pantry than most cooks have herbs, and he would sooner slice out his own tongue than use margarine. Get him going, and he can wax on for hours about sriracha and salt cod and the merits of Rare Breed ham – just be warned that he may not stop.
His greatest fear in life is, perhaps, that his children will turn out like their mother and not eat pork chops.
Nate is, without a doubt, a foodie.
When I first started Mom-101, I described Nate as a fledgling comedy writer/waiter turned stay-at-home-dad. Three years later, he’s now the fledgling comedy writer/waiter turned stay-at-home dad turned retired stay-at-home-dad turned disgruntled waiter turned nascent food blogger.
And now, culinary school student.
He started last week–the professional pursuit of his one true joy in life, with the hope that down the road someone will hire him to write hilariously and passionately about it all. I mean, come on. Name one food writer who can drop Mr. Show references at the same time he rambles on about chorizo.
It’s a massively gaping void in the food writing world, if you ask me.
I couldn’t be more proud. I couldn’t be more terrified that we will be poor for the rest of our lives. I am also a little sketchy on when we’ll exactly have sex considering I’m working days and he’s gone most nights for the next nine months.
So how’s 6:45 AM Sunday for you? Can we pencil it in before pancakes and after the dream about Charo wearing a giant emu costume in my high school bio class?
But mostly, I’m proud. Because if there’s one thing that the universe (and Gourmet Magazine? Ahem…) can never have too much of, it’s smart funny guys who know how to treat a stick of butter.















57 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one
Woo! Congrats Nate! (And enjoy, Liz.) Yummy!Also, my word verification is “chant” as in: Nay-ayte! Nay-ayte! (Me chanting Nate.) Okay. So… yeah.
Congrats! That’s so exciting! And if you and Nate ever need a guinea pig to try out the culinary school creations, just holler!!!!
A friend of mine who reads your blog saw Nate’s pic and asked if I know him…… he’s my classmate! Please let him know that I made the Duck Fat Tea Biscuits. That is all.
Well hi there Gregorio! If you’re making duck fat tea biscuits I’d imagine you’re welcome over any time…
Yay. For. Nate!OK, so I don’t know the guy but I’ll take your word on the hilarious and cool factor. But I do know something about ditching what makes sense to follow passion.I’ve done it myself and now similarly am along for the ride as my (begrudgingly) corporate husband is on the brink of making a major change (in profession and pay check) to enter the world of counseling psychology.I have moments of concern about the finances (to be quite honest, mostly as it relates to my ability to buy shoes whenever I want); on the other hand, I grew up in a family of 7 kids where we had two adjacent TVs (one with working sound, one with working picture) and health care wasn’t even on the table (seriously, I didn’t realize people even had health care until I went to college). And miraculously everything worked out.It no doubt will be a scary ride at times, but it also will be exciting. People deserve to have and follow passions. And I’d rather be poor (or somewhat short on shoes) and see Jon inspired, than see the look on his face when he comes home from another day at the grind.Congrats to Nate for making the jump, and to you for supporting him! -Christine
Awww congratsss! I love food, cooking shows and of course, chefs!! I’m sure Nate will go a long way;)
So shoot me, I'm just catching up now. I did this too, about 5 years ago, with the intention of becoming a food writer. Due to pregnancy and real life, it never worked out, but I LOVED CULINARY SCHOOL. I have such fond memories. My husband, however, remembers only carrots cut in a million different ways…