A Bit About Bobbie

I have had the opportunity to live in 6 countries on 3 continents, now I reside in America. I left the U.S. when I was 9 years old to move to Canada. While, I grew up between both countries, my influence was much stronger from my Canadian side of my family. When I was 21, I married and moved to Geneva, Switzerland where I resided until moving to Virginia Beach, VA. with my two daughters in 1987. Other places I have had the honor to live are Birmingham, England; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Chamonix, France. I speak French fluently and tend to mix my English and French quite often which results in people asking me where I am from or what planet!?

My mum and grandmother taught me the importance of eating healthy foods from a very young age, which I thank them to this day. We were well-traveled as my grandfather was in shipping, so, my palate was rather diverse from a very young age. I am blessed that every member of my family is a great cook and we all hold the same principles when it comes to food. We are not junk food eaters, nor do we eat hot dogs, but rather whatever is the freshest and in season. Organic is the norm in my family. My two daughters and families live in and outside of Geneva, and they primarily only eat organic food, as well, which is much easier to find there than where I live.

As explained in my book, I am a person who is dedicated to buying and eating the freshest, locally-grown and in-season foods possible. Certain food groups should only be eaten organic due to the enormous amounts of pesticides one would ingest by eating conventionally (which my book highlights). Eating organically is not only beneficial to one's health but certainly saves the planet and our waters by avoiding a saturation of chemicals. If you can find them locally, then all the better.

Travel has been a huge part of my life. Southeast Asia, Northern Africa, Europe and Hawaii are my favorite food destinations. Probably the countries that have had the most impact on the way I cook are Morocco, Tunisia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Lebanon, France and my most beloved Italy. I travel often to Switzerland to visit my daughters, Brooke and Bree and my two adorable grand daughters, Anais and Sienna. On my last trip just weeks ago, I drove to the Lake District of Northern Italy to Lago di Garda (the garden lake) with my best friend, Jane and my granddaughter Anais.

We stayed at the most beautiful location in Pratello, Italy where this location is a part of the Agricultural Tourism group of family-owned estates throughout Italy serving only locally-grown foods and wines, which are normally grown on the property. The Pratello family makes their own olive oil and wines, and they export these products world-wide.

There is something about Italy that seems to call to me and this is actually where I hope to move in the next several years, if possible. I love the people and their joyous natures - how they live, eat, dress and talk. Life is simple, yet elegant and healthy. People are not "busy" for the sake of being "busy", as I so often find in America. Family is very important and meals are the center of their universe. So, this is truly the country I feel the most at home in.

I do love the ocean, though and I am an avid swimmer and scuba diver. So, Virginia Beach is wonderful for me. Swimming out to the dolphins is a huge part of my life here, much to the chagrin of my family and friends, who worry about me. Also, we have wonderfully fresh fish and produce grown locally here. This is a superb region for farming. Two weeks ago, Jane and I drove to Knott's Island, N.C. to pick 24 pounds of white peaches at Martin's Farm. So, peaches have been on our menu a lot lately, as well as freshly picked blueberries from Pungo, VA. I created a peach and honey cornbread for my book, which is really more like a pudding. Also, peach salsa (which can easily replace the mango and black bean salsa in my book) is a wonderful accompaniment to grilled fish or chicken.

We have a vegetable garden with peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, vine spinach and every herb imaginable this year. Next year, we will change it a bit and drop the broccoli for cucumbers. This fall, we will plant kale and collard greens, which grow beautifully in this area. While growing our own garden is a delight, we also frequent the many farms peppered in this area, and especially any who grow organic. Not all farmers can be certified organic as such strict guidelines are imposed, but there are many who follow the organic principles.

One of the places one will most likely find me is in the kitchen cooking. My first cookbook was just published with recipes I have created or recreated since I was a young woman. The book is filled with my story (some of it!) and has been the most wonderful experience for me. I would love to work more with children in this country, as I feel saddened by what they are being fed. They do not seem to know where their food comes from and so many families do not sit down together to eat meals anymore. Rather, they eat out of boxes, cans and frozen containers which are normally heated in a microwave (I have never owned one in my life) and often alone. One of my crusades is to help people go back to the way they were in years gone by and to enjoy the ride. Enjoy life by enjoying each other with great conversations over dinner, brunch, lunch and/or breakfast.

Also, I bet most parents don’t realize that by having your kids help you in the kitchen, you are actually aiding their math and science skills when they measure and see how foods come together! Also, their culinary palettes and horizons are broadened by becoming accustomed to the foods they help create.