Welcome to Big Taste Small Space. My name is Los and I am an avid foodie and part-time personal chef and caterer. Like so many people around the world this recession has altered my life in a big way. I have been laid off from my job since October and have only managed to book a catering job here and there. One day, as I lay on the sofa engrossed in a Battlestar Galactia marathon I decided enough was enough. No not enough Sci-Fi, one can never have too much of that. I came to realize that even if finding a job was going to be harder than finding a Mensa member at a Beauty Pageant that was no reason for me to lose hope. So I did the only logical thing; I started a blog. My goal is to show everyone that you can still have a 5 star meal, sometimes with only 5 bucks. Big Taste Small Space will show you how to bridge the gap between upscale and low cost, no matter how big or small your home and bank account may be there will be a dish here you can make. Let's get cooking...
How long have you been cooking?
Ever since I can remember, there are pictures of me as a toddler sitting on the floor dumping my LEGOS into a sauté pan. I went to culinary school and was a chef / line cook at a few local restaurants, before a back injury took me out of the Restaurant Industry. Determined not to give up on cooking I started my own catering company right after graduation. Unfortunately lack of capital and an unreliable staff caused my company to go down like the Poseidon. I managed to stay awake (most of the time) in several of my other classes in college so I had a business background I could fall back on until I can afford to resuscitate my catering service.
How can you make these dishes at those prices, what can I do to save more money shopping?
It takes some planning. I will be the first to admit that I am the biggest kid when I go shopping, even though I will have a written list sometimes I’ll gravitate toward the junk and other items I really do not need (Ooooh Candy!) Look thru the sales ads to see what has the best deals for the week. See if you can plan meals for a couple of days or even the entire week with the majority of the items on sale. If you send me a link to your grocery store’s site I may be able to help you plan some meals. I am also a coupon cutting fool, go online to some of your favorite grocery stores, and visit coupons.com to print and download coupons. Ask your grocery stores if they double coupons, many of them will double coupons up to .75 cents. And if the Item is already on sell you may just pay pennies for it, or get it for FREE whoop whoop!
Another tip would be do not get in a Superstore rut. We all have one in our town, and even though they are convenient and will save you some money, they do not always have the lowest prices or the best quality items. Pantry Items like flour, milk, eggs, sugar and dried spices can be much cheaper at larger drugstores (I love CVS & Walgreens).
Shop smarter and only buy what you need. Lets see a show of hands, how many of you (presently company included) have ever had the coupon or seen the store promotion for something like “ Buy 5 boxes of cereal and get 2 free”. People I have a box of Wheaties that was purchased during the Bicentennial. If you and your family do not consume a certain item regularly, don’t waste your money and move on. It’ll be tough but I’ll be here to hold your hand and guide you (figuratively, I’m a bit of a germ / neat freak).
Where and how did you come up with these methods of cooking and recipes?
Part of it was necessity the other ingenuity. Even though I lived at home when I was in college my lab partner in culinary school, and most of my friends lived in either dorms, or tiny studio apartments. I learned that with a lot of imagination and creativity we could put out some amazing meals usually using microwaves, toaster ovens, countertop grills, and blenders. My Mom and Grandmother were also great about making some fingerlicking good meals without breaking the bank.
What’s up with the name of your blog?
Big taste is just that, you’ll find that my recipes are big on flavor and taste. I want your taste buds to start doing the Rumba when you try them. As far as small space, that encompasses a lot of things. It stands for the small physical space of one’s home, the smaller and smaller space we find in our wallets, and the small space in time we have each day to prepare a meal.
What is your comment policy?
I’m all about POSITIVE criticism, comments and suggestions. I welcome ideas and recipes that you may have that we could share on this blog. However if you get a kick out of being nasty and making rude comments then don’t waste your time typing, and do not waste mine, my fingertip gets very numb pressing delete.
Who can benefit from this blog?
Anyone that has a passion for cooking and is interested in saving money. Everyone seems to be using a lot more discretion as far as their spending and eating habits these days. Many of us can no longer afford that vintage Barolo or splurge on imported olive oils like we once did, I’ll show you some ways you can cut costs without getting cut short. You will find that you can still be innovative in the kitchen, entertain with friends and family, and stay within your budget.
