Month: June 2023

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser – June 4-6, 2023

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser – June 4-6, 2023

Wendy & I just got back from an astounding trip aboard the Chandrilla Star Line’s Galactic Starcruiser “Halcyon” at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. We cruised June 4-6, 2023. It was an entirely amazing experience throughout! We’ll post much more soon, including…

Under the Tusken Sun

Under the Tusken Sun

Hello, and welcome, Halcyon Family! (don’t miss bonus video below!) Thanks for checking out Under the Tusken Sun, the hot new fantasy romance by Sienna Starfall published by Spicy Bantha Publishing. Enjoy the first chapter here, and may the stars light your way! To see real books,…

Chef John Kinsella, RIP

Chef John Kinsella, RIP

I’ve lost two of my most significant Chef-mentors in the last 7 months. Chef Jean-Robert de Cavel in December 2022, and Chef John Kinsella, CMC earlier this week.

Chef Kinsella was the force that shaped me from a newbie into a culinarian. His stern-but-mean-but-compassionate-and-angry leadership style toughened us up. Chef Kinsella introduced me to butchery, charcuterie, and garde manger, which are still areas of specific interest to me. Chef K was rarely without a glass of something in his hand, as the attached picture shows. He was a great teacher who could be a real SOB, but a great teacher.

Chef Jean-Robert took me from a newbie cook (full of enthusiasm but ignorant to the ways of the culinary world) to a Chef, proper. JR trained me in the French tradition of food preparation, menu development, hospitality, and management. His stern-but-mean-but-compassionate leadership style forged me into who I am today culinary-wise.

These two giants leave massive emptiness here. I hope that my culinary work is testament to their legacy. We’re all heartbroken, but as Chef Jean-Robert would say, “Allez, donkey! We’ve got people to feed…

RIP, Chefs.