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Steven W. Siler

Goodreads Author

Born

in Decatur, The United States

Website

http://www.smokealarmmedia.com

Twitter

StevenWSiler

Genre

Cooking, Food & Wine, Travel

Member Since

June 2012

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I have often been asked how long have I been cooking. Well, the answer is simple. I took up eating at an early age, and I have gotten quite good at it...and I learned to cook because I liked to eat. But this is also a tongue-in-cheek response that doesn't do justice to the real answer.

When you meet me, you will know from my lilting accent that I am not from here. Actually, I am from about as far away as you can be, about 3,100 miles to Charleston, South Carolina. And being raised in the Deep South, more than the accents are different; our whole language is different. We couch virtually all conversations in a culinary frame. My father doesn't tell me how he is doing. He tells me what he is having for supper. Dinner is the noonday meal, for y I have often been asked how long have I been cooking. Well, the answer is simple. I took up eating at an early age, and I have gotten quite good at it...and I learned to cook because I liked to eat. But this is also a tongue-in-cheek response that doesn't do justice to the real answer.

When you meet me, you will know from my lilting accent that I am not from here. Actually, I am from about as far away as you can be, about 3,100 miles to Charleston, South Carolina. And being raised in the Deep South, more than the accents are different; our whole language is different. We couch virtually all conversations in a culinary frame. My father doesn't tell me how he is doing. He tells me what he is having for supper. Dinner is the noonday meal, for your information. Even our terms of endearment...sweetie, honey, puddin'... just reinforce the belief that Food is another word for Love.

And now I find myself a continent removed from Home, serving in that honoured capacity of firefighter. My fellows in the department, I am sure, do not know how to take me. However, they can testify that there is always a treat handy, in case someone has forgotten breakfast, or left their wallet at home. Meals that I cook typically involve smoke alarms, obscene numbers of dirty pots, and general unease at overeating before a drill or training. And yet they tolerate me and my quirky-ness.

So here I have landed in Bellingham, City of Subdued Excitement, although I didn't understand what that moniker meant. It was supposed to be a brief respite, literally a stopping point as the Prodigal Son returned to the pluff mud and Palmetto trees of the Lowcountry. And so many foreign sights. Does everyone drive a Subaru? Is there a coffee stand on every corner? Who exactly is Ryan Stiles? And what in the name of all that is holy is a "Hamster"? All these answers and more I have learned.

Even more so, I have had the opportunity to observe the people. At 2 o'clock in the morning when the pain gets too much. At 10 o'clock at evening when a deer jumps out in front of the car. And especially afterwards, when I am at the Daisy Café or the Black Cat or Avellino, and someone has a kind word for me. Everywhere a kind word and a smile. It makes me take pause and take measure. So I look around and look in myself and know what I am going to do.

I am Southern male and a firefighter, and that puts two strikes against me when it comes to sharing my emotions. I live simply in a 12'x12' room at Station 21. But when I cook at the station on drill night, or whip up a meal in an obliging friend's kitchen, or when I write a cookbook about the signature tastes of Bellingham and its people...it's my humble way of saying that Food truly is another word for Love. And I thank you so much for that privilege. ...more

46 posts
Steven W. Siler's Blog

Finally getting Obsessed...

A long time, no write...basically, I've been on a serious extended vacation...Mexico, Spain, France, Kenya, Scotland...yes, my life sucks. I really feel your sympathy coming across the lines.

In reality, I've been resting on my laurels, or more accurately, my poison ivy plants. And I'm done. Thanks the gods! Smoke Alarm Media has afforded me a wonderful life style, and I am grateful. But there Read more of this blog post »

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Published on May 14, 2017 10:09

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Steven W. Siler’s books

Average rating: 3.41 · 27 ratings · 4 reviews · 44 distinct works

	Signature Tastes of Bellingham: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants 3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Spokane: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants by Steven W. Siler (Goodreads Author), Nicole L. Manganaro really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Portland: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Seattle: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants 1.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2001 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Atlanta: Favorite Recipes from Our Local Restaurants it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Charleston it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of New Orleans: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants by Steven W. Siler (Goodreads Author), Paula Garriott (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Denver: Favorite Recipes From Our Local Restaurants it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of London: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Signature Tastes of Manhattan: Favorite Recipes of Our Local Restaurants 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Steven W. Siler…

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Cooking in Heels: A Memoir Cookbook

by Ceyenne Doroshow

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Steven Siler said: " Okay, a Southern male loves food, in whatever forms it takes...I saw the cover and had to read a bit on this. Ceyenne made me laugh and wince on the first get-go. Gosh I miss home! Can't wait to finish. ...more "

Sep 11, 2012 01:58PM · see review