Crystal Walls

What do your friends call you?

Crystal.... but my husband calls me, Snookie Poo. That's so interesting that I have to include it.

Who is/was your greatest inspiration when it comes to cooking?

Probably my dad. He used to watch the PBS cooking shows religiously every Sunday. He loved Jacques Pepin and Justin Wilson and Martin Yan. At one point, he cooked his way through Justin Wilson's cookbook - long before Julie Powell made it fashionable.

What is your favorite local haunt?

I love The Love Shack. The one in the Stockyards especially. Great outdoor seating, live music and amazing burgers. You can't get better than that Dirty Love.

When you open a cookbook, what do you see?

It's not so much what I see as what I "hear". Do you remember that scene in Ratatouille where he's describing the incredibly musical way that different flavors blend in your mouth to produce a symphony of flavor? When I open a good cookbook. I hear the symphony of simple flavors combining to produce something beautiful and magical.

What things are essential for you in the kitchen?

The Kitchenaid and a great, sharp set of knives

What’s your cooking philosophy?

Cooking can be a task or it can be art. The difference lies within the person doing it.

What’s the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I didn't cook my first meal until I was 20 years old and my mother was "relieved" when I married someone who could cook because she was afraid I'd starve. For the record, I can't remember the last thing he actually cooked.

If you were having an in-home cooking party at your house, who else would be there?

Well... honestly... only a small handful of dear friends that I don't get to see nearly enough. I know it would be more interesting for me to name off celebrities but I'd rather have a few people that I love and miss. Cooking is warm and personal to me. It's a great way to show love.

What’s your favorite Gourmet Girl recipe?

Tostada Quiche - because it carries with it a flood of emotion and great memories. That's what "favorite" foods should be about.

How do you eat a gingerbread man?

I torture the poor sucker. A bite of arm, a bite of leg, a bite of leg, a bite of arm. Similar to Wesley's description of "to the pain" in A Princess Bride.

Bond or Bourne?

If I have to choose between the two, I'll go with Bourne. But I'm really a sucker for Captain Jack Sparrow.