Allow Me To Introduce Myself!!!

SNOB-”A person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field.”

Chef Marc @ Work

Allow me to introduce myself…my name is Marc B. Johnson.  I am a 33 year old, proud African American male, and raised in Northern Virginia (DC Metro Area).  In 1999, I was awarded a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science (Minoring in African American Studies and Minoring in History).  Since I was 17 years of age, I have either studied the science of politics or have worked in the field of politics.  I have worked for such political luminaries as Virginia State Senator Henry Marsh III (The First African American Mayor of Richmond, Virginia), Former Virginia Governor and Current Richmond Mayor, L. Douglas Wilder (Mayor Wilder was the first African American in U.S. History to be elected governor of a state), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), U.S. Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (Current Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus).  I have worked on congressional campaigns, worked for nonprofits and government agencies, and I am currently working for the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.  You’re probably asking yourself, “What in the hell does this have to do with food or being a snob for that matter?”

I wanted to illustrate the dichotomy of my life.  My love and passion for food is about as accidental as a lovechild of a Flavor Flav and Halle Berry (Parish the thought).  I always loved food, and always loved to cook.  I come from a family of Southern African American home cooks, chefs, and caterers (My grandmother, who worked for a highly connected gentleman in Northern Virginia, cooked for Mamie Eisenhower and the Queen of England)…and we are all damn competitive, so the seeds were planted (By the way, the men in my family are as good, if not better, than the females in my family).  Politics is a love of my life, but politics hasn’t been good to me.  However, if it wasn’t for politics, I wouldn’t be contemplating a career change.  If it wasn’t for politics, I wouldn’t be interested in food, thus starting this blog.  I was working for Congresswoman Kilpatrick back in 2003.  I just got married, just rented a new apartment, and working long hours on the Hill, for very demanding people (For the record, Congresswoman Kilpatrick is fantastic).  I was “stressed the f**k out”. 

One night I am flipping through channels, and I came upon some guy in a white chef’s coat, cooking before a live studio audience.  He had a band, had a Massachusetts accent, and said “BAM!!!”.  Yup…it was “Emeril Live”, and from that moment on, I have been interested in the creating and consumption of food.  I don’t have the time and money for culinary school, so I have created my own.  I have had great teachers, Emeril Lagasse, Anthony Bourdain, Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, Paula Deen, etc.  I buy and read books on culinary technique, recipes, and the personalities that go into creating some of the best dishes on the planet.  I have learned some much, and now I want to share my opinions and views on something that I hold so dear.

BlackFoodSnob was designed for a few reasons:  (1) To educate, (2) To inform, and (3) To start debate.  My main audience is African Americans, however, all walks of life are welcome.  African Americans have a rich culinary tradition, but unfortunately it gets lost in the tradition of other cuisines in America, and moreso…I feel that African Americans (Especially of my generation) have simply lost interest in food.  I would like to rekindle that love and passion that African American families have had for food for such a long time.  My commentary will sometimes sting, and to be quite honest…I hope it does.  In the end, I just hope that whoever reads my blog, that they will become as energized about food as I have.

Lastly…what’s with the title, “BlackFoodSnob”.  An African American co-worker of mine, once called me a “snob” because of some remark I made about food.  I resented the remark, but I asked myself, “Am I?”  I don’t think so, but of course, I can’t change peoples’ opinions of me one way or the other.  The title of the blog is hyperbolic, but it speaks to the perception of some who know me or who may read this and think that I am a snob.  Hell…I might as well play along…right?

Well…I hope this gives you a little bit of insight into what I am, and what this blog will be about.  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!