Confessions of Two College Foodies, Neighbor

Hi, I'm Johnny. And I'm Nicole. We have been good friends for 4 years now. We were originally brought together by our musical talents in our high school show choir group, but it is our passion for good food and friends that has kept us connected as we have grown through the years. Both of us have really taken an interest in the preparation, and of course, the eating of food. We love to experiment with new flavors and recipes. And we are always excited to come together and prepare a feast for our beautiful friends and family. We are nortorious for our movie-dinner parties where we theme our food to the movie we are watching that evening. And we have both become skilled in pulling together fantastic meals from almost nothing. In addition to our culinary adventures in the kitchen, we have explored and are still exploring the diverse dishes and flavors of local restaurants in and around Orange County. We hope you enjoy our stories as we navigate through our kitchens, parties, and local restaurants in our quest to connect with others through the gift that is food!

Ciao! My name is Johnny. I'm studying screenwriting and broadcast journalism at Chapman University in Orange, CA. I have 3 passions: film, food, and friends. For me, there is nothing better than spending an evening surrounded by friends, watching a good film, and enjoying good food. So, how did I get into the "foodie" world? Let's just say, I was born this way. I am half Italian on my mother's side and have been rolling meatballs and boiling pasta since before I could right a bike. Through my years of being in the kitchen with my mom and learning the Italian ways, I have learned how food works and how it doesn't. And because my mom always entertained on holidays, or even during the middle of the week, I have always recognized how important good food is to everyone. Now that I am older and on my own, I greatly value the skills my mother taught me and will always continue to put them to good use. I have tons of recipes, opinions, and that I can't wait to share with all you. As they say in Italy, Bon Apetito!

Hi there, my name is Nicole. I am a student at California State University, Long Beach, who's major is now a toss up between film and some sort of marketing or public relations concentration. Even though I have not set a firm plan yet, one thing is for certain: if there is anything I love more than movies, it is food. I can thank my mother for instilling this passion within me. Whether it was our annual trips to Walt Disney World, or two week treks to Europe, I was very blessed at a young age to be able to travel and experience the world. Kids menus did not exist to me as my mother insisted that my sister and I order "real food". Thus filet mignon and chocolate souffle seemed absolutely normal to me at age nine when most of my friends were eating chicken fingers and fudgesicles. Everything I know about cooking and food comes from my mom, who taught me how to create comforting, nurtitious meals that anyone can enjoy. Although I do enjoy savory, I have a particular fondness for sweets. As a completely self taught baker, I love forcing everyone I know to try my latest cookie, or creating themed, decorated treats for our movie nights. My philosophy, no matter it it's a cupcake or mommy's stuffed pork chops, is that food is the basis for all great memories, and I am so excited to share my stories and create new ones on this culinary adventure.