All About Whats4Eats

Whats4Eats is a website designed as a celebration of the various cuisines of the world. It started as a big, messy pile of recipes in a box that moved around the country with me for about 10 years. It went on the web in 1999 as a way of getting rid of that box.

A Work in Progress

Whats4eats is currently a hobby. I have a regular job during the week and am only able to work on the website as I find time. My first priority is to research and build a list of the typical dishes of each country. I then add in recipes as I go. Recipes that have been added show up as a link on the country pages. If a recipe title isn't a link, the recipe hasn't been added yet.

Research

I have a degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America in New York and have worked in the foodservice industry for 15 years. I research each country's cuisine with books, in conversations and on the internet. I also shop at local ethnic markets and eat at ethnic restaurants in every city I visit (but primarily in San Francisco where I live). I gather menus, eat extravagantly and inquire about local customs in every state and every country I visit.

Country Background

My primary goal with country backgrounds is to provide a brief synopsis of the country's history, the development of its food culture, and local ingredients, dishes and customs.

List of Typical Dishes

Lists of dishes typical of a country are created on the basis of much research and gustatory investigation . . . I read a lot and I eat a lot. With Whats4eats I try to provide a well-rounded list of dishes that represent the best and most beloved of a country's culinary heritage. That includes not only basic dishes, but also more intricate creations and celebratory items. NOTE: A list of dishes does not equal a list of recipes....yet. The lists usually come first. I cook every dish before I add a recipe. And that takes some time.

Adding Recipes

To add a recipe, I first research each one and find as many versions as possible to see what makes the core of the dish. I then try to cut each dish down to its essentials and, if needed, simplify it. Then I cook every dish and revise the recipe before I add it to the website. This involved process takes longer than I like, but it helps me ensure authenticity. Over time all your favorite recipes will be added and more!

How to Cook

Whats4Eats has a list with simple background and recipe links for many Ingredients. There is a short primer on how to approach basic Cooking Methods. And a section on the importance of Seasonality is also available.

I hope you enjoy the site. I appreciate your feedback and love inquiries from around the world. The next time someone asks, "What's for eats?", send 'em here!

Brad Harvey
"Chef Brad"