Who am I to start a blog on local foods? I could go on about my years of experience in the kitchen, my degree from a culinary institute and hours upon hours of cooking under top chefs. I have none of those. We're off to a poor start already. I am no sort of expert except as being a corporate tool…which has absolutely nothing to do with cooking. Or produce. Or having a blog. But I can order out a mean Pad Khing with a Guam Cam appetizer. ..which is pretty difficult when you live in Boonsboro, MD. Yeah, you got it, I have no qualms about importing take-out from Northern Virginia. And don't start with me about there are perfectly decent Thai restaurants locally. You're wrong. And on this, I will not relent. Anyway, back to the subject. Frankly, I'm more qualified to hunt out a good deal at Nordstrom Rack than I am as chef….or even a cook.

But that brings me to my reason why. After years of sales and marketing - spinning the words of executives into something charming to the public and less like the nonsense that comes out of their mouths, I am on a quest to save my soul. Yeah, you heard me. Save my soul - not unlike Jake and Elwood, I am on a quest.

I have been in the corporate world for over 13 years. I shed my country flannels (not grunge, they were quilted) and ripped jeans and disowned the values of my hippie parents. Face it, being raised by poor hippies is no picnic. It's like being raised by feral cats. I'd rejected the nonsense of all the tree-hugging, incense burning, Beatles singing, healthy living, feel good, love every one wah wah wah wah. Don't get me wrong, I still believe in the greater good. I just don't go for the one with nature and love everyone nonsense. In fact, I've actively rejected it much to my mother's dismay. I've embraced my consumerism. There's nothing better than slipping on a pair of snakeskin stilettos, grabbing your Kate Spade handbag, and sipping your venti caramel macchiato. Yeah, some people have therapy to get over their childhood, I have BCBG.

But, I think I've lost my balance a little. There has to be someplace between glass buildings with cubicles and hippie communes! So - how do I save my soul? Well, like any good project manager, I have a plan. I haven't put it in Microsoft Project yet…but I will. I'm starting with rediscovering my community. Hence, my interest in wanting to "eat local." I like to eat good, fresh foods. And eating local is good. It supports local farmers and helps preserve farms. And it's healthy. And promoting farmers and healthy food is something wonderful. That's the saving my soul part. Doing good for the community…