Oct 29 (edited) • Culinary School Ramblings
Day 1: My First Day at Culinary School (and I’ve Got No Fucking Idea What I’m Doing)
It’s October 2025, and I’m finally sitting down to share something I did way back in January through March of this year.
For twelve weeks, I went through the Culinary Training Program at the Central Texas Food Bank, and it’s taken me this long to process it all.I’ve thought about it nearly every day since, not in a “that was fun” way, but in a something about that changed me and I still can’t explain it kind of way.
So this is me, nine months later, trying to make sense of it. It’s a recap, a reflection, and something that’s been burning inside me to share.
I don’t know what it means yet.I don’t know where it leads.But I know I’m supposed to do this, to write it, to film it, to share it.
Worst case, I donate money to the Food Bank, help some people in need, and finally get this story out of my system. Best case… it becomes something much bigger.
The Call
I’d applied for the program back in October 2024, forgot all about it, and then out of nowhere on December 27th, I got the call:
“Hi Andrew, you’ve been accepted! Orientation’s on January 6th.”
Six. Fucking. Days.
I stood there thinking, how the hell am I going to pull this off? Christmas wasn’t even cleaned up yet.
I called my wife. Then my business partner. Both said the same thing:
“Fucking do it.”
I hesitated for maybe thirty seconds, thinking about the business, the kids, the timing, and then my wife looked me dead in the eye and said:
“You haven’t worked this hard building a business just to say no to the things in life you actually want to do. So fucking do it.”
And that was that. Decision made.
Why I Said Yes
This wasn’t about changing careers.
It was about doing something for me, something that lit me up again, made me curious, and reminded me what joy actually feels like.
I’ve always dreamed of going to culinary school.
But in my dream, I’m retired, living in Paris with my wife, eating croissants in the morning, drinking wine at night, learning from some charming old French chef who smells like butter and garlic, and eating like absolute royalty.
That’s the dream, a proper bucket-list one.And one day, I’ll do it.
But this? This was my version of saying yes to life now.
Starting where I was, with what I had, in Austin, Texas, at the Central Texas Food Bank, learning to cook while helping feed people who really need it.
It's not Paris… but it’s still pretty fucking special.
What I Actually Signed Up For
The Culinary Training Program at the Central Texas Food Bank is a free, 12-week, hands-on course that teaches real-world kitchen skills, knife work, food safety, nutrition, and professionalism.
But it’s more than that. Everything we make helps feed families across Central Texas.
So yeah, I was learning to cook, but I was also learning what it means to server. To cook with love and with heart. To put your energy and soul into food that’s nourishing someone who might desperately need it.
That changes how you see cooking. It's no longer just a recipe, it’s an act of care.
The First Day
Within a few hours, I was shoulder-to-shoulder with sixty-five volunteers, packing 7,000 pounds of sweet potatoes. Seven-thousand. Fucking. Pounds.
Not exactly what I pictured when I thought of culinary school, but exactly what I needed.It was sweaty, repetitive, and strangely grounding.
Somewhere between potato number 5,000 and 10,000 I realized something:It’s not just about what you eat. It's about who you eat with.
That’s where the real meaning lives.
Why Cooking Matters (to Me)
I’d looked into fancy culinary schools, the $35k ones, but that’s not what I wanted.I’m not chasing a Michelin star.
I just want to understand food, the science, the flavors, the why behind it. How to build depth. How to get away from the ultra-processed shit we’re all fed and cook food that actually nourishes.
Food is medicine. Food is Connection. Food is Love.
When you’re sick, there’s that one comfort food that fixes everything.When you’re traveling, you try something new and it changes you.And when you’re standing awkwardly at school drop-off trying to talk to other parents, somehow the conversation always comes back to food, and suddenly, everyone joins in.
Food breaks barriers. It connects people. It's the one language we all speak.
And when you cook with love, with heart, you can feel it. You’re not just throwing things in a pan; you’re nourishing someone. You’re giving off energy, putting soul into something that might be exactly what someone needs that day.
Starting Fresh
When I first started culinary school, I made videos every day. Posted them. Shared them. Then I deleted everything.
Not because I regretted it, but because it didn’t feel right.
I wanted a clean slate. New social media. New domain. New everything. A full reset.
I didn’t want to chase trends or go viral.I just wanted to build something authentic.Something that actually felt like me.
So here we are, starting again.If you saw the old videos, thank you.If you’re seeing them again, don’t complain.
They’ve got more purpose now. They’re not just for me anymore. They’re for anyone who wants to connect, learn, laugh, and maybe feel something real.
Do I care about likes and follows this time?
Sure, because I want this to be successful. But not for ego.I want to give back, to the Food Bank, to the friends I made, and to the new audience that gives a shit. I want to lead, to inspire, and to do some good in the world.
Learning As I Go
Here’s the truth, I’ve got no formal training in any of this.I’m learning as I go. Cooking, filming, editing, writing, all of it.
I’d never edited a video before, so please have some patience with me.The videos are short, messy, real, but full of love.
I’m doing this while raising three kids, running a business, and figuring out how to be creative again. It's chaos, but it’s good chaos.
What Comes Next
I’m sharing this day by day, everything I learned from culinary school, what I felt, what I saw, what I fucked up, and what surprised me.
There’ll be recipes, reflections, stories, and lessons. But more than that, I hope this builds a community of people who want to get better at something, cooking, creating, slowing down, living.
Cooking, for me, is meditative. It's how I slow my brain down and reconnect.
If you’re looking for that too, to feel grounded, creative, and connected, then this is for you.
It’s for anyone who’s sick of eating ultra-processed shite, who’s tired of scrolling past videos of perfect meals they’ll never make.
It's for the ones who don’t cook, or can’t cook, but fucking want to.
Who want to nourish themselves, their kids, their families, their mates.
It’s for the people who want to experience new cultures and flavors, who care about where their food comes from and the stories behind it.
The ones who give a shit, about themselves, about others, about living a life that actually means something.
It’s for people who crave community and conversation, who want to learn, share, and teach.
Who want to talk about food, memories, culture, travel, and everything in between.
Who want to swap recipes and stories that have been passed down through generations, or even start new ones.
This is for anyone who wants to feel connected again, to their food, their people, and their purpose.
Because it’s not just about what you ate for dinner. It's about who you ate with.
Let’s Do Some Good Together
Every time someone follows me, I donate to the Central Texas Food Bank.
But here’s the twist: The more people follow, the more I have to give.
- 1¢ per follower up to 25,000
- 5¢ per follower from 25,001–150,000
- 10¢ per follower after that
- Capped at $10,000 (for now 👀)
So the faster we grow, the more I donate, and the sooner we hit $10K in meals for families across Central Texas.
Let’s see how fast you can make me hit that $10,000 goal.
You follow. I donate. We feed people. Easy.
Because food should bring people together, not leave anyone hungry.
You can also donate directly to the Central Texas Food Bank.Every dollar helps put real meals on real tables.
💬 Let’s Talk
A follow is awesome, but what I really want is conversation.
Ask questions.
Start discussions.
Tell me what you want to learn, what you want me to try, what you want to know more about.
Do you want challenges? Cooking experiments? Behind-the-scenes chaos?
Tell me. Let’s make it happen.
This isn’t just my story, it’s ours.Let’s build it together.
Comment down below.
So yeah, Day 1 done.
I was tired, sore, and probably smelled like a sweet potato.But I felt fucking alive.
Maybe that’s the point, to start before you’re ready, to do the thing that scares you, and to remember it’s never too late to follow what you love.
Stick around for Day 2, when I finally get to cook something, and hopefully don’t fuck it up too badly.
Cheers
Andy
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Day 1: My First Day at Culinary School (and I’ve Got No Fucking Idea What I’m Doing)
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I’m on a mission to help people rediscover real food, the kind that nourishes, connects, and sparks joy.
Feed people. Feed connection. Feed joy.
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