I'd Rather Be A Chef has been a true passion project for me since 2015. At that time, I was miserable working at a company I had created. One night, my wife asked me what it was that I wanted, and I blurted out, "I'd rather be a chef than do this!" Let's get into the story of how everything unfolded from there.
From Burned Out, Overweight Executive to Food Blogger
My entire life has been a struggle with maintaining my weight. Please read more about the ups-and-downs of my journey to get a better picture.
My professional career began in 1998 and peaked in 2010 as the President of a very successful physician staffing group. At the time, I was 33 years old and completely burned out, so I resigned.
In 2011, I started a cooking school and catering company called The Chubby Cook. The name alone is enough to understand my weight issues at the time.
Table of Contents
My Passion for Cooking Unleashed
In 2010, my professional cooking experience was limited to the classroom and controlled environments. With two small kids at home, I knew the restaurant life wasn't for me.
I started a food blog called The Chubby Cook and within months had thirty thousand visitors a month. I decided to bring my online world to a cooking school of my own.
The doors to The Chubby Cook Cooking School & Catering Company opened in 2011. My culinary education continued with some of the best chefs teaching at my school from around the world.
Burnout, Breakdown and Back on My Feet
As happens in the professional cooking world, my schedule expanded to 18-20 hour days, seven days a week. Not a great way to be a good father, husband or to be living the human experience. I was completely burned out.
I closed the doors to The Chubby Cook in 2013 and started another endeavor. Please read about my professional journey to learn more. My new company almost killed me and led to a complete breakdown.
Sleep deprived, stressed beyond belief, overworked, overeating, binge drinking... I was a mess. This is when my wife asked me what I want to do and I simply blurted out "I'd rather be a chef than do this!"
She said "So do it. But figure out how to be home with your family." This is when I created this blog, I'd Rather Be a Chef. I'm convinced it has saved my life, my marriage and made me a better person.
Embracing a Low Carb Lifestyle: A slow burn
In 2016, I was 335+ pounds (152kg), binge eating and drinking heavily as a coping mechanism to where I found myself in life compared to my expectations.
I was diagnosed pre-diabetic with high blood pressure, sleep apnea, an ulcer and my doctor told me that I was most likely headed for a stroke or heart attack.
Six months later, after intensive research, I adopted the low carb lifestyle completely. Rather than blogging about it, I decided to live it for 1 full year.
During that year, I created hundreds of new recipes, lost 140 pounds and fell in love with this way of eating.
Having fun making cooking videos 2022
The Pivot to Sharing Low Carb Recipes
Knowing my true passion for the low carb lifestyle led me to making a complete pivot for this blog. I moved completely from gluten-free recipes to low carb and ketogenic friendly recipes.
This is why you will find non-low-carb recipes on my site... they are from an equally important time in my life when I was not following the general guidelines of low carb eating.
After moving to France in 2018 (Yes, I still live in France!), I took a break from blogging. I developed hundreds of new low carb and keto recipes during my break and have been sharing them since restarting in 2023.
Now I'm here to help others follow the low carb framework and build community, knowing that we are stronger together!
The I'd Rather Be A Chef Recipe Website
Over the years, I'd Rather Be A Chef has become a trusted resource for all things low carb and keto... always with an eye toward a balanced approach to this way of cooking and eating.
My recipes use whole foods without a hint of gluten, refined sugar, or pretentiousness. I understand that everyone is on their unique eating journey... my goal is to share good recipes that are also low carb!
Getting Around the Website
If you're new to I'd Rather Be A Chef, let me take a moment to show you around:
- My Recipe Index page allows you to dig through all the recipes quickly and easily to find your next family favorite!
- If you're new to Low Carb, take a look at my Low Carb for Beginners series... packed with information and free downloads! And I have a series for those of you looking to RESTART low carb too.
- Looking to learn more about low carb in general? I work with nutritionists and registered dieticians to share what I'm learning in these two areas: Is it low carb? and in our Low Carb Articles.
- Check out my FAQ page... It's got the answers to so many questions I receive.
Keeping In Touch
There are many ways to keep up with the latest posts and low carb recipes here at I'd Rather Be A Chef.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for the latest recipes and updates. Or, you can choose to subscribe to join the community where we are stronger together.
The Team At I'd Rather Be A Chef
Working in the low-carb diet space is very important to me. Because the nutritional information regarding this way of eating is always evolving, I've assembled an exceptional team of nutritionists to navigate these complexities.
From personalized meal planning to evidence-based dietary practices this team of nutritionists have very robust backgrounds to ensure our guidance is accurate and up-to-date.
Scott Groth: Pro Blogger & Content Creator
A seasoned chef and accomplished food blogger, Scott's journey (read his Bio here) encompasses founding a cooking school and operating a catering business. Scott's culinary repertoire is diverse, addressing various dietary needs and preferences such as low-carb, keto, and gluten-free. His approach blends traditional techniques with modern dietary trends.
Brenda Peralta: Registered Dietician Nutritionist
Brenda is a seasoned expert in nutrition and health (read her Bio here), holding credentials as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). Her extensive background in these fields equips her with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective health coaching.
Elizabeth Salvino: Registered Dietician Nutritionist
Elizabeth is a passionate specialist in clinical nutrition and community health (read her Bio here). As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), she excels in providing personalized wellness coaching and nutrition education, drawing from her extensive experience in public health and nutrition initiatives.
Julian Valiao: Registered Dietician Nutritionist
Julian is a dedicated expert in nutrition and personalized meal planning (read her Bio here). Holding credentials as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in evidence-based dietary practices to her role.