Hi, my name is Jonathan, but feel free to call me Jon. Or Johnny. Or Jon Jon. Or Jonny-Boy. Don’t call me Jonny-Boy. I’m sort of your average, everyday, run of the mill, food-obsessed guy. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I’m kind of crazy about cooking and baking, but let’s be honest, I’m mostly crazy about eating. I’ve been eating ever since I can remember, and do you want to know something? I’m still not bored of it. I could eat, non-stop, at every single hour of the day and I’m okay with that. I guess it makes sense that I photograph food and come up with recipes for a living, because I get to stuff my face day in and day out with nothing but delicious food. I’m just glad that I get to share it all with you. Guard your doughnuts though, they’re sort of (and by sort of I mean completely and utterly) my weakness.
At an early age, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to cooking and baking because being in the kitchen was something I couldn’t imagine not doing. And now that I’m all grown up—not really, I’m just a kid pretending to be an adult—I realize that life is all about the simple pleasures in it. Not about fancy cars or lots of money. Simple pleasures we take for granted, like warm bread fresh out of the oven. Or crispy potatoes topped with lots of melted cheese, because cheese and potatoes should never be separated. Or a stack of doughnuts topped with chocolate and lots of sprinkles. We can talk about that another time though. I’ve also learned that it takes a lot of hard work to do what you love, which is what my mamma has taught me. She still tells me all the time that if I’m going to do something for the rest of my life, it might as well be something I love to do. It should make me happy, and she’s right. We all should be happy.
I guess first and foremost I should mention that this is a photography blog, as well as a recipe blog. I’ve often been told that I display way too many images on my site, and that I should consider cutting them down to only a handful. That would defeat the purpose. The thing is, my blog showcases the recipes I create, through the images themselves. I rely on all those images I photograph, and I hope that most of you do too. Cooking and baking is something visual, and I believe that every step should be depicted so that none of us are lost along the way. At times when people are cooking they often ask, “Am I doing this right?” “What is that step supposed to look like?” My goal is for The Candid Appetite to be a useful tool for everyone out there, whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned pro. That’s why I shoot and share all these images.
I graduated with a degree in photography and through this blog I’ve been able to combine both of my passions in life. I count my blessings every day for each and everyone of you. From the people (strangers from all over the world no less) who have been following and reading and trying out the recipes from the very beginning, to all the new faces I’ve yet to meet. It’s because of ALL of you that I do this in the first place. You make this site possible. I’m only here for the ride. The comments you leave, the feedback you give, it all humbles me beyond words. Let’s continue on this adventure together, just cooking and baking good food and trying new things. Sharing it all with those we love so that we can put a smile on their faces. Isn’t that what life is all about?
All the best,
Jonathan. Jon. Johnny. Jon Jon.
…Jonny-Boy