I'm a very simple, sincere, confident fellow (to the Jewish ladies, a real Mensch) with a strong sense of devotion to the people I love, a profound admiration for proper punctuation, and a driving passion for all things dealing with good, healthy food and the growth of a local, sustainable food culture in California.

I grew up in LA, have roots on the East Coast that I stay pretty true to-- I appreciate a bit of intensity, attitude, and good old-fashioned wit-- and recently relocated to the Bay almost a year ago by way of Italy.

I make and bake epic, toothsome, crusty loaves of bread at your favorite SF bakery.

Using my hands to create things that bring others pleasure: Cooking and baking in the kitchen, strumming on the guitar, and, most recently, learning to throw on the potter's wheel.

Picking out a sweet ditty (mostly old country blues) on the guitar.

Borscht Belt Humor.

Quiet confidence, mischievous grin.

Currently reading "Up In The Old Hotel," by Joseph Mitchell-- a collection of New Yorker articles and profiles from 1930's New York-- and deeply enjoying it. Also an unabashed fan of graphic novels, The Lord Of The Rings, and cheesy science fiction/fantasy.

Woody Allen's "Manhattan" is right up there at the top, as are Wong Kar Wai's "In The Mood For Love," and "Night On Earth" by Jim Jarmusch.

Music: Joao Gilberto, Jonathan Richman, Cannonball Adderley, Hank Williams......... This list is too, too long; Let's compare over a warm pot of tea sometime.

Food: Steaming hot, fresh-from-the-oven bread with butter and salt. Olive oil on everything-- sweet, savory, everything. Swiss chard, beans, and poached eggs.

I'll take sincerity over sarcasm and irony any day of the week.