Winner of Your Best Recipe with Tea

Congratulations to thefood, whose Tea with Honey and Lemon Compound Butter won the contest for Your Best Recipe with Tea!

Describe an early food experience that has influenced the way you think about food and/or cooking.
As with so many families, I grew up in a family that was very food focused so I didn't really know that people who couldn't cook even existed; early experiences are pretty typical in that they involve me standing on a chair stirring batters or soups. However, in my early twenties my real food focus started developing as I moved in with my girlfriend (who is a chef). We've experienced a lot of fabulous meals, snacks and treats together over the years, and our life now is so food-centric it's a bit laughable!

What's your least favorite kitchen task?
I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to heat (bbq-ing, straining large pots of boiling liquids, etc) so I usually get my better half to deal with those things!  

Your favorite kitchen tool?
Le Creuset dutch ovens, my oval shaped stainless measuring cups and spoons, soup spoons, mini whisks, and my dishwasher. If you make me choose just one, I'd take soup spoons!

What is your idea of comfort food?
Messy cheeseburgers and good fries (I'm a french fry connoisseur).

What is your greatest kitchen disaster?
Oh goodness, there have been so many! There was a dinner party that involved failed short ribs, a midnight grocery run for a substitute main course, overcooked grilled peaches, and crème brûlée that couldn't be brûléed due to three blow torches being out of fuel…yet we had so much fun at that dinner party that none of it seemed to matter!