Who am I?

Just who am I running a site called The Authentic Ethnic? Well, I am many things to many people. I am a 45 year old woman currently residing in Maine. I have, though, lived in several states, on a few continents and in a few countries such as the UK (Wales and England) and Morocco.

This was borne purely out of my own frustrations at seeing ''the world'' from home cooks posting recipes to five star trained and acclaimed Chefs creating foods from many countries and yet showing a major lack of even the most basic of concepts regarding whatever particular country the dish is meant to represent.

I once had a website dedicated only to Morocco and Moroccan cooking, the real Moroccan cooking. Because someone puts tomato and basil in a dish does that automatically qualify it to be called Italian? Of course not! I still to this very day cannot watch such notables as Bobby Flay and Cat Cora do their ''Moroccan'' cooking. I simply cannot do it!

For the love of all that is good in this world, at the very least add ''style'' to the end of it; such as Moroccan Style, Italian Style, etc. I am so very tired of food misconceptions and myths that I intend to attempt to put a stop to it in my own little corner of the world at the very least.

I have written food columns published in Morocco, Spain and India and the lack of understanding I found regarding true ''ethnic'' cuisine was astounding! Need an example? Here goes. I spent three years writing a Moroccan food column in print overseas and then placed online at a popular cooking site post publication here in the US. I received an email one day from a very sincere lady wanting to throw an authentic Moroccan dinner party. So, she sent me her menu and asked me for ideas as well as what was missing from this menu. I had to write back and say ''everything is missing! You have an Indian menu here. If you'd like, we can work out a Moroccan menu for you together.'' She was shocked as was I.

As I have said, this is my own attempt once again, to bust the myths concerning cooking from around the world. I owe it to myself and also to those truly seeking to make the real deal and not some faux representation. I will write as often as time allows, post THE most authentic recipes and add some photos all being well.

So, hop on and enjoy the culinary ride!

Elizabeth
c.\2009