Elden LeGaux knows that no matter who you are or where you’re from, everybody loves to eat. Whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook making meals for your family, food is a common language spoken throughout all of humanity. Elden knows that food is more than simply sustenance for survival, it’s a social experience, a culture all unto itself.

Growing up in family with Cajun roots meant that good food was always a huge part of life for Elden. He grew up eating dishes like gumbo and etouffee, crafted by his paternal grandmother. She cooked these classic dishes not with a recipe but by throwing everything into the pot together and tasting it as she went. It was here that Elden also learned to love food for the experience, the opportunity to build and grow relationships as you dine with family and friends, new or old.

It wasn’t until later in his adolescence that Elden’s love for food developed into an equally strong love for cooking. In the seventh grade, students at Elden’s school picked one of four industrial art avenues to pursue: metal shop, wood shop, foods, and sewing. After trying (and hating) metal shop, Elden chose foods, and a lifelong love developed. In this class, Elden learned how to cook; he learned how to operate in a kitchen and how to handle and use knives safely and effectively, skills he’s carried with him through his life.

To help him learn about the latest foodie trends and developments in the industry, Elden subscribes to all of the best industry publications, including Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and Saveur. He loves to absorb the ever emerging and burgeoning amount of different information there is out there about food and cultures and how the two interact with one another. One of his favorite publications, Cooks Illustrated, tackles the art of cooking in a unique way; it focuses on the art and science of cooking and dives in deep showing how you can improve the dish the next time you make it.

When Elden views his life, he sees cooking as his creative medium. He doesn’t play an instrument and isn’t a painter or a sculptor, so for him, food is the form of artistic expression that he brings to the world. Elden knows that food can be one of the most vibrant and colorful mediums that exists, and he loves combining his culinary skill and ability to create food and bring people together over a communal dining experience. When people come to his house, they rarely leave hungry.

Like any true foodie, Elden knows that no dish is complete without the right pairing of wine; he delights in helping others discover how to enjoy and appreciate wine on a deeper level than most people do. Despite his skill and devotion, Elden remains firm in his belief that being a foodie and enjoying cooking shouldn’t be snobby or exclusionary. Eating and cooking are common languages spoken by all, and everybody  — chef or not — loves to share their favorite recipes and foods.

Check out Elden’s blog for his latest cooking tips and updates!