What is Randy’s Eat Shop and, by the way, who is Randy? Good questions. I am Randy. And here’s how Randy’s Eat Shop was born.
Randy’s Eat Shop Origins
I started cooking for myself when I was 15 years old. Having been the last child in our family and separated by my oldest sibling by 14 years (I was ring-bearer at her wedding before I started kindergarten), by the time I reached being a teenager my mother was tired of raising a family. So, after one particular heated (read: “hangry”) conversation between my mother and me, she decided I could take over my meal prep myself and she would care for her and my father’s meals. She got me a canvas backpack from the army surplus store and showed me that the grocery store was within walking distance from our house. I was to receive a weekly financial stipend in cash to buy my own groceries. And now I was in charge of my culinary needs. Frankly, it was fine by me!
Cooking is a Creative Outlet of Which You Are in
Complete Control
So I started researching recipes (this was long before the Internet and Google search) and I actually relished cooking for myself. I ultimately worked in the advertising industry as a graphic designer and so cooking was a fun extension for my creativity. Preparing food excites all of a human’s senses — taste, smell, touch, hearing . . . even sight. Adding ingredients together in a recipe by the ingredient colors is a visually beautiful experience and can result in very tasty food.
The Birth of Randy’s Eat Shop
I became adept at customizing recipes to my preferred taste and frequently when I entertained friends by cooking a meal they would ask for the recipe. Having amassed a sizable amount of “customized” recipes, I decided, for the fun of it, to brand my culinary creations. Hence, Randy’s Eat Shop was born.
Where Did “Eat Shop” Come From?
Now, the name “eat shop” was something I borrowed from a greasy-spoon haunt my father used to take by brother and me to for some of the best burgers around. It was a tiny diner well off the beaten track that only the locals would know about in the city where I grew up. Because of those favored memories, I wanted to adopt the idea of an eat shop where the food is tasty, comfortable, and easy. Hence Randy’s Eat Shop tagline: Recipes That Rock! Food That’s Friendly. All of the recipes posted in the section of this website under Recipes for Fun Patio Food are easy to make, so the food is friendly. And people rave about the taste, so the recipes rock.
Create and Enjoy Patio Friendly Food
I encourage you to have fun creating food that’s patio friendly. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Enjoy trying something new or different. And by all means, always remember that every day is Friday on the patio! Cheers to your next culinary adventure.
