After a couple of years in restaurant kitchens, he and his wife, Mary Lee Keane, went to Italy following the closing of a particular restaurant where he had been working. Nobody picked it up - that was back in 1979. But I discovered I liked writing and decided I would do more. I took writing classes and wrote some food stories for the Daily News. Eventually he ended up as the food editor for the San Jose Mercury, which is when he began the commuting that would lead to his latest cookbook.
Some people can just come home and have a bowl of cereal.
I can't do that. It's just not me. I started with pastas, which are the most logical things. I got pretty good at what I call throw-togethers. Just take what you have in the refrigerator and pantry, throw it together with some pasta and you have a meal.