The number one question people ask me when it comes to cooking is,

"Where did I get it from, or who taught you how to cook?"

 

Well, here's my story. As a small boy with five sisters, I was a little mischievous or, as my sisters would say, "Absolutely Annoying." As a result, my mother would call me into the kitchen, and there, she would tell me to measure this and measure that, stir this pot, check the oven, peel potatoes, slice onions, etc. 

 

So, it was punishment turned into passion. On my mother's side, I learned to cook, bake, and explore recipes in the kitchen. With my mother, everything was from scratch, not out of a can or jar. If we had spaghetti, there were no RAGU jars around (No offense to the makers of RAGU). Still, she gathered her tomato sauce, paste, oregano, diced tomatoes, Garlic, and onion powder. 

 

Let me stop before I give you her recipe, but you get the picture. My mother prepared gravies and sauces from scratch. My mother taught me how to match a variety of seasonings with certain meats and vegetables.

 

The four things she would always say to me that will never escape my memory are:

 

Son, it takes time to cook good food and you can't rush the stove or the oven.

 

-Your food presentation should be as good as your food.

 

-Whether cooking for yourself or others, you must be clean!

 

-The joy of good cooking is watching people enjoy it.

 

However, when it comes to whole hog cooking and grilling (must credit the late Ernest (FATS) Gorham and Charles Gorham), who gave me great pointers and through trial and experience, I have developed my process and perfection.

 

Cooking has been my passion for years, and the dream of owning a restaurant once felt far beyond my reach and available time. But here we are now, living the dream.

The name

 

You have probably already guessed that the business was named Dad's Place by my children. That may have stemmed from every holiday when the question was asked, "Where are we having dinner?" and their response was always the same: "At Dad's Place." So there you have it-Dad's Place. And I added Homestyle Cooking and Catering.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Aaron B. McNair, Sr.

Owner