OK
let’s see
In 1998 I entered a cooking contest called “The International Spicy Food Contest”
My entry was a “Mango Habanero Sauce”.It won first prize in the
amateur hot sauce category!

“$4000 check towards a degree in Culinary Arts, to the school of my choice.”

SO
At the ripe old age of 44, I decided to go back to school and become a Chef.
That meant going to school with kids my kid’s age.
My reasoning was this; I didn't want to wake up later in life, look back, and say..
What if I had done that?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I chose to study under Chef Shawn Otto. This proved to be a challenge because the
apprenticeship was at St.Vincent College/ Monastery.
That meant my customer base was 500+  college students and 90  Benedictine
Monks. Just to make it more interesting the college is where the Pittsburgh Steelers
conduct there spring training. What a diverse group! The cooking duties consisted
of lunch and dinner daily for all of the above. Parkherst Corp. also did catering
events from 2 to 2000. I actually cooked for ex-vice president Chaney, a bishop or
two, the Abbot, and an occasional foreign dignitary looking to make a sizeable
donation to the college. A few cooking jobs later. I was hired by Central Market,
became a Sous Chef, and helped develop and write all the beginning corporate
recipes under Chef Jennifer Smith.
A lady,"I feel" is the most talented Chef I have ever known!

For four Years I owned and operated
"The Dive Café"
Located at Skydive Dallas. It is a very small walk up dinner where I was able to  
exercise my creative itch by putting together diverse lunch plate specials like a
"Pecan-crusted Tilapia Salad" to Kangaroo Burgers…and…… fulfill my other
passion-Skydiving!
For a brief time I became The Executive Chef for Gils Elegant Catering.
A catering company that was ranked in the top 5 in the Dallas area
Now,
I am a Food Stylist, Specialty Food Analyst, Recipe Profiler, and
Personal Chef. I design recipes for people with specific dietary needs
&
I have done some consulting work.
Finally on the more subdued side
I have started to do "Skydiving videos"
for
"Skydive Dallas"

There you go an abbreviated version of my life in the culinary field and a little touch
of the obscure.
I hope this helps!
Mikel Lawrence
“The Skydiving Chef”
A Brief Bio