This year, a majority of consumers who want to go out for a romantic dinner will not be able to do so. Some will order specialty dishes from their favorite local restaurants, but a great many will scour the internet for the perfect recipe, compile a shopping list, purchase ingredients (perhaps online for home delivery), and set off to prepare a meal at home.

Having spent years as a professional chef, I stay in touch with dozens of restaurant chefs and research chefs, old friends and new acquaintances, located worldwide.

Your weekly reduction!

Your weekly reduction!

Your weekly reduction!

Hardly anything is more natural than dancing. A spin here, a twirl there. Dip and float across the floor. I had the chance to see samples of dances from around the world at a recent festival in my town.

This is one of those things that can surprise you in your work. One day you are at the bench behaving as a proper food scientist, the next you're pouring over legal documents making a desperate attempt to understand new food regulations. Let's hope you have a legal department to sift through new legislation.

Well, I've begun running again. I don't mean to throw that in the face of anyone who wants to exercise but for whatever reason doesn't, and feels a puncture of guilt and disapproval each time he hears of someone successfully putting a body in motion.

OK, here it is. I lick my finger and press it into the salt corralled into the corner of an empty pretzel bag. I do it. I do it every time.

I watch my belly grow everyday. Sometimes I think, oh, I just ate, that is why it is round. And then I see it first thing in the morning and I realize, no, there is no food in there.