About Cinda Chavich My background I studied English in university and journalism in college, here on the Canadian prairies where I was born and raised, and where I live today. I grew up in a family of hard-working immigrants who taught me that integrity is something that you earn, but you can't buy, and that you can't go wrong by doing things right. I spent more than 20 years as a staff writer in daily newspapers. I am now an independent writer, contributing to national newspapers like the Globe and Mail, and to magazines from Chatelaine and Canadian Geographic, to Wine Access, Avenue, Cooking Light and Health. My experiences I have worked as a reporter covering everything from cops and courts to local government and business. For most of the last 15 years, I have concentrated on feature writing, acting as the food editor at two major Canadian daily newspapers and writing food and travel features, wine columns, stories about home style and fashion, and Sunday features about popular culture and people. I've written stories about everything from historic cowgirls and couples who collect Christmas ornaments, to Barbie dolls, e-Bay addicts and long horn cattlemen. I've interviewed Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck, Wolf Blass, Todd English and Michael Smith, technically tasted Tignanello and Petrus with the winemakers, explored the underground cellars of Beaune and the attic acetias of Modena. I've traveled as a working journalist to Hong Kong, Athens, Provence, Mexico, Madrid, PEI, the Baja Penninsula, Frankfurt, Anchorage, Montreal, Kansas City, San Francisco, Houston, Jamaica, Bombay, Bordeaux , Baden-Baden and all points in between to write about food, travel, culture and history. I am not a chef, but I have likely been in a wider variety of kitchens and tested a more diverse collection of recipes than most professional cooks. My skills I am a skilled journalist, researcher and writer with an unbounded curiosity. I am able to find a fascinating angle to almost any story, whether I'm traveling in a foreign country or asked to explore a new downtown business development. Compelling non-fiction writing is my specialty. Food and wine is my area of expertise. My stories are always topical and user-friendly, often including tips, sidebars and how-tos. I have a weekly radio segment talking about food on CBC radio and spent some time as a radio news reporter. I can cut audio "tape" using a computer and proficiently handle a 35 mm camera. Some of my photographs have been published along with stories in national newspapers. I have worked as a producer/stylist for food and fashion photo shoots, and dealt with models, photographers, page designers and graphic artists in the production of specialty newspaper layouts, brochures and other publications. I cook, write recipes for my own stories and books, and have written copy and developed recipes for corporate clients. My passions I am an information junky who loves to read, travel, debate and discuss everything from the state of journalism and corporate concentration to the best way to sear a scallop. I am passionate about good food, the people who produce it, and the environment, and I always look for the best quality ingredients, in season and from local growers, and food that is prepared from scratch by equally passionate individuals. I also dearly love my husband, my cats, my cabin in the woods, and my garden. top of page