on Feb 11th, 2010 
Just in time for Valentine’s Day! We are interviewing harem leader, Smutketeer husband and Chef Extraordinaire…Chef Lee-author of …And He Can Cook! How to Hone Your Most Important Dating Skill.
This cookbook has it all. Takes a man from grocery and equipment shopping, to cleaning his house. It’s full of sexy recipes guaranteed to make a woman weak in the knees, as well as advice from all the Smutketeers, and a few other fabulous romance authors on how a woman likes to be treated.
We have a little crush on him. And we all have a few questions.
Eden: When and how did you first come up with the idea to do a how-to cooking and dating book?
Chef Lee: For as long as I can remember, I always seemed to be helping someone come up with a recipe, helping my friends work out the dings in their relationships. (Apparently I look like I know what I’m talking about.) I thought about it a lot over the years, as I worked in different restaurant and resort jobs. I found myself working as a demonstration chef, and it showed me how many people don’t know how to do some of the most basic things in the kitchen, how willing they are to learn, and how clueless some men are about what women want. My wife often gushes over me to her friends, and a phrase she uses is “…And he can cook!” And voila the book was born.
Crystal: Give us your favorite dating tip from the book (It’s too bad you can’t read it to us out loud. You have a super sexy voice. Um…don’t tell your wife I said that.). Why do you think it’s the best tip?
Chef Lee: I actually have a lot of advice sprinkled throughout the book. About not spending more time in front of the mirror than she does, of the dangers of using cologne as a soap substitute etc. But the one most of my male friends seem to be oblivious to, and the one I think helps to get their minds focused on the woman and the evening ahead is:
Clean Your Damn House
Especially the bathroom. Or, if you have the cash, hire a maid service for the day. For around fifty bucks you’ll be able to see the floor’s original color and women won’t be afraid to sit down on your toilet. Also, that weird smell will disappear. What weird smell? Trust me…it’s there. Ask any woman, and she’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The “bachelor” smell.
Feisty: That is so true. Okay, Angelina or Jennifer?
Chef Lee: Um…what?
Feisty: Oh, sorry-we aren’t at the quickfire questions yet. I’m getting excited.
Eden: Me too!! Tell us how you became interested in cooking. Has it ever helped you get the girls?
Were you always so smooth with the ladies? (And you are smooth). (ETA by Eden: And you smell good. Don’t tell your wife I said that).
Chef Lee: I used to watch my mother and grandmother in the kitchen, it was like watching a chemistry experiment. I loved chemistry. Loved to blow things up, like most boys. When I was twelve I asked for a traditional Chinese hand-hammered wok. And the rest is culinary history haha. (And yes, I still have that wok).
As far as success with the ladies…As much as I wanted to be a bad boy on a Harley, I’ve always been kind of a nice guy… a geek…with a Harley. Cooking became my unique skill, my ice breaker. Something that got me noticed and appreciated far more than my stories about my days in the marching band or my infinite knowledge of all things Star Trek.
Cooking did win my wife’s heart. Though she says my sweet ass and bizarre sense of humor helped…I know it was the chocolate raspberry cheesecake and my ability to recreate Benihana’s ginger salad dressing. (And thanks Eden, I try)
Crystal: What’s RG’s favorite recipe from the book? How many times did you test all the recipes on her before she decided?
RG: I know! I know! The Fig and Red Currant Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Wild Rice and Goat Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes!
or the curry dish. Or maybe the Spicy Tuna with Wasabi Aioli. (I can’t decide-and I’ve tried them all…the reason I’m currently dieting.) P.S. Crys, Eden…You know I’m here right? I can see you. LOL
Eden: *G* Speaking of RG, What is it like living with an erotica author? How does she inspire your work?
Chef Lee: Well, I try to make dishes spicy enough to distract her from her current Alpha male. Food that inspires her to use me for research. ;) I suppose that keeps me striving to be my best. But also, as a romance novelist, she provides me with a perfect window into the female psyche-as well as inspiring me to write. Watching how much she has accomplished these last few years really made me believe I could follow my dreams of writing this cookbook. You are lucky in this life if you find a partner who encourages your dreams, and helps you make them come true.
RG: Aww. I think I have some more research to do hon. But I’ll wait until the interview is over.
Chef Lee: Yeehaw!
Feisty: Don’t stop on our account! Any plans for another book?
Chef Lee: Yes! Probably by 2011. A couples cookbook (though And He Can Cook! can be used by both male and female alike) called And Two Can Cook! I’m somewhat of a kitchen nazi at home, though I teach people how to cook for a living. So my wife and I are going to learn by doing. In every other area, we work together very well, but in the kitchen-I’m in teacher mode. This book will have new recipes, and new ways to have fun and be romantic in the kitchen together.
Eden: Sounds great!! Tell us about your website and blog-you have some very interesting features that we think people should know about!
Chef Lee: My website is designed to be a source of continuous information stemming from my book. I have a cooking and dating tip of the week (I need to go put new ones in today) I have compromises on movies that would go well with different recipe themes, and before the year is out I plan on having some instructional videos as well. www.andhecancook.com
And now for some traditional Smutketeer-style quick-and nosey-questions:
~T or A? A…wait does it have to be one?
~Tropical beach or mountain cabin? cabin
~Boxers or briefs? Neither. If commando was good enough for Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse, its good enough for me.
~Champagne or beer? Beeeeeeeeer.
~Top or bottom? Top. Unless I can talk her into reverse cowgi–um…top.
~Sheep or goats? Why? What have you heard? :)
~Angelina or Jennifer? Neither. I would say Minnie Driver or Selma Hayek. And the answer to that is foursome w/ my wife. This is the Smutketeers, I can say that right?
Smutketeers: Always! Thank you Chef for coming to visit! Chef Lee is having a CONTEST. If you spread the word about this great cookbook and post on this blog, you can win a copy of …And He Can Cook! As well as a $20 Amazon gift certificate!
He’ll choose a winner on Sunday.
All for Smut and Smut for All!
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As a proud owner of Lee’s cookbook, I have to comment. First of all the book is hilarious with its common sense advice on dating. Second the recipes are absolutely delicious. I may have to agree with R.G. that the Fig and Red Currant Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Wild Rice and Goat Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes is a top notch recipe and so easy to make.
I picked up this cookbook not for the dating skills but for those recipes. Sure, it’s geared towards helping someone learn to cook. I took one look at some of those pictures of the recipes and I knew I had to try them at home.
Yay, Lee! Fun book and fun interview!
by Beth February 11th, 2010 at 9:57 amHey, at least he didn’t say “a Smutketeers fivesome with my wife” cuz, ya know, awkward.
I loved all the dating tips in the book, Lee! And, yes, clean your damn house, guys!
by Crystal Jordan February 11th, 2010 at 9:59 amHey, Lee. Come on over and make me something already!! :)
by Feisty February 11th, 2010 at 10:29 amI love cookbooks and new recipes. My kitchen is always open to Lee if he wishes to cook at my home. lol
by Marty February 11th, 2010 at 10:34 amMy kitchen is always open, too, if ya know what I mean…Oh wait, RG can still see me…;)
by edenbradley February 11th, 2010 at 11:31 amHa!
by R.G. Alexander February 11th, 2010 at 11:32 amUm…’ha’ as in funny, or ‘ha’ as in “I have one of my husband’s large knives and I know how to use it”?
by edenbradley February 11th, 2010 at 11:42 amHa! as in-can I watch? LOL
by R.G. Alexander February 11th, 2010 at 11:48 amand also-I know where the knives are…but I do NOT know how to use them, so you’re safe.
heehee
lol you all are too much fun
by jennifer mathis February 11th, 2010 at 11:57 amwell i dropped a line on my blog. Girl where’d you fine one that could cook? mine can barely order takeout lol
lol i guess the link where i put it up would be nice huh
http://meandicorner.blogspot.com/2010/02/man-that-can-cook-i-got-to-see-this.html
by jennifer mathis February 11th, 2010 at 12:11 pmThanks jennifer!
by R.G. Alexander February 11th, 2010 at 12:13 pmLee! I’m STARVING! :)
by Feisty February 11th, 2010 at 7:56 pmGreat interview! I went to amazon to check the book out. I love the look inside feature. I posted on my blog about it.
http://amysmith98.blogspot.com/2010/02/cool-cookbook.html
by Amy S. February 11th, 2010 at 9:37 pmWhat a fantastic cover! :) R.G. sent me (via the SamhainCafe, where she is rocking, I say ROCKING the Top Ten list), and I have to say, this is not what I expected, but it’s super! Happy Valentine’s Day folks!
by Bella February 13th, 2010 at 4:17 pmR.G. sent me (via the SamhainCafe, where she is rocking, I say ROCKING the Top Ten list), and I have to say, this is not what I expected, but it’s super! Happy Valentine’s Day,
and LOVed this interview
by Tina b February 13th, 2010 at 4:18 pmI love cookbooks and new recipes and I totally agree, if you invite a girl over you better make sure that your place is clean and that there are no funky smells at all, and cleanliness is dictated by both the kitchen and bathroom in any living area.
by Maria D. February 13th, 2010 at 4:43 pmAlso, I thought that this was a very fun post to read!
Love the interview and am always looking for great recipes for hubby to try. He does most of the cooking at our house. I’ll post about this contest on my blogroll.
by Pamk February 13th, 2010 at 5:37 pmshoot forgot to say I learned about this contest at Samhain and my blog is
by Pamk February 13th, 2010 at 5:38 pmhttp://www.bookcrazyscrapbookmama.blogspot.com
I have fallen in love! I will have to find this cookbook and read every word in it.
Thanks!
by Faerydreamer/Dianne B. February 13th, 2010 at 6:12 pmHey,
by Beth C. February 13th, 2010 at 7:19 pmJust saw the post over at Samhain Cafe and came to check this out. Definitely an unusually cover for a cookbook. Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun with that interview.
The combination of food and hearing about how guys think can’t be wrong. It was fun to read and reminded me of all of those conversations during dinner parties. I found out about this interview from R.G.’s SamhainCafe post.
by inga February 13th, 2010 at 9:35 pmThis was a great post; I loved it! I heard about this post from Samhain Cafe Yahoo Group.
by Tracey D February 14th, 2010 at 5:16 am