My name is Spenser Duncan, and I am 37 years old. I live in San Diego with my girlfriend, and I cook all of my meals. Cooking is a huge part of my life. For me, cooking is about more than just food-it's about independence. When I was seven years old, I was diagnosed with a severe reading and writing disability. I graduated from high school, but getting through school was challenging. Throughout my life, cooking has been a constant source of joy. My dad taught me how to cook, and while he wasn't a fancy chef, he taught me all the basics and I have so many fond memories of us together in the kitchen whipping up pastas and different chicken dishes. Ratatouille is one of my favorite movies because I'm just like the main character in the movie. I don't have one favorite spice or ingredient, I just like to do what feels good, and experiment to find the best flavors. My favorite dish to make is the San Marino pasta dish featured in this book; in fact, Marino is my middle name! Cooking is important to me for so many reasons. I have lived on my own for 20 years, and being able to cook for myself is a huge milestone for someone like me to live independently. It's also a great way to save money. Cooking is also how I get to experience the world. I may not have the money to travel, but my taste buds sure do! When I make a dish from a certain part of the world, I like to put on music from that culture and pretend that I am there. That is why I wanted this book to feature easy recipes from all over the world. I hope you have fun with this book and can pretend you are in all the different places each dish is from. Bon Appetit!