As you may have heard, I have the great pleasure (and huge honour!) of cooking with Chef Michael Smith in an upcoming exclusive live online event, this Thursday, Sept 22nd at 7 pm, EST. You can view the "cookcast" from this link. Remember to register in advance from the same link! [caption id="attachment_2678" align="aligncenter" width="396" caption="We're cooking with Chef Michael Smith!"] [/caption] As you can probably imagine, I'm delighted... and here are my top 5 reasons why: 1. I'm a big Michael Smith fan. I met him about 150 years ago at an industry event and we only talked for about 27 seconds. It made a bigger impression on me than it did him, I'm sure. It's hard for him not to make a big impression. The man is like nine feet tall. 2. Coincidentally, I just got back from PEI this afternoon ( I was doing some cooking demonstrations at the International Shellfish Festival that happens every year in Charlottetown), and as you probably know, Chef Smith is the official food ambassador for PEI. The people there are so nice and they have access to the most incredible food. Beautiful mussels, fresh lobster, wild blueberries, creamy white potatoes...  It's an ideal place to be a chef. And, boy, do Islanders love their Michael Smith! It's gotten me even more riled up. I can't wait to see, and taste, what we cook together. 3. The recipes we're preparing are directly from Chef Smith's new cookbook, Chef Michael Smith's Kitchen, which I've already had the pleasure of reading through. We're talking real, delicious, simple recipes. Right up my alley. 4. I love a challenge. The fact that I'll be cooking something -- in front of a live audience and several cameras, no less -- that I've never made before? A total rush. Très Iron Chef. Which Chef Smith also happens to have done before. Whoa! 5. Michael Smith's philosophy of empowering people to cook is one that I share, wholeheartedly. I really hope you all cook along with us! Are you registered to join us on Thursday September 22, 7pm to 9pm EST? ARE YOU EXCITED!!?