Finding your voice and style when starting a new food blog isn’t an easy task.  Our very first featured blogger, Peter Bagi of The Closet Chef, has gotten it right just out of the gate.  From his delicious photography to his engaging writing, his blog is definitely one you’ll want to check out.

How long have you had a food blog?

It’s only been about a month or so.  It’s been a long time coming though!

How would you describe your site to new readers?

The site is a collection of all the things that excite me about food.  I want to share my passion with anyone who will listen and to hopefully inspire people to get into the kitchen and try new things.

What made you decide to start your site?

I’ve been passionate about food for as long as I can remember.  I am the person that tastes everything and soaks up every experience.  I have so many great food experiences and I just really wanted to share this.  This site gives me the chance to take all that’s in my head and all that excitement and to see it go out into the world.

Is there any personal meaning behind the name?

The name came to me over a year ago and it really describes me.  I’m definitely a closet chef.  I’ve never trained professionally or plan on it.  But I’m probably just as passionate or excited about food as any good chef.

What advice do you have for new bloggers?

Choose a topic that really inspires or excites you or you won’t keep it up.   Write from the heart.  Cheesy, I know but lots of truth in that!

What’s the best thing about being a food blogger?

Being able to share a food experience that previously I would have kept to myself or with a couple of my close friends.

What the worst?

Sometimes being stuck on an idea even though you know it probably isn’t that strong but wanting so badly to publish!

What food blog inspires you the most?

Matt Bites – A blog by Matt Armendariz.  His was probably the first blog I visited and just loved his writing, photography and his personal voice in each article.  He’s just a real guy sharing his passion

What camera do you use?

I shoot on a Nikon D300, 50mm prime lens almost exclusively.

Do you have any formal training in the field of cooking?

Nothing really other than a couple of weeks working at a restaurant when I was younger. I’m happily self taught.

Do you watch a lot of cooking on TV?

I used to watch Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay.  And then there’s top chef…..ahhh, reality tv.  Got to love it!

Do you have a favorite chef, celebrity or otherwise?

This is tough, I love Jamie Oliver’s style.  It was his cookbooks I picked up first when I lived in England way back when he first came onto thescene.  Since then I’ve come to admire Gordon Ramsay’s personality from his”Kitchen Nightmares” series.  He really showed his passion for food which we don’t see that often in his other reality tv shows.  Then there’s HestonBlumenthal and his passion and commitment to understanding food and recently I read Marco Pierre White’s biography which made me appreciate his discipline and passion.

How challenging has it been to find a loyal reader base?

Hmm…it’s definitely lots of work getting people to keep coming back. I try not to get to stressed out about it and instead just focus on coming up with great articles and photographs.   I know that in time if I keep at it I’ll get that following.

What types of food do you enjoy preparing most?

Rustic, Italian inspired dishes.  Anything that has simple ingredients but offers amazing flavours.  I’m far more excited about a wild mushroom risotto done really well than a fancy five course meal at a restaurant.

Do you have a signature dish or two?

Not really because I don’t attach myself to one thing or another.  I love switching it up constantly and try to get my friends excited about food through new flavors and ideas.  My signature would be creating meals that have a story.

Favorite kitchen gadget?

Microplane grater!  Amazing, you never realize how amazing it is to grate something till you use the microplane.

If you could choose to be any food, what would it be?

Striploin steak with salt, pepper, chili and fennel seeds grilled to medium rare.

If you could banish just one food from the earth, what would it be?

Some kind of fake cheese product…maybe cheese spray or cheese whiz.  (I’ve probably upset lots of readers…sorry!)

What’s the one super power you wish you had?

The ability to clean a dirty kitchen with a simple glance.

What’s your favorite thing about “Refrigerator Soup”?

From what I gather, your passion to share food with the world.  To promote other people who are passionate about food.  I also love the front page layout.

To see more of Peter’s food photography and to subscribe to his blog, please visit him at The Closet Chef.

To learn about how you can get Featured, please email us at contact [at] refrigeratorsoup [dot] com.   Note:  We give priority to those bloggers who consistently submit photographs, so please keep that in mind before inquiring.