Over 15 years ago, Doc Elmo traveled to the Southwest for the first time. Once he tasted the Southwestern cuisine, he fell deeply in love with it. He thought to himself, "I can't get this food back home!" So, he bought a couple cookbooks and some ingredients, and after returning to Indianapolis, he started cooking. His wife pointed out to him that he was not a cook. However, he reassured her that he had been an Associate Clinical Professor of Biochemistry at the Indiana University School of Medicine and that cooking seemed pretty much like being in the chemistry lab to him. Well, the first few attempts weren't that bad, and he was encouraged to go on - loving everything he cooked along the way! Some days his wife would return home to find every pot and pan in the kitchen dirty. She would ask, "What are you cooking now?!" "Everything I know how to so far. Why don't you invite some friends over; we can't possible eat all this food!" He was often found roasting chiles on his asador on the stove which gave off some incredible smells.
According to his wife, Doc Elmo was never given the ability to do anything half way. So, Southwestern cooking became an obsession. After a few years, his wife surprised him with some gift certificates to the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Year after year he would return learning more techniques and recipes and becoming acquainted with the local chefs. He would cart home as many new products as he could squeeze into their suitcases, and what he couldn't squeeze in, he would box up and mail back to himself. He was always excited when the boxes arrived stating to his wife, "I love to get packages in the mail, especially when they contain exactly everything I want!"
Several years ago, Doc's sister-in-law Sherry said that they should compete in the Indiana State Chili Cook-Off. The second year they won first place in the People's Choice Division. Hence, "Doc Elmo's Gastro Delights" was born. The second edition of his cookbook entitled, Doc Elmo's Southwestern Chile Experience was released in 2005. Along his culinary journey, he has tried virtually everything he could get his hands on. Some products have been truly outstanding, and he now offers them for sale.
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