By Tiffany Janiczek

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – “Cooking, even gourmet cooking, should be quick, easy, cheap, and fun.”

Gathered in the grand ballroom of One Ocean, Executive Chef Ted Sands discussed his new book “Gourmet Cooking on a Dime,” set to release November 23.

Sands, 35, worked his way up in the kitchen, beginning as a Sous Chef, then becoming Chef de Cuisine, and finally reaching Executive Chef in 2007 when Azuria opened at One Ocean.

“I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” said Sands, a 2005 James Beard Award recipient, “and I realized a few years ago, that even gourmet cooking can be done in a way that saves money.”

When Azuria opened, Sands made it his mission to find affordable ways to bring gourmet food into his restaurant.

“By making food production more profitable for the restaurant, chances are we’ll be around longer” quoted Sands, during his discussion.

One example of how to save money, is purchasing vegetables and herbs from local farmers markets, and making your own flavored oils.

“I really enjoyed when Chef Sands demonstrated how to take thyme, rosemary and other herbs and infuse them in olive oil,” said Derek Hennings, 23.  “I love to use flavored oil in my cooking but it’s just so darn expensive, by making my own, I will save a couple hundred bucks a year.”

Lauren Smith, 24, an aspiring chef from St. Augustine, said, “I am always looking for ways to save money.  My husband loves to eat exotic foods,” she continues, “however as full-time students we don’t have much money to spare.”

“It’s nice to know that even in fancy restaurants the chef’s are trying to save a buck,” said Mari Cruz, 39.  “If only that was reflected in the price you pay, that would be great.”

Chef Sands expressed later that “although Azuria is pricey,” you can make the same foods at home for a fraction of the cost if you follow some of the advice in his book.

One thing is for sure, if a Tuna Tartar only costs about $10 to make, its astonishing that it costs $45 at Azuria, now that is food for thought.

10/6 S.P. Williams

“Heaven’s real and hell’s real, and you’ve got to make a choice.”  Those were the words that Shawn Patrick Williams heard in his head moments before sealing his deal with the Devil, literally.

During his 2 hour speech Sunday night at Harvest Time International in Sanford, Fla., Williams not only gave his testimony, but he spoke about his organization, Warrior Nations, which raises money to buy equipment for small towns in Africa to build their own well’s. 

Williams stated later that he is not ashamed of his story or more importantly the “God who saved” him when he was in his darkest hour.

At the age of 17, Shawn Patrick Williams of Greenville, S.C., was at the height of his search for something; already a successful drug owner, Williams was offered the deal of a lifetime that would bring him exactly what he was looking for: Power and Notoriety.

In exchange for next to nothing, Williams was offered a partnership with one of the most successful club owners in the South, who also happened to be a minister in the church of Satan.

“I was seeking power, and I made a pact with Satan. He could have my soul,” Williams stated.

Desperate to find some way to ease the pain he felt inside, Williams knew that by joining in on a Santeria ritual he would not only seal the fate of his new club; he would also ultimately seal his own fate.

Although the “forces of evil” were trying to persuade him take the next step; a voice inside his head shouted a warning that made Williams reconsider what he was doing.

Shaken by what he heard, Williams said he fell to his knees at the DJ booth of his club, and cried out, “God, I am a drug addict, and I am worthless here. But if You’ll take my life, I’ll give it to You and do whatever You want me to.”

That desperate cry to God revolutionized Williams’ life.

Now a full time evangelist, Williams travels the globe sharing his testimony with anyone who will listen.

“I was recently on a bus in Sydney, Australia, when a man sat down next to me, he was disheveled, drunk and who knows what else.  I looked him in the eyes when he sat down and said, ‘Man I know where you’ve been and I know where you’re headed, but I’ve got something to tell you that may change your life.’”

When asked about the event and the information the Williams shared David Landry, of Winter Park, Fla., said that he was “shocked to find out it costs less than the price of a bottle of water to provide some kid in Africa fresh drinking water for a year.”

Equally impressed by the entire evening, Maggie Martinez, of Orlando, Fla., said she was “moved by Shawn’s candid, and moving recollection of his past.  He is someone who decided instead of becoming a statistic, he would rise above his past and become the best he can be.”

Admittedly, Williams says, “It’s not always easy to stay on the straight and narrow, but it’s all I know.  For now I will just keep doing what the Lord tells me to do, and aside from sharing my testimony, building well’s in Africa is how I play my part.”