![\""New](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/CucumberSalad.gif\" "\\"\"New")
<\/a><\/p>\nSometime between the summer of 1974 or 1976, it became a turning point for me as I discovered the love of cooking through public television, specifically with two major influences from watching \u201cThe French Chef\u201d cooking show with Julia Child, in addition, \u201cThe Frugal Gourmet\u201d cooking show with Jeff Smith. Most of you already know about my omelets<\/a> story and the mark that Julia Child made in my life and how she started me on the road to cooking at home when I was a teenager.\u00a0 As well, Jeff Smith and his show, which preceded hers every weekday morning on PBS, also influenced me in an extraordinary way. (Note: Click on image for a larger view.)<\/p>\n At the time, Jeff Smith was rather new to the television scene and was selling a small spiral bound cookbook for just a few dollars from his television station located in Seattle, Washington. I secured a copy by sending in a letter with the money asking about how I should get started in a career within the culinary world. A few weeks later, the book arrived in a small manila envelope, but no reply to my request. I was a little upset that he did not respond to my inquiry, but the small cookbook was great. I have and continue to prepare many items from the book, but one that has stood out over all these years is a simple cucumber salad that Jeff included on page 24 and he noted that its origins are from Israel. Jeff also mentions that this salad has a flavor very close to what New York Jews call a \u201cnew pickle.\u201d We love it, and with some fresh garden grown cucumbers given to us over the weekend, I just had to make this salad once again, and share it with you today.<\/p>\n