Hi! I’m Sam—and I like everything about food. I’m the kind of person who plans a dinner party around a sauce idea and thinks of spice jars like little travel souvenirs.
I didn’t start in food, though. Growing up, I was set on becoming an engineer and doing something awesome, like designing roller coasters. That dream went off the rails when I realized physics wasn’t my thing. I still graduated as an Industrial Engineer, but halfway through college, something clicked: I wanted to work with food.
The next week, I added a Food Science and Technology minor and stayed an extra year at Virginia Tech chasing this new dream. I spent three years working in the study abroad office, listening to people share stories of the places they visited—what they ate, where they went, how it all tasted. My bucket list grew by the day. But while I couldn’t afford to visit all those countries, I could explore their cultures through food.
That idea stuck with me, and The Culinary Compass was born—on a 3 a.m. shift at a production facility, watching soda bottles fly by, thinking, this isn’t it. I didn’t want to just work in food—I wanted to create it, taste it, photograph it, and share it with people like you.
What You’ll Find Here
Today, The Culinary Compass is my corner of the internet where flavor and fun come first. It’s all about helping home cooks feel confident and creative when it comes to entertaining—whether you’re hosting a game day crowd or having a few friends over on a Thursday.
You’ll find:
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Dips and spreads that disappear fast (you might want to double the recipe)
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Sauces and spice blends to bring life to even the simplest meals
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Chicken and seafood dinners that are impressive without being intimidating
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Cocktails and drinks to match the mood—or mocktails if that’s more your thing
This blog is for anyone who’s stared at their spice drawer and thought, “I should really use this more.” It’s for the friend who always brings the good dip, the weeknight host, the person who loves flavor but doesn’t need things to be fussy.
When I’m not testing recipes or styling food behind the camera, I’m probably sipping something citrusy, planning my next creative shoot, or dreaming about the next dip I’ll make.
Thanks for being here—I’m so glad you are.
Feel free to say hi anytime or browse the latest recipes to see what you’ll make next.