Who's Cooking?: Marissa Bishop of Bayville

MARISSA BISHOP

Marissa Bishop lives in Bayville with her husband, John. She is vice president of marketing for a media company, while he is head of administration for the town of Oyster Bay. Serious food lovers, they run a blog, passionfood (passionfood.typepad.com).

Why did you start the blog? We started it in 2007. It chronicles my love of cooking and desire to become a great home cook. I would make something, and my husband would critique the dish. He says what he thinks: If he doesn't like something, he comes out and says so.

But he also cooks . . . Yes, he does. We're both serious cooks. I'm more of a textbook cook. I'll pick a complicated recipe and try to follow it. He's not one to measure or follow a recipe - he's more into simplicity. He makes things up as he goes along, and it always turns out good. On the blog, we now post John's own recipes.

Did you grow up around people who like to cook? Yes, both my husband and I did. We're both Italian; my husband was influenced by his grandfather, and I've been interested in food for as long as I can remember. One of the things I remember about my childhood is my great-grandmother feeding me stuffed artichokes. I loved them, and I've loved them ever since.

Do you have a favorite food? Yes. Chocolate. Both my husband and I love it. In fact, he says he eats dinner only so he can get to dessert.

Do you have a favorite restaurant? We like Barney's Corner and the Brass Rail, both in Locust Valley.