COURTESY Chef Timothy Tucker heads up the kitchen at the Salvation Army, as well as the center’s Culinary Training Program.

Five years ago, Timothy Tucker landed back in Louisville to oversee the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope, which serves breakfast and dinner daily to 400 homeless and low-income men, women and families. Prior to his arrival, the chef, a 1998 graduate of Sullivan University, had spent several years in the fine-dining industry, but as much as he loved serving up exquisite food at expensive eateries, his passion called him to do something else.

Today, Tucker heads up the kitchen at the Salvation Army, as well as the center’s Culinary Training Program, which will graduate its fifth class in early 2010. Tucker’s mission is to teach others how to “balance the mind and spirit through healthy cooking, eating, gardening and hope.” Each day, he and his crew create foods that are delicious and nutritious.

“What really excites me is we’re able to make a change,” he said.

Over the past year, Tucker has spread his message via USA Today, CNN and a host of other media outlets. He’s recently partnered with a ghost writer and is working with a literary agent on a book about the culinary program. And he currently has a film crew following him and his staff around the kitchen. Nothing is set in stone, but if 2009 was any indication, Tucker and the Salvation Army Center of Hope are going to have one heckuva 2010. 

Anoosh Shariat, Dean Corbett and several other notable area chefs will participate in a fundraiser for the culinary program on Saturday, Feb. 6. Save the date. You’ll literally be able to put your money – and your heart – where your mouth is that evening.

Tucker’s leap from fine-dining to the Salvation Army certainly hasn’t been lucrative, but he says he has everything he needs and is rich in ways that matter.

“I’ve always felt like if everybody did what felt right,” he said, “everything else would kind of follow them.”

Need proof? Keep your eyes on chef Tucker this next year.

Heavenly read
Denise Taylor lost her daughter, Jonnae, when the 15-year-old died on June 9, 2008, after battling leukemia. But she’s now celebrating.

“In the midst of pain and adversity there is always a gift,” Taylor said, during a recent phone conversation.

In late 2009, the Southern Indiana resident published, “Heavenly Birth,” an incredibly inspirational book she wrote about Jonnae’s life and the amazing gifts she left behind. In it, Taylor talks about the painful journey and the funny and encouraging moments along the way. Among the highlights: Turning statements of “I have to” into ones that begin “I get to.”

COURTESY Denise Taylor’s book recounts the life of her daughter who died of leukemia.

In 2010, “I don’t know what doors (God) is going to open,” Taylor said. “I’m just really leaving it up to him and the divine connections that come.”

Purchase a copy of Taylor’s book at wegetto.com and amazon.com.

Music with Micah
Many University of Louisville fans will recognize Micah Chandler. He’s one of the school’s biggest athletics fans and an alum. You can support him Friday when he performs a violin concert at Ex Voto Gallery, 634 E. Market St., from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

COURTESY Micah Chandler will perform Friday.

“I have been using my gift for some 20 years,” Chandler said. “It keeps me going, keeps me focused.”

Much a-doo
I detest bathroom talk and humor. Always have. Guess that’s why a friend jokingly gifted me a travel-sized bottle of Poo-Pourri this holiday season. Seriously, though, you spray the natural blend of essential oils into the bowl before using the loo, which allegedly creates a barrier to, ahem, embarrassing scents, if you catch my drift. It works and amazingly.

COURTESY Poo-Pourri is amazingly effective.

Not going to go into detail, but it works so well, I bought a big-sized bottle from Regalo, 980 Barret Ave., and make sure guests to my home know it’s there. Forget Glade and all the other air-masking sprays. This one is the poop. Ugh. Gross. Sorry. But trust me on this.

Contact Angie at 551-2698, TheDish@voice-tribune.com, facebook.com/angiefenton1 or twitter.com/angiefenton.