A whimsical gnome chef cooks over a campfire at night in an enchanted forest with string lights and fireflies.

The story of why you only see The Great Gnome in my outdoor cooking videos—and not me—starts with a fiery debate over recipes. You see, I like to follow recipes exactly as written, believing that’s the best way to get consistent, delicious results. But The Great Gnome? He thinks recipes are just… “guides”. Suggestions. Loose ideas to be played with. One day, after I crafted what I thought was an incredible Cherries Jubilee Soufflé—an absolute crowd-pleaser, I might add—the Gnome declared it a ‘catastrophic failure’ and stormed off. He removed me from the hearth, handed me a mop, and declared my new role: to keep his dishes spotless and fetch for him the ingredients he needs. From that day on, he’s taken over the outdoor kitchen—demonstrating gnomic perfection and showing everyone that sometimes, the best results come from a little creative chaos. I’ve learned my place: behind the scenes, supporting the master chef, The Great Gnome, and letting him work his magic. See more