Five Things You Didn't Know About Gavin Kaysen of Merchant

Weird food loves: I liked and still do, peanut butter and banana on bread, but my real guilty pleasure as a kid were Rice Krispy's with milk and Cool Whip for breakfast.

The perils of being the short guy: When I was 16 years old and got my drivers license I was about 5 feet tall in boots. As I was learning how to drive, my teacher picked me up in his car, but the seats where broken, meaning they would not go up or down. They were stuck at the low level already set. I practiced driving while sitting on phone books, three of them to be exact, so I could see over that damn steering wheel. The advantage of building your own kitchen when you are short: you set the height of the steering wheel.

Least favorite foods: I am not a big fan of fast food, like McDonalds, etc. It scares the hell out of me how they can make a burger $1. I have no idea what is in that burger.

Sharing Twin Cities food nostalgia with his kids: We have been to Convention Grill and I love that. The burger is ok, but better when I was a kid. The milkshakes are still great. I am also and excited to bring them to Uncle Franky's - love the sloppy hot dogs there and the onion rings.

His Leaves of Grass: I write a journal and have been since I was 21 years old. I have many books filled with poetry, stories about my life and experiences i have been through and lessons learned.I have not written poetry in a while, but when I did, it was a wonderful to express myself.

• All Merchant Coverage [-EMPLS-]
• Chef Gavin Kaysen's Weird Habit of Stealing Spoons [Eater]