Name: Larry Babitz

Home: Rancho Mirage, originally form Burbank

Occupation: Owner of Tootie's Texas Barbeque, 68-703 Perez Road, Cathedral City, (760) 202-6963, www.tootiesbbq.com

Favorite foods to prepare: Beef jerky and soups

First entertainment catering job: He worked on the movie set for “Titanic” in Rosarita Beach, Baja, Mexico.

Proudest cooking accomplishments: While working for craft services, he enjoyed watching the TV cast and crew of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” savor his soup. “Wanda Sykes always requested gumbo.”

Favorite food indulgences: Pizza and hamburgers.

Most memorable culinary experience: While cooking on the set of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” he received a surprise visit from Rachael Ray.

What people don't know: He was a Navy SEAL.

Customers' favorites: Smoked beef brisket, pulled pork, creamed corn, loaded mashed potatoes and bourbon pecan pie.

Restaurant preference: Tyler's in Palm Springs

Tootie's Chili Verde Stew

Serves 4

1/2 pound tomatillos

2 jalapeno peppers

2 pasilla peppers

1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin, cut into bite size pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

2 bell peppers, diced

1 large onion, diced

1 bunch cilantro

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 to 2 teaspoons beef base, or to taste

In a small pot, boil tomatillos and jalapeno peppers in water until tender; discard water and set aside.

Char pasilla peppers on stovetop, put in plastic bag for a few minutes to sweat, run under water and remove charred parts. Remove seeds and dice. Set aside.

In a stock pot, over medium heat, brown pork in olive oil with garlic. Add bell peppers and onion.

In a food processor, add tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, cilantro and cumin. Blend. Add mixture to pork in stock pot. Also, add diced pasilla peppers, salt, pepper and beef base. Simmer and serve.

Accompany with condiments such as charred corn tortillas, avocado, chopped cilantro and onions.

Sue Rappaport is a freelance writer in Rancho Mirage. To recommend someone for this feature, e-mail whatscooking4u@hotmail.com