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About

Hi. I’m Brian Kavanagh otherwise known as The Sophisticated Caveman.

I’m a creative professional with a special place in my heart for food- especially the tasty and nutritious kind that I can cook myself.

I guess you could say passion for food is in my blood.

Growing up, my grandfather (a former army cook) would express his love for us by the amount of food he could manage to stuff in our bellies.

My mom seemed to inherit this family culinary love language. From an early age I found myself helping out in the kitchen, learning from her and later experimenting with my own recipes.

I’ve been on a health journey.

Unfortunately my love for food also had some negative consequences on my waistline.

Through the years I struggled off and on with my weight, although I never really felt I was eating that poorly. I wasn’t consuming mountains of junk food, just plenty of “healthy” whole grains and pasta.

Somehow no matter how much I starved myself or exercised to exertion, I simply couldn’t loose enough weight.

In 2012 something within me clicked. I stopped counting calories and grams of fat and started looking at the actual ingredients in my food and where they were coming from.

Through my research, I soon discovered the Paleo movement and it was a revelation.

I stopped counting calories and grams of fat and started looking at the actual ingredients in my food and where they were coming from.

With minimal effort I started to shed pound after pound and get in the best shape of my life.

I love hiking and the outdoors.

On my health journey I also rediscovered one of my favorite forms of exercise: hiking.

For me, I’ve found that it is the perfect blend of physical exertion and mental mediation.

So when I’m not cooking in the kitchen, I’m usually outside on some sort of trail.

In 2019, I decided to attempt something that had been on my bucket list for a long time: thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.

I hiked the entire 2,192 miles from Georgia to Maine in a little over four months (that’s why my trail name was “Fast Lane”).

It was the adventure of a lifetime and you can read all about my journey here.

The Sophisticated Caveman at the summit of Mt. Katahdin on the Appalachian Trail.

I’m a Certified Mushroom Forager.

I’ve also always been fascinated by fungi.

At a young age I would go out foraging for mushrooms with my grandfather. This taught me at an early age that wild mushrooms are something to celebrate, not fear.

Throughout the years, I’ve been deepening my knowledge about mushrooms and foraging.

I recently received my mushroom foraging license by passing an extensive exam. This means I can legally sell foraged mushrooms to restaurants and markets in over a dozen states.

The Sophisticated Caveman holding a bear's head tooth mushromm

I’m glad you’re here.

While I don’t know if going Paleo is for everyone, I do believe that its core message – eat real food – is universal.

With this creed always in mind, I try to keep my recipes simple but with an added “touch of class.”

I’m here to share what I have learned with others as I continue my journey towards becoming the most sophisticated of cavemen.

I’m glad you’re along for the ride.

Steve Denisoff

Saturday 24th of August 2024

Love gathering different foods and enjoy the challenge and the peace of mind with a bunch of healthy exercise. Your site seems like an easy going adventure.

Sharon Olivieri

Sunday 23rd of June 2024

I recently was ill and the last few years have gain weight... My daughter gave me the Whole 30 cookbook. I love your Warm Salmon and Potato Salad!!!

Brian

Tuesday 23rd of April 2024

Cool beard, man! Looking forward to eating all these recipes. IF I can manage to make them all! ha ha! sending love from Nebraska from me, the wife, and the gremlins (my two kids, George and Cliff. Little rascals, I tell ya!) Signing off, Brian.

The Sophisticated Caveman

Monday 13th of May 2024

Haha thanks and appreciate it, fellow Brian!

Noel

Saturday 12th of August 2023

If nirvana was a website...(and that beard though!). May we all continue to grow, create, eat! Cheers!

Jacqueline

Tuesday 6th of December 2022

Love your creative twist ..I will be making your recipes daily and for the holidays coming up 😉..thank you for your innovative thoughts on creating new designs in whole foods 😊

The Sophisticated Caveman

Friday 9th of December 2022

Thank you so much!! Really appreciate the comment!