Meet Todd Wilbur, the Creator of Top Secret Recipes

Todd Wilbur, the creator of Top Secret Recipes, marches to the beat of his own drumstick. This burger-busting bad boy ignited cloning fever with his first book, Top Secret Recipes, in 1993. Creating a Big Mac® is no big deal if you follow Todd Wilbur's instructions. His Top Secret Recipes books show you how to prepare your favorite commercial foods at home.

I have followed Todd Wilbur since his career began simmering in 1993. It was a thrill for me to speak with him. After reading this, I hope you will join the millions of Americans who are proud "Clonies."

Maria: You have created a great deal of Top Secret Recipes. Which of clones is your favorite?
Todd Wilbur: I have a sentimental favorite, which is the Mrs. Fields® cookie clone. That was my very first clone. It kicked off the Top Secret Recipes books. You're familiar with that, right?

Maria: Yes, I am. In fact, those fake emails are still going around.
Todd Wilbur: They're still going around. I saw that MSN had a list of the top 25 most common internet scams. That is one of them, and it's still going around! I tried that recipe, and it tasted terrible. I thought it would be cool to make a better recipe and eventually a book of recipes. That is what started me cloning. Also, in this new book, Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2, the Red Lobster® Cheddar Bay Biscuits are a favorite because it's such a requested recipe.

Maria: Each creation, like the Mrs. Fields cookie, has a story behind it. Which is the most memorable for you?
Todd Wilbur: The salsa from Baja Fresh® is. It is a black salsa that uses charred tomatoes. When I grilled the tomatoes, they were mushy and fell through the grates. I couldn't figure out how to get them black enough. I figured I would go to Baja Fresh® and watch them make it. I went super early, like ten in the morning, hung out, and peered through the window. They were looking at me like some kind of weird stalker like, "Who is this guy? Boy, he's hungry. We're not even open for an hour!"