BOO, Bitches.
I went as a tired chef who likes black comedians.
BOO BITCH!
BOO!
PASS THE HOT SAUCE!
PRINCE GOT GAME FOOL!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Cattle Baron's Ball Dos
Just got home - my feet are swollen from the walking, running and service. Many thanks to my staff - they are the reason that the event went off so well and providing cancer research with over 6 million dollars.
I'm going to sleep until football comes on.
I'm going to sleep until football comes on.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Cheers to Louisa
Louisa Chu, Itinerant Chef and wonderful writer, has made the grade IMO. Not only does she write the best blog on the block - she has many great stories on CHOW and a wicked pic set on flickr.
Another plus is her totally hot friend with many pics from the EMMY awards.
Louisa - I hope you give those FNP whats commin to 'em. I can't wait to see you on Iron Chef!!!
Another plus is her totally hot friend with many pics from the EMMY awards.
Louisa - I hope you give those FNP whats commin to 'em. I can't wait to see you on Iron Chef!!!
Casey
I was told by phone tonight that Casey, my little brother's best friend in school and beyond, has died. He was a wonderful young man with a great future and has left behind a young daughter, a girlfriend and many, many friends.
I hope that his family and friends will get through this as I know he would - with love, compassion and peace.
I hope that his family and friends will get through this as I know he would - with love, compassion and peace.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Cattle Baron's Ball
To quote my 2 year old daughter:
"Uh-oh daddy...poo-poo in the potty!"
To quote my 15 year old daughter:
"Fall Out Boy, blah blah blah, Fall out Boy, my friend AJ, Fall Out Boy, blah blah blah...g'night and I love you." (jk ash)
To quote my 13 year old son...can you quote a fart on a cell phone call? No?
In all likes and circumstances in my life for the next 2 weeks I am in the shit. If you are in the food biz you get that - in the shit. The weeds. The weedz. Rien en place. (ty babelfish)
The Cattle Baron's Ball Dallas is a great charity event that happens annually for cancer research.
6,000 people with alot of money and alot of power. The event this year is 'Santa Fe' themed with an event company re-creating original Downtown Santa Fe
I am the chef of the catering company chosen for said event this year, and I need to poo poo in the potty.
In the shit does not even begin to describe the feeling I have had over the past month. If you can remember Chet, the ominous and shot gun toting brother from 'Weird Science' who, after finding his 'Grandparents catatonic in a closet!', was turned into a giant nasty poo monster - he's a close second to me right about now.
VIP tent with 8 action stations for 1,800 people for 2 hours prior to the main event.
Common Grounds will host a total of 5,000 people:
2 Large Sopa e Chili Stations with kettles with appropriate garnish
1 huge 4 sided Taco stand with 4 different tacos made to order (carnitas, tinga, fish and beef)
2 large Smokehouse stations with house smoked brisket, sausage, beans and Red, White and Bleu Potatoes
4 large Elote stations with roasted corn and vendors choice of turkey with toppings
2 Huge Tamale and Adobe Pie stations with Tri Color Chips and trio of Salsas
Huge dessert station with Churros, Mango Tres Leches, Adobe Pie and Peach Cobbler
Too many bars to speak of - and yes - we have the alcohol for the party (awesome!)
I am in the deepest of shit I have ever been and I am loving it.
I will post pics of the event as soon as I get them.
I will also post pics of anything as soon as I find out how to do so.
"Uh-oh daddy...poo-poo in the potty!"
To quote my 15 year old daughter:
"Fall Out Boy, blah blah blah, Fall out Boy, my friend AJ, Fall Out Boy, blah blah blah...g'night and I love you." (jk ash)
To quote my 13 year old son...can you quote a fart on a cell phone call? No?
In all likes and circumstances in my life for the next 2 weeks I am in the shit. If you are in the food biz you get that - in the shit. The weeds. The weedz. Rien en place. (ty babelfish)
The Cattle Baron's Ball Dallas is a great charity event that happens annually for cancer research.
6,000 people with alot of money and alot of power. The event this year is 'Santa Fe' themed with an event company re-creating original Downtown Santa Fe
I am the chef of the catering company chosen for said event this year, and I need to poo poo in the potty.
In the shit does not even begin to describe the feeling I have had over the past month. If you can remember Chet, the ominous and shot gun toting brother from 'Weird Science' who, after finding his 'Grandparents catatonic in a closet!', was turned into a giant nasty poo monster - he's a close second to me right about now.
VIP tent with 8 action stations for 1,800 people for 2 hours prior to the main event.
Common Grounds will host a total of 5,000 people:
2 Large Sopa e Chili Stations with kettles with appropriate garnish
1 huge 4 sided Taco stand with 4 different tacos made to order (carnitas, tinga, fish and beef)
2 large Smokehouse stations with house smoked brisket, sausage, beans and Red, White and Bleu Potatoes
4 large Elote stations with roasted corn and vendors choice of turkey with toppings
2 Huge Tamale and Adobe Pie stations with Tri Color Chips and trio of Salsas
Huge dessert station with Churros, Mango Tres Leches, Adobe Pie and Peach Cobbler
Too many bars to speak of - and yes - we have the alcohol for the party (awesome!)
I am in the deepest of shit I have ever been and I am loving it.
I will post pics of the event as soon as I get them.
I will also post pics of anything as soon as I find out how to do so.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Is Blogging Good?
I've missed the boat on alot of shit. When I was in Catholic grade school in Sister Bernadette's religious instruction class I would imagine her, in the same black and white standard nun uniform, singing 'Back in the saddle again' by Aerosmith. She wasn't flailing about - she wasn't making sweet weird gay love to the mike like S. Tyler. She was the same nun, in the same get-up, with the same knuckle cracking ruler in her hand. But in my head, she was swaying lightly singing that song in the droll catholic hymnal way we have all come to know and love. It cracked me up to the point of knuckle crackings, long talks with my far too catholic mother and finally, expulsion.
Then I saw Will Ferrell and that other chick do the skit on SNL about the teachers singing popular songs at a pep rally while wearing proper dork ass teacher attire...
I missed the boat, damnit.
I'm sure alot of people say this on the web. "Dude, I thought of YouTube 4 fucking years ago on the toilet! Really! Ask Jimmy!
JIMMY!!! Tell 'em!"
I was that ass for quite a while. Now I will be the ass that writes and blogs everything down not missing the boat. Either way I'm an ass but now it's documented. My life jacket is on and I have my Dramamine patch behind my ear. Blogs are good for me and you.
By the way, my little brother and I used to do 'Mystery science theatre 3000' 20 years ago on the couch of my parent's house on Sunday morning after church - as did many because the TV was shit before football came on.
Then I saw Will Ferrell and that other chick do the skit on SNL about the teachers singing popular songs at a pep rally while wearing proper dork ass teacher attire...
I missed the boat, damnit.
I'm sure alot of people say this on the web. "Dude, I thought of YouTube 4 fucking years ago on the toilet! Really! Ask Jimmy!
JIMMY!!! Tell 'em!"
I was that ass for quite a while. Now I will be the ass that writes and blogs everything down not missing the boat. Either way I'm an ass but now it's documented. My life jacket is on and I have my Dramamine patch behind my ear. Blogs are good for me and you.
By the way, my little brother and I used to do 'Mystery science theatre 3000' 20 years ago on the couch of my parent's house on Sunday morning after church - as did many because the TV was shit before football came on.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
A Sensual Deficit
Are we in one?
Yes.
Has the recent rash of food books, television, blogs and total mass marketing of food related issues and cooking create mass hysteria in an otherwise normal world?
Yes.
Do we really need another food challenge reality TV show or pretentious book on how to make micro grilled cheese sandwiches?
No.
I have thought of this often and written about it some. Our culture in America seems to be in a Sensual Deficit - we seem to lack the sensual actions left behind by past generations that create meaningful memories and traditions to live by and teach children and friends.
Soon after the death of someone very close to me, I found myself in a library in downtown Miami on an unexpectedly cold February afternoon. I was a bit lost on all levels - I hadn't seen my children in a year, lost a job cooking in a SHIT restaurant in the Gables and had a torrid love affair with far too many bottles of booze. I had been thinking for the past 6 months on ways to repair damage done to my family and friends and reconnecting with the time lost with my kids.
I started writing about the idea of cooking with family and sensual deficit earlier in the year, but with great grandeur and and unbelievable arrogance. My ex wife had come from a poor upbringing - I from middle class and proper European teaching and cooking lessons. The text was pure shit, as was my behavior, and it led me nowhere. Upon almost 8 years of reflection I remember where I found the lesson.
Back to the library in Miami...
I was stuck in back corner, reading my Nietzsche, looking as horrible and pathetic as possible to get whatever attention I wanted at the time, when an old black woman and her Grand daughter strolled by looking for a certain section. The Old woman said, "See, I can't read, and my Grandbaby is looking for some books my Momma left here some time ago. Back in the day, we had no place to keep our writings, and the women that worked at the library would spend their extra time typing them up and such. That way, we could keep our history and lives so our children could learn what we went through and what happened in our times." She explained to me that she was looking for recipe and farming books and I helped as best I could, but the Library was closing in a few minutes and we didn't have a chance to get them. I told them both I would be back the next day and would look for them again if they would like. The said yes and went on their way.
I took the train the next day first thing in the morning - no Cuban coffee, no pastry - just the beautiful smell of urine to wake me up on the mass transit train to the library. I was trying to convince myself the whole time that I wouldn't be upset if the two ladies didn't show - total bullshit. I wanted to know what the hell she was looking for - what brought her and her Grandbaby to downtown.
I sat in the same spot, reading the same book - time seemed so slow that day. Grandbaby ran past squealing with Grandmother in tow - she had scuffed the new shoes her Father had bought her only 2 days earlier - she let EVERYONE know how upset she was. Her Grandmother was shuffling after her when she spotted me putting my book in my bag. "Do you work here?" she asked, and I explained that I was the man she had met the day before, and would gladly help her find the writings she was looking for. She accepted quicker than I had anticipated and told Grandbaby to COME OVER RIGHT NOW. As Grandbaby was running towards us Grandmother sat down in a chair and pulled out her pocketbook, took out 2 quarters and looked Grandbaby straight in the eyes - something I hadn't seen her do yet. Grandbaby obviously knew this meant 'pay attention'. Never leaving Grandbaby's eyes, she slowly pulled 2 quarters out and said "Go down to the next level and get 2 lemonades for you and this nice man. Don't make no noise, don't make me come get you." Grandbaby nodded wide eyed and took the quarters while walking away.
As soon as she was out of sight Grandmother stood up, walked directly to a section in the back of the room and started to scan books, papers and writings on a never looked at shelf. Within minutes she had 2 texts, several papers and booklets and sat back down in the chair as Grandbaby was walking back with the lemonades. It was totally odd to me but I didn't question what she did.
We sat with our lemonade as Grandmother asked Grandbaby to read her recipes, texts and stories from the selections. Grandbaby and I scribbled what we could as fast as we could - Grandmother correcting many of the recipes. My head was spinning from the stories and recipes of wonderful soul and creole foods. Grandmother, in the course of 10 minutes, taught us that soul food came from the scraps of slave owners. The slaves were left the scraps of the owners houses - turnip tops, beet greens, pigs feet and jowels. They took the trash of the house and made it into the great traditions still feeding families across our country today. I helped as best I could, scribbling away when I had a chance. When she decided they were finished, Grandmother got her things together and told Grandbaby it was time to go.
As they were packing up, Grandbaby asked the question..."Grandmomma, how did you find this stuff so fast? Did this man help you find it?"
Grandmother answered swiftly... "Fredrick helped me find all of this for you, baby. Didn't you, Fredrick?"
Fredrick...
Hahaha...She knew how to read. She saw my book the day before - the Nietzsche book.
She saw my discontent. She felt my Sensual deficit.
I said yes. I thanked them both as they left and realised what had taken place. This woman wanted to make a mission for her Grandbaby to learn the recipes and pieces of time that she felt. Why she felt a need to act like she was illiterate was beyond me, but it made a point for sure.
It was a wonderful afternoon, truly.
Yes.
Has the recent rash of food books, television, blogs and total mass marketing of food related issues and cooking create mass hysteria in an otherwise normal world?
Yes.
Do we really need another food challenge reality TV show or pretentious book on how to make micro grilled cheese sandwiches?
No.
I have thought of this often and written about it some. Our culture in America seems to be in a Sensual Deficit - we seem to lack the sensual actions left behind by past generations that create meaningful memories and traditions to live by and teach children and friends.
Soon after the death of someone very close to me, I found myself in a library in downtown Miami on an unexpectedly cold February afternoon. I was a bit lost on all levels - I hadn't seen my children in a year, lost a job cooking in a SHIT restaurant in the Gables and had a torrid love affair with far too many bottles of booze. I had been thinking for the past 6 months on ways to repair damage done to my family and friends and reconnecting with the time lost with my kids.
I started writing about the idea of cooking with family and sensual deficit earlier in the year, but with great grandeur and and unbelievable arrogance. My ex wife had come from a poor upbringing - I from middle class and proper European teaching and cooking lessons. The text was pure shit, as was my behavior, and it led me nowhere. Upon almost 8 years of reflection I remember where I found the lesson.
Back to the library in Miami...
I was stuck in back corner, reading my Nietzsche, looking as horrible and pathetic as possible to get whatever attention I wanted at the time, when an old black woman and her Grand daughter strolled by looking for a certain section. The Old woman said, "See, I can't read, and my Grandbaby is looking for some books my Momma left here some time ago. Back in the day, we had no place to keep our writings, and the women that worked at the library would spend their extra time typing them up and such. That way, we could keep our history and lives so our children could learn what we went through and what happened in our times." She explained to me that she was looking for recipe and farming books and I helped as best I could, but the Library was closing in a few minutes and we didn't have a chance to get them. I told them both I would be back the next day and would look for them again if they would like. The said yes and went on their way.
I took the train the next day first thing in the morning - no Cuban coffee, no pastry - just the beautiful smell of urine to wake me up on the mass transit train to the library. I was trying to convince myself the whole time that I wouldn't be upset if the two ladies didn't show - total bullshit. I wanted to know what the hell she was looking for - what brought her and her Grandbaby to downtown.
I sat in the same spot, reading the same book - time seemed so slow that day. Grandbaby ran past squealing with Grandmother in tow - she had scuffed the new shoes her Father had bought her only 2 days earlier - she let EVERYONE know how upset she was. Her Grandmother was shuffling after her when she spotted me putting my book in my bag. "Do you work here?" she asked, and I explained that I was the man she had met the day before, and would gladly help her find the writings she was looking for. She accepted quicker than I had anticipated and told Grandbaby to COME OVER RIGHT NOW. As Grandbaby was running towards us Grandmother sat down in a chair and pulled out her pocketbook, took out 2 quarters and looked Grandbaby straight in the eyes - something I hadn't seen her do yet. Grandbaby obviously knew this meant 'pay attention'. Never leaving Grandbaby's eyes, she slowly pulled 2 quarters out and said "Go down to the next level and get 2 lemonades for you and this nice man. Don't make no noise, don't make me come get you." Grandbaby nodded wide eyed and took the quarters while walking away.
As soon as she was out of sight Grandmother stood up, walked directly to a section in the back of the room and started to scan books, papers and writings on a never looked at shelf. Within minutes she had 2 texts, several papers and booklets and sat back down in the chair as Grandbaby was walking back with the lemonades. It was totally odd to me but I didn't question what she did.
We sat with our lemonade as Grandmother asked Grandbaby to read her recipes, texts and stories from the selections. Grandbaby and I scribbled what we could as fast as we could - Grandmother correcting many of the recipes. My head was spinning from the stories and recipes of wonderful soul and creole foods. Grandmother, in the course of 10 minutes, taught us that soul food came from the scraps of slave owners. The slaves were left the scraps of the owners houses - turnip tops, beet greens, pigs feet and jowels. They took the trash of the house and made it into the great traditions still feeding families across our country today. I helped as best I could, scribbling away when I had a chance. When she decided they were finished, Grandmother got her things together and told Grandbaby it was time to go.
As they were packing up, Grandbaby asked the question..."Grandmomma, how did you find this stuff so fast? Did this man help you find it?"
Grandmother answered swiftly... "Fredrick helped me find all of this for you, baby. Didn't you, Fredrick?"
Fredrick...
Hahaha...She knew how to read. She saw my book the day before - the Nietzsche book.
She saw my discontent. She felt my Sensual deficit.
I said yes. I thanked them both as they left and realised what had taken place. This woman wanted to make a mission for her Grandbaby to learn the recipes and pieces of time that she felt. Why she felt a need to act like she was illiterate was beyond me, but it made a point for sure.
It was a wonderful afternoon, truly.
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