Eat This, Not That ~ Eat This AND That!!

Ever ponder what it would be like to experience an entire year of traveling among the most wonderfully food-centered cultures of our planet? The mere thought of this hypothetical sends chills down my spine. The peopling of our world embraces thousands of years of culinary trial and error, only to arrive at the ultimate in perfection; hell, I could spend 100 years just in Asia. What would you do with one year, a blank check and nothing to do but explore, eat, reflect and do it all over again the very next day. I think I have just described the life of Anthony Bourdain. This current gig of his is absolutely unparalled in the annals of anything, and like any thoughtful human being, he certainly does not take this for granted. What amazing set of string theory accidents propelled him from a baby into this most amazing adventure. You could not make this up in a thousand years. What is the learining here? It is this: someone was needed to jack hammer us out of our slumbering mediocraty, as we have been narcotized with opulence and don't even have a clue, save for a few very lucky souls, how rich and complete life can be. We do not echo anything worthwhile, particularly when a simple rice paddy farmer has more character and beauty at each footfall, than we can amass in a lifetime. Broken and bended at the back, day after day, yet...

@RuthBourdain

This is a hilarious comingling of the lyrical haiku of Ruth Reichl (former Editor Gourmet) and the stinging ballistic debauchery of Anthony Bourdain.  Popping into the Twitterverse about 3 years ago, Josh Friedland’s avatar is widely acclaimed by such notable venues as the Wall St. Journal, NY times, Washington Post, etc.  His book: Comfort Me with Offal, Ruth Bourdain’s Guide to Gastronomy (amzn.com) will certainly be a best seller.  Insightful musings on the frailty of the human condition: “And Guy Fieri does not win Outstanding Chef?”, “Google has banned porn on Google Glass, but what about Food Porn?” “In a major blow, butter has just cancelled its relationship with Paula Dean!”… and on and on…  I beg you to follow @RuthBourdain on Twitter.  “A parody match up of tweets!” An informative and entertaining guide to navigating our culinary mileau, whilst poking great fun at celebrity chefs, dining etiquette, etc.  I find this whole thing wildly amusing...my wife thinks it is silly and that I'm a huge jerk for being at all impressed with it.  

CAYMAN COOKOUT 2014 Wha Whaaaat?

Before I begin – apologies for my literary absence – I have been distracted with life, but I am now returning to my blog.  Stay tuned…

White sand beaches and palm trees makes me happy…very happy; however, there comes a moment that is just so compelling that one must act, without question or hesitation.  I found the reference to Eric Ripert’s Cayman Cookout 2014 in the August issue of Saveur but this time I was catapulted into a series of moves that by my calculations should deftly place me in the midst of one of the most fantastic ocean-side culinary experiences imaginable.  I am shaky with anticipation…wha whaaat?  Ok, imagine this: strolling barefoot on 7 miles of pristine beach, or Rum Point, or just about wherever, the air scented with floral aromatics, your palette tingles with lust as you contemplate each day’s menus (yes menus – eating this and thinking about the next is a birthright!).  Yeah, yeah yeah – just a lot of bullshit.  Indulge me: world class Chefs, with stunning global impact, dealers in sophisticated culinary brilliance, yet in the same instant able to present you with a regionally humble dish composed of the very freshest ingredients, simply prepared, not overly constructed, and unbelievably delicious.  Grand Cayman will be one of the most beautiful dining rooms of your wildest dreams, an unforgettable setting for 4 days of unparalleled tastings, commentary, banter, repartee…do I really need to go on with this?  You get it or you would not be even reading this.  Events have not yet been published yet but you can peruse last year’s agenda to get a flavor of what is likely in 2014 (Google Cayman Cookout and follow on Twitter @caymancookout). Jan 16-19.  Tickets go on sale Oct 1, 2013.  So be poised at the ready 1 minute after midnight on Sept 30.   All of this sound pretty authoritative –While I have been to the Caymans on several occasions, this will be my first Cayman Cookout – sitting here at this precise moment, I know that my every expectation will be exceeded.