I had to stop by the Union Square Barnes & Noble on my way home from work last night to catch a discussion between Michael Ruhlman and Anthony Bourdain. I’m a long time fan of Bourdain, specifically of Kitchen Confidential, his subsequent travel shows and rants about The Food Network and their personalities. I had been reading Ruhlman’s blog every now and then to catch Bourdain’s guest appearances until I started watching The Next Iron Chef, for which Ruhlman was a judge and commentator via his blog.
The introduction was a tad heavy on the fluffing but the two authors kept it real on travel, cooking and producing good television around those topics. They also had some funny and interesting comments on the celebrity chef. BN.com will have at some point has a video of the discussion.
Bourdain: Guy Fieri, you know…20% more gel…20% more Rastafari…can we put him on a skateboard…with the glasses around his head: ratings gold.
Ruhlman: Apparently, he’s very popular. I don’t know…
Bourdain: So is chlamydia.
Ruhlman: Did you really quit smoking?
Bourdain: Yes.
Bourdain: That’s what a pair of 7 1/2 month old lungs in the house does to you.
Ruhlman: You have some redeeming characteristics after all.
Bourdain: Shut the fuck up.
…and the state of nanny state politics.
The NY Times had a great article this week on chef John Besh, a current competitor on The Next Iron Chef and my favorite to win. Besh has a great story and after watching his video instructional on making pork grillades and grits, I think it’s probably worth the heart attack it would cause from eating it. Here’s the recipe.
I was just listening to Neil Young - Southern Man
Yesterday, a colleague had returned from Thailand bringing some freeze-dried and packaged Durian fruit to offer to anyone willing to try it. I consider myself somewhat bold in trying things to eat. When it comes to fruit, how bad could it be?
Now that I’ve tried the fruit, I think Bourdain said it best when he said, “The smell can only be described as – indescribable…sort of like French-kissing your dead grandmother.”
I would go further and describe it as tasting like you’ve just thrown up something really, really sweet. If you’ve ever wondered what that funny smell is in Chinatown, look around for the Durian fruit.
I was just listening to Modeselektor - The White Flash
Food and travel writer Anthony Bourdain unleashes another brilliant critique on The Food Network, discussing their “Award show” which aired this past Sunday night. Billboards next to my office (which I share with Food Network) have been hyping up this program for weeks. I could only stand to watch the show for 5 minutes.
Money quote:
The overmuscled fuckwit from DINNER SLIGHTLY DIFFICULT delivered the best line: something like “This is the greatest night “ever!” If that was his greatest night ever, I suspect he would say the same thing while being publicly butt-slammed by the San Diego Chicken.
I was just listening to The Go Find - Dictionary
Maynard James Keenan has been busy! If the wine is as brilliant as the presentation, then I am looking forward to having a bottle. Sadly, the 2005 “mystery” blend Chupacabra is sold out but it appears more 2005 varietals are on their way into bottles. If I get my hands on one, I’ll do a full review via my profile on Cork’D.
I was just listening to LCD Soundsystem - Time To Get Away
