I "wannabe" a great many things... and one of those things is full of delicious food! I love knowing about how food is prepared, presented and most of all, how it tastes. Living in Chicago has really provided a great opportunity to fully indulge my foodie tendencies, and I hope to continue my food education... and practice.
A couples weeks ago, I went to see some cooking demonstrations at the Cultivate Festival (celebrating local farms) in Lincoln Park. Some of my favorite chefs were there, and I totally had stars in my eyes. I once met Rick Bayless at Topolobampo and totally was a nerd, went up to his table to bug him and told him how awesome he was. (We're now best friends.) So I knew I had it in me to not only watch the demos, but stalk and successfully meat my cooking heroes.
Before the demonstration started I went up and chatted with him. Mostly telling him what a fan I am. He is a real pioneer in the whole "food to table" movement. I didn't get the nerve in the moment to ask him for a picture, but I hit my paparazzi stride later in the day, no worries.
Regretting missing my opportunity to get a picture with Mr. Waxman, I saw Tony Mantuano wandering around before his cooking demonstration and I jumped at the chance to fully commit to my nerdiness and tell him what a fan I am.
And snap a picture.
And then Richard Blais. I have loved him from a far on Top Chef for 2 seasons now, so I knew I was going to really go for the gold and watch his crazy food demo and then meet the hair in person. He did not disappoint, making some salsa jelly and pork chips for an appetizer, and of course busting out the liquid nitrogen before the demonstration was through.
Another best friend made.
And I got his autograph on my festival program. What!? Who am I? Some crazed Beatles fan? Well, whatever. I did it. And I'm glad. I mean, he looks pretty happy to have met me, don't you think?
Hooray for food!
3 comments:
Love it!
Ahhhhhhhhh! Sarah, why aren't we bestest friends?! I wish I could have gone with you because then maybe you wouldn't have felt so nerdy. Or maybe as nerdy if I was there beside you wanting pictures and autographs too? I have been wanting to eat at Rick Bayless' restaurant in Chicago forever now. Maybe I'll finally make the trip to Chicago sometime, for real, and we can eat our hearts out together. And now that I'm living in a foodie place of my own, I think that you, Robbie, and Jacob need to take a trip to San Fran and we can take you to all the great food places here.
so so jealous.
Post a Comment