Category Archives: Food for thought

The Lunch List

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

It’s no secret that I like to go out for lunch.  I enjoy it almost more than I enjoy going out for dinner. Before I go to a place for dinner, if they have a lunch menu I will often eat lunch there first.  The lunch menu is usually cheaper, and it will give you a good idea of what the quality of the food is like and you’ll also get a feel for the service and atmosphere.  Beyond that, I really like to chat with people over lunch and what’s more, it’s fast.  If needed, you can be in and out in an hour and a half – TOPS! So, it’s perfect when you don’t know someone that well, but want to get to know them (like a first date). It’s great when you know someone is a pain in the ass know it all (with the wine list, the menu, the area, etc.) but you like them otherwise and they keep trying to orchestrate a dinner outing with you.  Meeting someone for lunch doesn’t trap you into a whole day of activities with them; however, if you decide to extend and visit more, it’s not a big deal.

Here’s a little secret – I have a Lunch List.  It’s an ever evolving list of people with whom I would like to have lunch.  A quick afternoon to talk with them and learn a about them and see what they choose from the menu (Moment of Truth – I can tell a lot about someone by what they order and how they do it.  For example: in general, the more words it takes you to order your coffee, the bigger an asshole you are.  People who order “coffee, black” are usually the coolest).  When I see someone interesting in any media I say, “I’d like to have lunch with them.”  As I put this list out there for you, I notice that it is mostly men…weird. Most of the pics here are not mine. I borrowed from the internet via Google Images.  So here, in almost no order is the current lunch list:

Robert Downey Jr. – He’s my not so secret celeb crush and he’s Ironman.  Do I need another reason? I fell in love with him in Less Than Zero.

600full-robert-downey-jr.

Jeff Goldblum – Smart, funny and I like almost all of his movies – even the dreaded Earth Girls Are Easy

jeff-goldblum

Dave Grohl – the only musician on the list.  I loved the way he played drums for Nirvana and everything he does is riveting to watch.  I liked him before I went to the EMP in Seattle, but all that did was whet my appetite for more in depth info.  The fact that he isn’t in the tabloids means he either has a GREAT publicist, or he is THAT decent a person.

Dave Grohl

Stephen Colbert – the man makes me laugh my ass off on a near daily basis. I really want to know how much is the show and how much is him. Is he truly a liberal posing as a conservative, or is he somewhere in the middle?

838-495_StephenColbertGloria Steinem – I have always looked up to her, even at her most extreme. I’d really like to see what she eats. I want to ask her how far she thinks the women’s rights movement has actually come.  What does she think of the celebutants? Who is the most aggravating woman on the planet (other than me)?

51789943MM032_msmagazine

Joss Whedon and Nathan Fillion TOGETHER  – so I can ask them about superheroes, Castle, Firefly and the next person on the list.

JW and NF2

Christina Hendricks  – HELLO!  Joan from Mad Men and Our Mrs. Reynolds?  Yeah, she’s that fucking cool and I could be like her cooler, older sister on Mad Men.  I once bought a dress because a complete stranger said, “You look like Joan from Mad Men in that dress.”

Christina Hendricks Workout

Thomas Keller – the man is a genius and the only chef on the list – and when I did get to see him work he ushered a level of quiet into a kitchen that I have never seen before.  He is revered by Chefs and Foodies alike.  Catch here?  I’d like to COOK my lunch WITH him and get some tips!

028-IMG_0832Derek Jeter – I NEED to know if when he shattered his ankle he KNEW it was a career ending injury.  I want to talk with him about his plans after this season and ask him why he is still single.  Is he that difficult or do potential partners expect too much from him?  And again: The fact that he isn’t in the tabloids means he either has a GREAT publicist, or he is THAT decent a person.

derek-jeter1

Neil Degrasse Tyson – the man is brilliant with a good sense of humor.  I am sure he’d be a fascinating lunch companion!  I am quite certain that he would talk over my head, but he has a great voice that I could listen to all day.

NDT-scienceSo my charge to you is this: If you know any of these people and can hook me up with a lunch date, I’ll be forever in your debt and I will share my Secret Lemon Bars or Nettie’s Legendary Chicken Salad recipe with you.  At a bare minimum I will make you a batch of both.  Also, I’d like to know who you would like to have lunch with.  Comment!

 

 

Unexpected Side Effects and Pimento Cheese

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Everything you do has consequences and sometimes side effects.  Many times those consequences and side effects are completely unexpected.  I am living that right now.

When I launched the new website 1 January I THOUGHT I would be doing more work at trade shows and culinary events because, well…I am, after all, a culinary event coordinator.  However my business has taken an S curve!  New and different people started reading my blog and I am now one of the contributing writers to Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional.  I am primarily covering openings and events and I LOVE it.  My first item will debut in the April issue and of course I will post it here.  I have also been approached by a local concern about writing for them on one of my fave topics – BEER!  Unexpected side effect!

I have been offered several catering jobs (only one of which I accepted) and I am glad to do it.  It’s a rehearsal dinner for a wedding in August.  Relaxed, family style food that I excel at.  Then I got a call from our local nature park, Springs Preserve, to work with them on a series of three live cooking classes.  With over 1000 demos under my belt I jumped at the chance!  I have been teaching people to have fun in the kitchen for more than 15 years, so it’s a seamless progression for me (Moment of Truth – I am a little nervous about no one showing up, so you can buy your tickets here.  It is reservations only and there is a fee, but you get to eat!).  Unexpected side effect!

Lastly, to round out the picture, I have been working with Texas Pete Hot Sauce for four years now.   It was Chef Michael O’Donnell’s glowing praise that made me pause and consider that MAYBE I could do for other people what I do for them.  Until four years ago I had used hot sauce only as a condiment, rarely as an ingredient.  Boy how things have changed!  I have been more deeply exposed to the wonderful world of Southern Cooking and I am forever grateful.  On a recent trip to Atlanta for a trade show I ate my weight in pimento cheese.  I enjoyed it so much that I had to make my own version.  Needless to say, as a Yankee, I am sure mine is not traditional, but my friends and I like it and I am sharing it with you here.  It’s all a guideline, like most recipes are, so tweak it (not twerk it) to your individual taste and may I suggest having it on a cheeseburger instead of other cheese…yes, really.  Enjoy this Unexpected Side Effect.

Pimento Cheese

Active time – 15 minutes

1-IMG_0607

½ C Mayo

8 oz Cream Cheese – softened

1 C coarsely grated sharp cheddar

1 C finely grated sharp cheddar

1 ½ tsp Texas Pete® Original or Garlic Hot Sauce

¼ tsp onion powder

1 jalapeño, seeded, inner ribs removed and finely diced (or more to taste)

1 4 oz jar chopped or diced pimentos, drained

Combine all ingredients except the pimentos and coarse cheddar in a bowl.  Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until well combined and fluffy.  Fold the remaining ingredients by hand so they don’t get too mashed up.

Refrigerate to allow flavors to meld (overnight is best).  Serve with crackers.  Makes about 3 cups.

Restaurant Week and Being Bald

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Here’s the thing.  I like to dine out.  A lot.  And many times I can’t justify the expense, especially since I have this new awesome kitchen and I love to cook.  But right now, this week in the Spring, eating out is SOOO much fun and really a community minded thing to do.  It’s Restaurant Week!  Check out the link and see all the great menus and try someplace new you have been dying to (like Hakkasan for me)  or go to a tried and true place (like Rx Boiler Room for me later in the week). 

So, to start off I went to Buddy V’s in the Venetian, the love child of Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro and Elizabeth Blau.  I was pleasantly surprised and loved the décor (Moment of Truth – had they brought me a bowl of the polenta croutons instead of my Caesar salad I’d have been thrilled!). Sorry for the quality on these pics, they were taken with my phone.

Cannoli - plural

Cannoli – plural

Carbonara

Carbonara

 

 

The most unusual thing happened there.  If you have been following along, you know I shaved my head last week for St. Baldrick’s and I am now nearly bald – watch the video here if you haven’t already.  The consequence of having no hair is that I am always COLD and intermittently wear scarves and hats to combat that.  Well, needless to say, some people mistake my baldness for me being a cancer patient.  While at Buddy V’s a woman walked up to me and in the most glowing tones, but with pity in her eyes, told me how gorgeous I was and that my eyes were stunning.  Of course I was flattered, who wouldn’t be?  I felt I had to explain my hairless state and told her of St. Baldrick’s.  She was really impressed, but it got me to thinking – dangerous…I KNOW.  How do I treat cancer patients?  Do I go out of my way to say something complimentary to them?  Do I smile with pity and look away?  Being bald is an eye opener for me and is really making me more sympathetic and aware of what cancer patients might be feeling in regards to their appearance.

And lastly – I have been dying to get my butt into Hakkasan and Restaurant Week was the perfect excuse.  OMG it was phenomenal.  YOU should go!  Here’s the big bonus – spend $50.14 on dinner, get a fab meal, donate 18 meals to the community AND get a $50 gift certificate for use the next time you dine (before 14 April).  What’s not to love about that?  EVERYTHING we had was exceptional and I can’t wait to go back and eat my way through the entire app menu alone.

Salt & Pepper Squid

Salt & Pepper Squid

 

Crispy Fried Quail with Five Spice

Crispy Fried Quail with Five Spice

Dim Sum

Dim Sum

Stir Fried Scallops

Stir Fried Scallops

Stir fried Spicy Venison

Stir fried Spicy Venison

Bok Choy with fried garlic

Bok Choy with fried garlic

Passionfruit Panna Cotta with Blood Orange Supremes

Passionfruit Panna Cotta with Blood Orange Supremes

 

In addition, I went to the first of the Sunday Suppers series at Johnny Church’s MTO Café.  WHAT FUN! Watch for that post later this week!

Feed the City

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

This is the first time EVER I have asked anyone to be a guest blogger.  I asked my Sister Nancy to write because she is doing really important work on feeding people in her community.  This is a longer than usual blog, but do read through to the end, especially if you live in South Florida.

Also keep in mind for those of you living in Vegas, Restaurant Week begins on Friday!  It’s one of my fave times of the year and I get to feed people by dining out.

And now a word from my Sister:

As some of you may know, I am Good for Spooning’s favorite sister.  I’m sure she has mentioned it to you on several occasions on how much she loves me and wishes that I lived in Las Vegas.  So it is no surprise that I am her first ever Guest Blogger on her new website!

All joking aside — I am very humbled and excited to get this opportunity.  The real reason I am the first Guest Blogger is that LeAnne asked me to write a little something about the an event called Serve the City being coordinated by No Perfect People, Inc., which is the not-for-profit where I work.  This is our third Serve the City, and for this time around, NPPI has partnered with 22 other non-profit organizations to create over 1,100 volunteer opportunities at 30 events — all held on Saturday, March 8, 2014!  It’s like a service project on steroids!  Our partners are international, domestic, and local organizations providing a variety of services which include providing affordable housing to the elderly, a food pantry, a home for teen moms, providing services to the blind, and a day shelter for the homeless.  The program provides an on-ramp for our volunteers to experience the joy of service to others.

In that this is a food blog, I want to focus on Feeding the People!!  We have a bunch of events scheduled where food is the at the center of the service project:

  • We will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Broward Partnership for the Homeless (a homeless shelter) and at Ronald McDonald House;
  • Lunches will be served at a low-income assisted living facility, a foster care home, at a respite day for foster kids, and at a shelter for domestic violence victims and their families;
  • Volunteers will sort food at Feeding South Florida (part of the Feeding America network);
  • Dinner and a worship service will be held for women in an in-treatment addiction facility;
  • A busload of folks will be gleaning (a biblical initiative that involves volunteers picking produce from farmers’ fields that have been left from commercial harvesting methods which is then distributed through a food pantry);
  • Families will be planting a vegetable garden for a food pantry; and
  • We will take a collection of items for an emergency food pantry at our night-before Rally from the volunteers.

These events don’t even include the hundreds of volunteers we will feed that day because they are serving where they aren’t feeding the people!

That’s a lot of meals!

On a personal level, food is a big deal.  I never feel right unless I have food in the house.  Those who know me know you can show me you love me by feeding me.  Even when we have been on the tightest budget, food was not something that we trimmed very much, except through coupons or sale shopping.  It is too much of a comfort knowing we will survive another day when all else points to the opposite.  I think that is why I connect with people over food — because to me it has more value than just nourishment.

And I think that is why we learned in planning our previous Serve the City events that  (1) people love to feed people, and (2) we can’t have enough opportunities to provide a meal because as fast as we create the opportunity, it fills.  It could be that people feel the same way I do and they want to share that with others or may it is just a practical way — a visible way — to connect.  And we all know we have to eat.  We all can either remember what true hunger feels like or we are scared to know.

Initially, we underestimated how much people liked to feed people, so this time we tried to find multiple opportunities to provide meals in our community.  The result is that the above events will provide thousands of people with food in our community in some form or fashion not just for that day but for the weeks to come.

A second benefit to serving the hungry in our community is the impact on the volunteer.  Studies have shown that volunteering has surprising benefits, including making new friends, battling depression, and increasing your social skills.  Read more here:  http://www.helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_benefits_volunteering.htm

Because of these reasons, the impact is HUGE — both for those we service and for the volunteer!!

This is the third Serve the City event I have had the pleasure of working on for NPPI, and each time, I am blessed beyond measure.  One of my favorite things to do is to help people find just the right service project for his/her talents, skills, and experience.

How can you help?  What can you do to help feed a family that might be in a totally different time zone from where you are living?  How can I serve my community?

I’m so glad you asked!!  You can help by donating — either sponsoring a meal (for one of the above listed events or for our volunteers) or just to help out with supplies and equipment or helping us buy an emergency food box for the pantry.  Click here to make a donation!  http://nppinc.org/donation.php

And if you want to serve here in South Florida, click this link (http://cbglades.com/events/servethecity/) to see the available opportunities for Serve the City!!

I have never been so proud to be a part of an organization as I am with NPPI.  The work that I get to do is rewarding on a level that words come short of expressing.  I hope you will join me in Serving the City!

 

Bald is Beautiful

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

Those of you who have been following along know that I was planning to shave my head for St. Baldrick’s and I did!  Together with friends Al Mancini and Rick Moonen and other participants at Ri Ra Las Vegas, we raised nearly $20,000.  My hair will grow back in an unknown color, but I know I have done something amazing to help out kids with cancer.

Enjoy the pics and watch the video!

A dose of liquid courage with my two buddies!

A dose of liquid courage with my two buddies!

Our new look!

Our new look!

Chef Rick Moonen keeping his dome warm

Chef Rick Moonen keeping his dome warm

with friend Julie

with friend Julie

Many thanks to everyone who came out to support and donated.  And special thanks to Friend Lynn Moonen who took all the pics and filmed everything.

 

Shave and a Haircut – Two Bits!

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

What would you do if one of your friends or family members had cancer? Would you shave your head to show solidarity and support because they will likely be losing their hair in treatment? Each year I THINK I am going to shave my head for St. Baldrick’s on March 1st and then I chicken out.  Last year I had made the mental commitment to actually follow through with it and then I remembered that there was a family reunion to celebrate Dad’s 70th Birthday on March 20th.  It was the first time since my Grandad’s funeral in 1992 that all 5 of the siblings had been together and the FIRST time EVER that all of Dad’s grandkids had been together.  I knew if I showed up with a shaved head for the official photographer I would never have heard the end of it.

The whole Fam Damily

The whole Fam Damily

So here it is, another year later, and I was reminded by friend Al Mancini‘s FB posts that it is finally time to step up to the plate and get shaved.  Here is the thing:  St. Baldrick’s raises much needed research funds for childhood cancers.  Kids’ cancers are different from adult cancers and need to be treated differently and researched differently.  And one of the most challenging things treating infants with cancer is they can’t tell you how they really FEEL.  Years ago I dated a guy, Tony K, whose mom died of a “childhood” cancer.  It was almost unheard of for an adult to get the kind of cancer she had.  All of her treatment was FREE because she was able to talk to the doctors and tell them how she felt and what the treatments were doing to her.  She helped with research.  Well, here is my chance to something to help.

It is a joke among me and my friends that I change my hair like I change my mind. At a sales meeting a few years ago, we showed a slide show of photos taken at several different conventions.  The people in the room started laughing and I couldn’t figure out what they were laughing at.  But it was my hair!  In every single picture it was different.  A different shade of red, a different length, shape, cut, style.  Never the same! On March 1st at Ri Ra in the Mandalay Place Shoppes, I will have my head shaved for childhood cancer.  I am asking ALL of you to consider making a donation of ANY amount.  No donation is too small, $5, $10, it all adds up.  My goal is $2000, but I really want to beat my friend Al (hehehe).  I figure if he can shave his Mohawk, I can shave my crowning glory.  HERE is the link to donate. I have a little over 3 weeks to make this happen and I need YOUR help.

You can watch a Retrospective of my HAIR for a quick laugh.  There are even pics of me and my Mohawked friend so you can see all the hair that is going to disappear.  Donate, join my TEAM and agree to be shaved, show up at Ri Ra and let’s raise some much needed $$$ for Childhood Cancer Research.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

This is kind of a follow up from last week – less about food, but follow to the end for the FOOD part, and more about life in general.

Simple Abundance

Several years ago while watching Oprah and feeling sorry for myself, because I only ever watched Oprah when I was feeling sorry for myself, I saw a woman named Sarah Ban Breathnach. She talked about feeling gratitude for simple things and creating a Gratitude Journal.  She even has a book (of which I have a copy) called Simple Abundance to teach you how. (Moment of Truth – I have tried several times to get through this book for more than 10 years, and I fail each time, but it doesn’t stop me from trying anew each year.) So I began a life of gratitude that week.

Flash forward to December 10th of 2013. I was contacted by a cancer survivor, Heather. She is a SURVIVOR of a rare type of cancer, mesothelioma (read her story HERE). She asked me to participate in a personal project for the blogosphere that she was working on.  She asked me to share in my blog what I was grateful for. Ok!  Cool Project, I am IN! My first thought was, “I am pretty good at this gratitude thing. I have been working on a gratitude journal on and off for years now. This should be easy.” I know that my life is better when I focus on the gratitude. Hell, each week a group of friends and I share what we are grateful for on Mondays through a private Facebook message.  We call it the “Monday Gratefuls”.  Easy right?  Oh REALLY…and then I got to thinking, about the past no less. Yes, dangerous, I know.

CS Lewis

But I had to learn about gratitude. I grew up in a perpetual state of want.  I always wanted more than what was available to me, on every level. I grew up in a small rural town after having lived on Long Island.  I wanted to move back there. I wanted to leave the country life, I hated it (and still do). I wanted new clothes, not hand me downs. I wanted not to have to grow my own food. I wanted SO MUCH. ALL THE TIME. I didn’t know about gratitude, because all I could feel was want. My life is VERY different now. My childhood was ROUGH, with abuse at the forefront. But guess what? I lived through it and I am stronger and more capable because of (or maybe in spite of) all that happened to me. I am amazing now. I have been rebuilt. I had the technology. I am better, stronger, faster (bonus points for you if you know where I paraphrased from).

So here, for Heather and for everyone reading this, a list of 10 things I am grateful for EVERY day:

  1. Supportive friends, family and chosen family.
  2. My husband of 26 years who loves me because of AND in spite of myself. He encourages me to be my best self.
  3. My grown ass son is healthy.
  4. A full pantry because that was not always the case.
  5. A skill set culled from a shitty childhood that allows me to do things others find impossible. (And according to my son would help me survive the Zombie Apocalypse.)
  6. My itinerant 21 year life as an Air Force wife. 13 moves in 21 years introduces you to a TON of people and helps you learn new things, whether you want to be taught or not.  See #1 –many of the friends came via this experience.
  7. Teachers who instilled in me a love of knowledge for the sake of just KNOWING things (I am a fount of useless information now).
  8. Travel and the experiences it affords me.
  9. Strength – of mind, body and spirit.
  10. Facebook – yes really.  It has allowed me to reconnect with people I thought long gone from my life.  And I get to see pics of my nieces and nephews all the time!
My Grand Niece Grace - apparently my love of shoes is genetic.
My Grand Niece Grace – apparently my love of shoes is genetic.

So be grateful for who you are and what you have.  What are YOU grateful for?  Share in the comments, I’d really like to know!

On another note of Gratitude, I am grateful to have the scratch to participate in Chefs to the Max to benefit food writer Max Jacobson who was hit by a car while crossing the street 2 days before Xmas.  he remains in critical condition.  To learn more, click on the links.  The first event is Sunday January 19th at RX Boiler Room at Mandalay Bay.  There are about 30 tickets remaining for this star studded culinary event (Of course I will post pics!) and if you are in Vegas and can attend, you should!  A fish throwdown with Bobby Flay and Rick Moonen?  Yes, really!

And CHEERS to Heather and her recovery and survivor-ship! Many long and happy years to you!

In the Moment

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

My Dad told me that he took his watch off April 25th 2007 and hasn’t put it back on since. WHY?  He had a massive heart attack that day and decided that what was going on around him was so much more important than what was going on with the face of his watch. 

In July 1985 I had a similar experience. I nearly died in a car wreck. First they thought I was dead, and then they thought I was paralyzed. If I had pics of the car or me after the accident, I’d post them. As I lay in bed watching Live Aid in the hospital room I made a decision to live in the moment. I made a decision to embrace everything that was thrown at me. I made a decision to take risks and live as if each and every day was my last. I know I did some unpopular things. I know I did some things that pissed off other people.  That’s just too fucking bad. I think I have done a pretty good job with what was thrown at me.

Dad and I geared up to jump out of a plane!

Dad and I geared up to jump out of a plane!

So, why talk about this here? Because sometimes I forget and sometimes I need to be reminded. In March 2010 I received a phone call that changed my life and career path.  Initially I said no, but hubby John encouraged me to say yes, even with the negative circular dialog in my head:

  • What if I fuck up?
  • What if they hate me?
  • What if I can’t do what they want?
  • Is anyone going to yell at me? I can’t take that shit!
  • Isn’t there anyone more qualified for this job?

IMHO – if you don’t stretch your comfort zone, you never really grow. Risk taking has to become part of your regular life. It’s funny, I am perfectly comfortable taking risks with money and my well-being, but when it comes to putting myself out there for potential ridicule, I pull up on the reins. I have no idea how theater people and musicians do it!  I will jump out of a plane or rappel down a waterfall, but auditioning makes me CRAZY – like can’t sleep, vomiting in the trashcan crazy.  But I am determined to take more risks and put myself out there even more (as witnessed by launching myself onto the web). Luckily I have a few cheerleaders and a couple of coaches in my corner. If you don’t have that, you might be hanging around with the wrong people.

So here are my wishes for you for 2014:

  • I wish you would live in the moment! Put down the damn phone during social gatherings after you “check in” and LIVE IN THE NOW, not on the web. FB will be there when the friends are gone, enjoy the friends while you are with them.  And take pictures so you remember the days!

Celebrating friend Janet's birthday at Pinot Brasserie

Celebrating friend Janet’s birthday at Pinot Brasserie

  • I wish you would take chances you never thought to take before.
  • I wish you would follow your gut and go for it!
  • I wish you would create a Vision Board for what you want.
  • I wish you would try new food and, new restaurants

Friend Christian getting ready to eat balut - look it up.

Friend Christian getting ready to eat balut – look it up.

2013 was filled with chances for me to stretch, grow and spread my wings. Did I take all of them? I am not sure. Did I take as big a bite of life as I would have liked? Maybe. 2014 will be filled with challenges and changes and I am ready. Tomorrow is my birthday and the official beginning of LeAnne-uary. I plan to celebrate all month long, so if you are reading this and see me out and about in Vegas – buy me a drink! It’s my birthday dammit!

What are you going to do in 2014?  Other than launching this site, what do you think I should do in 2014 (other than stop smoking and cussing so much, Mom)?  Share in the comment section – I’d love to hear!

Next week?  Attitude of Gratitude – Live it, Love it!

Food Shaming

Posted on by RedFlair14

This past weekend I had the opportunity to do a couple of things that I don’t normally get to do. I was able to dine with Friend, and Food Writer, Al Mancini on one of his jaunts and I got to go to an all-girl party. As I have written before, dining with a Food Writer is MUCH different than dining with my adoring husband. While both are phenomenal, the perks of dining with friend Al are above what I am accustomed to receiving and for those perks alone, the meal is vastly different. The FOOD is not per se, but having everyone pay special attention to you is an added bonus.

So, on Friday, as per usual, I joined my Posse for Happy Hour at our regular place, dropped off snacks for an all-female get together, and then had dinner with Al at Fleur in Mandalay Bay. The meal was fantastic and we had a good time (see the pics below). After having stimulating conversation over food and wine with Al, I returned to the all-female gathering and proceeded to settle in for a good time. My host had told the gals that I dropped off a snack, had to leave and would be back after dinner. Because she told them where I was going and who I was with, several of the women wanted to hear about the food so I happily gushed and dished. There were all types of eaters there, several of whom I did not know, from Vegan to Omnivore and everything in between.

After talking about the meal, I went outside on the patio to smoke (don’t judge) and one of the women I did not know joined me and proceeded to verbally attack me about my food choices with the following comments among others:

  •  The food in those high end places is not worth what you pay
  •  When you eat there you are paying for someone’s ego
  •  It’s overpriced
  •  You aren’t getting what you think you are getting

Then 2 young vegetarians joined the discussion and started talking about food choices. I informed them, that having grown up on a farm, and having worked in a butcher shop, I am perfectly aware of where my food comes from and I am at the top of the food chain and I will eat what I please. I won’t even get into my half of the conversation defending fine dining.

The following day I read an article about “Slut Shaming” and I thought to myself, “Dammit! Those women were trying to ‘Food Shame’ me!” Holy bat shit, Batman! They were trying to make me feel guilty and ashamed for enjoying foie gras (Moment of Truth – I bear a simmering dislike for California for banning foie gras – but it doesn’t stop me from going there to visit). They were attempting to make my enjoyment and love of food a shameful thing. I was even called, and I quote, “crazy”, because I make my own bacon, sausage and pancetta (usually I am called a bad ass). Needless to say, their attempt at shaming me didn’t work because I am quite comfortable with my thoughts, feelings and opinions on food. But what if I was weaker? Oddly enough I didn’t even get worked up about it until I read the “Slut Shaming” article and put 2 and 2 together.

Then I REALLY got to thinking…do I unintentionally “food shame” others? Perhaps. I have been known to encourage people to NOT eat in chains like Applebee’s, Olive Garden, Outback and Chili’s in favor of supporting Mom & Pop or locally owned places. I have been known to tell people I won’t eat in Chick Fil A because of their stance on gay marriage (same goes for Carl’s Jr.). In an effort to get people really LOOKING at their seafood options I have told them not to eat Chilean Sea Bass because it is being over fished to the point of near endangerment (source – Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch). I always felt like I was educating people, sharing info I had learned, or sharing my feelings. Now that I take a closer look, I realize that perhaps I was inadvertently “food shaming” people. So I formally apologize if I have done this to you!

This brings up a variety of thoughts. Let’s face facts, most of us have strong feelings and/or opinions about our food, what we eat, where our food comes from, how we spend our food dollars and how we cook. But when sharing those thoughts, where does SHARING end and SHAMING begin? I know I, for one, will be taking a much closer look at what I say, to whom and in what context.

Here are the pics of the fab food from Fleur:

Kusshi Oyster with Citrus Granita – served on a bed of glass beads over dry ice. Liquid was poured on the beads and the smoking visual ensued

Ceviche Style Tuna Tartare

Truffled Beef Carpaccio with Arugula and shaved parmesan

Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, cherry clafoutis and blackberry sorbet

Roasted Diver Scallop with tender Mexican Squash and Tomato Water – my fave dish of the night!

Potato Crusted Loup de Mere with cauliflower mousse and grilled grape beurre blanc. Don’t you just love the way they laid out the sliced fingerling potatoes to look like fish scales?

Strawberry Shortcake

Assorted Desserts