For the Love of Food

Consider this post my homage to food..


As a person that lives to eat rather than eats to live I find solidarity in the fact that there is a world of foodies who share my appreciation. I think of today's top culinary players as being similar to the literary giants of Paris in the 1920s when Hemingway, Stein and Fitzgerald frequented cafes and kept the company of other notable writers and artists. Access to their group of bohemian intellectuals needed only a solid opinion to offer and a stamp of talent.

Flash forward to today: Recently, I watched a re-run of Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' where he described a secret dinner for culinary greats. The dinner was on a private floor of New York's gastropub, The Spotted Pig, and the scene was alluring, private, intellectual and centered around a feast of rare delicacies. The scene reminded me of those expat literary bohemians submerging themselves in conversation about their passions, in this case the flavors dancing on their palate. This televised gathering of people bonded by nothing more than an appreciation of good food and wine is something I had the pleasure of experiencing this past week.

The Event: The FOOD & WINE Best New Chefs 2012 Party
The Location: Liberty Theater, Times Square


The Scene: After opening the doors to the venue, a place sandwiched in between tourist attractions in Times Square, the crowd changed swiftly from the camera-toting people on the street to the dressed up FOOD & WINE guests being greeted by Godiva truffles upon entry. The truffles, only a teaser for all the food to come, was followed by champagne and Belvedere cocktails with an onlooking view of Top Chef judges, Editors, Chefs and notable foodies sauntering down the red carpet. 

A couple steps up and the venue gave way to a main floor where food stations whipped up bites from top restaurants served by none other than the executive chefs themselves. To name a few: Top Chef Richard Blais was serving up braised ox cheek over bone marrow, Gramercy Tavern's Michael Anthony was serving pork spare rib and Cafe Bouloud's Gavin Kaysen served up poached rock shrimp and pancetta. As if the food stations alone wouldn't have been enough to send any foodie into a state of complete bliss, servers weaved their way through the crowds offering up truffle oil grilled cheese bites and lamb infused with rosemary. 


While I strolled past the many guests, recognizing some and wondering about others, there was the distinct feeling that an elbow brush here and a smile there was coming from someone impressive. As I toured the party  I remembered that 'No Reservations' episode and how I felt similar to Bourdain who puzzled how he came to be at that private dinner among chefs he greatly admired.


As the evening carried on in a delicious whirlwind of flavors and breathless excitement; my friend and I had the pleasure of snapping photos with Gail Simmons, sharing small talk with Richard Blais and Angelo Sosa from Top Chef and even snapping a group shot with recent Top Chef winner, Paul Qui and fellow contestant, Grayson Schmitz. 

My experience was a dream come true for a foodie whose reality involves failed culinary attempts in the kitchen and red wine and Top Chef re-runs. In a different life, perhaps I could have been sitting at that table at the Spotted Pig sharing thoughts of the slow roasted pork belly  on my plate, sitting side-by-side with culinary giants; but for this lifetime at least, I am thrilled to have had a taste of that delicious world.