Another interview, another day...

While I don't know what all of you do for a living, it's a given that we all need to pay the bills.

But, if given the chance, would you take the leap and do something different? Or, would you stick with the "same old, same old" just to make the car payment?

I'm at a real crossroads here. I've got an interview with a very major company on Wednesday, but...

The economy is in the loo, and I guess I should take any contract position I can get. And...

It's a long term contract position, and I mean a l-o-n-g term contract position. This could go on for years, with the understanding they will never hire me, along without any benefits.

Well, no more...it's all "window dressing" from here on out just to keep the state happy.

If you're not interested in hiring this incredibly talented, intelligent, creative woman on a full-time basis...I guess this incredibly talented, intelligent, creative woman will have to look elsewhere.

It Ain't No Fun Getting Sick...Again

I've been lucky. I've only been sick three times this year, and not for very long.

I was able to ward off a truly nasty sinus infection back in November, a quasi-flu like bug back in January, and my healthy eating habits knocked down another bug a few weeks back.

Just like a certain governor, I'm finding myself down for the count, once again.

This has been a record year for the flu, as well as other assorted "bugs", so I'm sure all I'll need is some OTC cold meds and a nice evening snoozing away in my flannel pajamas along with some herbal tea, dreaming about my lover, and my two cats keeping me nice and warm.

So, what's on PBS?

Down And Out?

Let's start this conversation by thinking about this, okay?

Just assume, for one minute, you were the Assistant Attorney General in what may be the most powerful city in the financial world. And, just for fun, let's figure that you went after all of the "bad guys" on Wall Street, and it left a bad taste in a lot of mouths.

Now, let's see...you were elected to be "Attorney General" of New York State, and you always targeted the "bad guys" in the state. You were so revered for your work in this state, that you ran for governor, and won the seat.

And, you liked the power. You liked the power so much that, well, you decided that your own love of power preceded the love you have for your wife and your three daughters.

We all know power blinds people, and you're certainly not the first one to discover that. But, power can also encourage people to make better decisions, too.

It's time for you to make a decision, and, dear Governor Spitzer, it better be a good one.

Springing Forward?

Okay, here's where I come down with a virtual hammer and say this is the most absolutely ridiculous and ludicrous idea needs to stop, right here and now.

Yes, I know spring is almost here, and really, I can't wait for it. I'm looking at the red haze on the trees, knowing that one good warm day in a few weeks will make them pop and by the end of the month, we'll see new growth on everything.

In two weeks, the roadside stands in southern New Jersey will be open, selling Easter plants and new asparagus to start their new growing season, too.

It's also mating season, so the birds are working double time these days; there's the typical "I'm here!" call, and then you hear "mating" calls.

It's a lovely thing, really...to wake up a bit before the sun comes up, and hear all of the birds, and two woodpeckers doing a jazz "call and response" with each other.

See, they're just in tune with what they need to do. But, well, not so much for us.

I'm not entirely sure that changing our sleep cycle even by one hour is a good thing, and besides, it's been proven that we're not saving any energy by doing so.

So, enjoy getting up tomorrow and driving to work in what feels like the dead of night, okay? And, let me know how much you like having your own body clock thrown off of schedule, too.

Okay?

I'm just saying, you know.

It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over...

So, let's just imagine if any one of us has ever been entirely and truly vetted.


You know, dump the desk drawers of all of our financial records, let all of our family and friends openly chat about your personal life, dig into your sexual preferences, how often you change the sheets or clean the bathroom for all the world to see.

I'm willing to bet we wouldn't like it much; hell, I don't even like people to know that I smoke, since that's my little guilty pleasure (including mashed potatoes with lots of butter, but that's another blog entry).

But, here we are faced with another Democratic conundrum: Hillary or Obama?

I voted for Obama in the New Jersey primary, but I'm beginning to think I wasted my primary vote (even though Hillary won New Jersey).

Now, I'm a huge political geek girl. I'm all about NPR during the day, and especially Brian Lehrer's coverage of the individual state's primaries and caucauses during the evening as they happen. I'm absolutely addicted to that sort of political coverage.

I've done a lot of research, and I'm switching my allegiance to Hillary. Not that anyone reading this blog really cares, but I think she's the better candidate to face off against McCain in November.

Besides, I'm pretty sure she likes mashed potatoes, too.

So, who do we want?

And, let's see...

It's no longer up to us; now the fine people from four other states just may seal the deal this evening for the two eventual candidates, and it may be that after this evening, this is all we're left with.

Sure, I'd like to see either Hillary or Obama win in November, so that we could be a part of history. Yes, I want to be part of a movement, and I'm sure that either of them could beat McCain in November.

But...I'm just not sure the Democratic party supported the right ones...I'm just saying, you know.

Embrace your congestion, and pass the tissues!

I'm going to take a bold move here on this blog and just say that all of are sick.

We're all sniffling, sniveling, coughing, if you're lucky. If not, you're dead in bed recovering from the flu, or flat out on the couch hoping that flu cough will go away soon.

As most of you know, I've been fighting a cold for the past two months, and I've named it "Polish Cat Flu"!

As odd as this may sound, I'm just going to give it all up, get good and sick so that I can get this damn thing out of my system.

Really, this isn't a strange idea; you're tired and beat, right? Eat something healthful, take your OTC meds of choice and go to sleep.

And, in the morning...do what needs to be done for the day, eat something, take your meds, have some tea and take another nap.

Believe me, you'll feel better!

Can You Hear Me Now?

Well, let's just say that it wasn't quite the "welcome home" greeting that I expected this evening.

I'm sorry, but after a day of baby-sitting highly educated engineers who can find one little fault in the plans for pouring concrete but who can' t seem to find an entire box of copier paper in the construction trailer, I'm entirely convinced I'm just one big 'ol babysitter for highly educated men who can't be bothered to find things on their own.

"I need legal folders"

"Well, they're in there, on the lowest shelf."

"I can't see them."

"You're not looking...fourth shelf, on the bottom."

"These aren't them."

"No, those are the hanging folders, look to the right of them."

"Oh, you mean these?"

Next!

"Dee, we're out of pens."

"There are at least ten boxes of pens in there, assorted colors, too!"

"Oh, I see..."

"Did you find them?"

"Yeah, but these aren't the ones that I like. Can we get some more, please?"

So, it's always fun to come home to discover that between my mom and her partner neither of them were able to set up his new TracFone, so the minute I walked in, there was a true "full-press" from both of them.

I normally don't blog about my home life, but let's just say for now they really, really tried. They're in their late sixties, and they did give it their best effort.

No need to hijack a nine year old for this task, of course, especially if you have me in the house. ;)

Ahem, she says.

"Try it now...I'm calling you, and see if you get my message."

"Let's try changing the ring tone from vibrate to a ring tone."

"No, this is how you get your voice mail."

"It's not a great idea to hold the phone away from your ear while you're checking your voice mail."

"Did you put in your password for voicemail?"

"You need to hold the phone closer to your ear."

"Let's try this again."

Sigh.

Yes, I did get the phone all set up for Bob, taught him how to answer his email and all of that good stuff.

"I mean, really...is this the payback for all of the bicycles and "Barbie Doll Houses" the two of you put together 0n Christmas Eve when we were kids? Payback is a bitch, you know."

Well, it only took an hour, but he's all set up, and good to go!

It's no wonder why I smoke.

With A Little Help From My Friends

So, on Saturday, a bunch of friends and I got together and did what we always do, three times a year.

We didn’t go out drinking, have dinner together, or go our clubbing, dancing, bowling or ice-skating.

We came out in force and supported our local public radio station; ten women and men strong, all friends with a single purpose…to support the station and the music that we love.

I’ve been putting our “Boardies’ Shift” together for almost three years, and I’m always pleased to see the same names crop up again and again. One vol takes three trains down from Bergen County in northern New Jersey; three others make their way down from the far reaches of northern Bucks County in Pennsylvania.

Yes, they’re all good friends of mine, but it’s also incredibly gratifying to see them all in one place to support one worthy cause.

Thanks, all, and let’s forget the music for a moment.

All of you really, seriously rawk!

So, What's For Dinner?

So, let’s talk about food, shall we?

Even better, let’s talk about the way we all think about food.

We’re bombarded day after day with media ads that provoke us to “Eat This!” And when you’ve finished gorging yourself, you’re encouraged to “Have This, Too!”

The most stomach-turning ad I’ve ever seen is for “Taco Bell” who is encouraging the time between dinner and breakfast is the “time” for something they call a “Fourth Meal”.

No one needs a “Fourth Meal”; all you need to do is look around at your fellow Target or Acme shoppers to understand that a fourth meal should be the last thing on their plate.

No one really needs a doughnut, either, but when there’s an “Apple Cinnamon” one in the box (with all of that good, sweet apple filling?) still sitting there from a morning meeting, I’ll cut it in half, because as we all know, one half a doughnut has no calories. It’s only when you eat the whole one that totes those puppies up.

Right?

But, I digress.

Michael Pollan (the author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “The Eaters’ Manifesto”), has a great idea that all of us should follow:

“If it doesn’t look like food that your grandmother wouldn’t recognize, don’t eat it.”

Or, as my late stepfather used to say, “Good food doesn’t make you fat. Junk makes you fat.”

So, those “Dunkin Donuts” are out, and homemade desserts are in, since I know what goes into them.

It takes exactly twenty minutes to put together a batch of cookies, and perhaps an hour so to bake them off. Yeah, it’s a bit of work, but it’s a lot of fun, too. And, they freeze beautifully!

Now, go and pull out all of your cookbooks. Drag out that crock pot that you haven’t used since the first Bush administration, too.

Go forth, and cook!

Football and a Political Football

So, let’s review today, okay?

It’s Monday, the Giants won the Super Bowl last night, and as “AllMusicFan” is my witness, I woke up this morning at the goddess-awful time of five saying, “I still can’t believe that the Giants won the Super Bowl.”

It doesn’t quite have the cultural significance of “As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”, but still.

For this dedicated sports fan of all things Philadelphian, this is one big hurt, since the Eagles were thisclose to winning that one game two months back.

Ahem.

Please allow me a minute to two to lick my wounds.

And, for this sports fan that works and lives in “Giants’ Country”, it stings even harder since I’ll have to live and work with all of these rabid fans for the next year, even though I’m secretly wondering where I can hang a dartboard made out of Eli’s picture at work.

Or, perhaps a voodoo doll. You know, I’m just saying.

However, I’m a good-natured, generous soul, and I’ve got a big heart, so I’ve been congratulating all of the Giants fans I know for one terrific well-played game, and it was one of the best Super Bowls that Paul and I had ever watched.

But, I’ve asked all of the Giants fans to do just one thing for me…

“Please don’t turn into those entirely obnoxious and rude ‘Yankee fans'

Oh, and just a reminder...

Tomorrow is “Super-Duper-Tsunami-Performance-Enhanced Tuesday" primary election day here in New Jersey and New York.

I don’t know how many people read this blog, but if you live in one of the 24 states that will be holding a primary or a caucus tomorrow, please, please, get out there and vote for the candidate of your choice.

And always, remember...if you don't vote, you can't bitch.

Yes, the Giants won the Super Bowl, but we have other things to consider…like, who will take the “Oath Of Office” next January?

Yesterday, the Giants and the Pats were just playing for just a game; tomorrow, many of us will be voting for who we want to lead our country next year.

In other words, this is the real "Super Bowl Showdown!"

Rudy on "Hardball", 23 January 2008

Well, no, this isn't what Rudy looked like earlier this evening during his "Hardball" interview with Matthews from, of course, Florida.

But, damn, it was close.

It was absolutely disturbing to see that much eye makeup on a presidential candidate. It looked like he had a second pair of eyebrows underneath the real ones that simply didn't move (other than the one that twitches when he, well, you know).

"Badly Drawn Boy" eyebrows, anyone?

I'll post the "Hardball" interview as soon as it's available, so that you can judge for yourself.

I'm still laughing...that's just not a good-looking man!

Or woman, now that I think about it...

Hello, Ruby Tuesday!

Consider this for a moment, if you will:

Its New Year’s Eve, you and your man are all duded up for a night out on the town (and looking quite good, I’d like to add), it’s approaching seven o’clock, and you’re only halfway to where the live show and the midnight champagne toast beckons.

And, let’s just say that the whole traffic rugby scrum around the “King Of Prussia” mall is a mess, you don’t have any dinner reservations anywhere near Doylestown, so the two of you just decide to wing it, and see what happens, because, you see, this is what you both do, and it always seems to work out fine in the end.

And, while you’re driving past all of the diners and pizza places to Doylestown (where, of course, the live show and champagne beckons), you both see that all of the parking lots are full.

Packed. Beyond packed. Packed to the gills, packed. There’s not even a parking space left in the local diner, let alone the Wawa on the corner.

You’d both like something nice to eat, but considering the hunger pangs, you end up at the “Ruby Tuesday” in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

And, since both of you like to take chances, it doesn’t take long before you both understand you’re just in the right spot at the right time.

Forget the 45 minute wait, we’ll eat at the bar, thank you very much!

And, then you find yourself entirely entertained by Sean and John, who, despite being entirely overwhelmed by the bar crowd (including tracking down a party of kids who stiffed them for a dinner check!) somehow managed to make you laugh, keep your wine glass full and serve you a really nice dinner all at the same time.

Rattling the chains, indeed!

Mmmm...cookies!

Mmmm…Christmas cookies!

It’s a true labor of love, but there’s really nothing better than getting up early, rolling up your sleeves and beginning to bake.

The butter is getting soft, there’s enough flour and vanilla extract in the house. The eggs are in a bowl making their way to room temperature, the recipes are good to go.

And, if you’ve been really good, you already know where you’re going to set up all of your cooling racks.

If you’ve been even better, the baking sheets are out, covered with parchment paper. The second pot of coffee is on, and you’ve got a whole stack of CD’s to listen to.

Have another cup of coffee, put your favorite CD on, and just enjoy making things for your friends and family.

Will you be covered with flour, butter, nuts and other sorts of cookie detritus? Of course you will!

Will you need to power clean your kitchen afterwards? Absolutely!

I truly believe that if the kitchen isn’t entirely trashed, you’re simply not having a good time, but that’s just me.

And, after all of your beautiful holiday cookies have cooled and packed away for the holidays, I suggest three things:

1 – A hot shower, to get all of the cookie dough detritus off of yourself.
2 – A nice bottle of wine, so that you can forget all of that work, and cookie dough detritus.
3 – The number to your favorite Chinese restaurant…you know, the one that actually delivers.

EDIT: Pictures of cookies to come tomorrow...Blogger isn't loving these huge pix files of mine right about now!

Too Funny!

Well, let’s just say that she’s quite the cute cookie in the Philadelphia media market, but, really, who knew she had a devastating uppercut?


I still think Monica Malpass would certainly win a death match, but I’m just saying!

50% Chance Of French Toast Weather

So, it’s officially started.

Sure, it’s a couple of weeks earlier than any winter weather enthusiast would have wished for, but the official hype of “Winter 2007-2008” is already in snowplow, sanding, de-icing, de-slushing mode and for some of us who follow the weather with a passion that borders on obsession, it’s really the most wonderful time of the year.

But, really, it’s way, way too early to get excited about anything. We’re about four to five days out from what may (or may not!) be “The Storm Of The Century”, and to be entirely honest about it, even your local network weather person doesn’t know enough yet even though they may be talking or hyping (there’s that word again) a weekend storm here on the East Coast.

Now, if you’d like to keep track of the storm models, check this site out, and if you’d like to learn how to read and interpret the models, check out my friend John's site, and then post on Eastern.

Just mind the pinned rules and never, ever ask “How Much For Philly?” unless you really enjoy having your ego bashed into cinders. That's one tough crowd.

One word of caution, however…once you learn how to read the models (which I’m still learning how to do, so please don’t ask me), you will get hooked. Trust me on this; this hobby is more addictive than crack, and the next thing you know, you’ll be up at two in the morning, disturbing your partner’s REM sleep just to see if there’s any snow in your backyard.

Oh, wait a minute. I already do that.

So, for now, there’s no reason to go out and stock up on the bread, milk and eggs.

But, I’ve got to go…I’ve missed a few model runs, and I’m just dying to know if there will be an ice situation for the I-95 corridor…

Vineland Music Festival

As someone who’s born and bred a “Joisey Girl”, it’s expected that I should bow down and pray to all and everything that’s good about the northern and central part of my home state.

You know, the music scene in Hoboken, the arts in Montclair and New Brunswick. Jon Bon Jovi grew up ten minutes from my hometown, too.

And, of course, I should be expected to kneel down at the “Temple Of Bruce”, and kiss his feet because he’s from “Da Shore”.

So, let’s see…Hoboken is expensive and incredibly difficult to get to via public transportation, you can’t find parking during the weekends in Montclair or New Brunswick, and while Bruce and Jon are off doing great things, my musical tastes just aren’t geared towards them any longer.

I know there are a lot of people my age that will gladly spent $300 and up for a ticket to see Bruce and the gang, but I’m not one of them.

I’m well over the idea of spending that kind of money to see tired old bands again. I had a free ticket to see Bruce two years ago during his solo tour, and I wasn’t the only one that walked out.

It’s called being “older and cooler”. ;)

I’m one of those indie music fans who can’t wait to see the lineup for the first “Vineland Music Festival”!

But, having worked with both XPN and Appel Farm for the past six years, Vineland’s in for one huge challenge, since neither of these fests allow camping.

The site is in a remote location, and I’d love to know what the plan is for transporting festival campers.

I’ve heard that $225 may be the price for three days (including camping), but I’m going to throw this idea out to everyone…has anyone heard anything about individual day pricing yet?

Paul and I…well, we don’t camp. Not unless camping includes a king-sized bed with room service. ;)

A Cook's Weekend

For those of us who find the “Food Network” entirely unpalatable these days, there’s tons of love along with great appreciation for Anthony Bourdain, who did an amazing talk over the weekend at the “Free Library of Philadelphia”.

If you’ve ever attended culinary school, or ever worked in a three star restaurant as a cook, you “got it”, and you probably laughed your butt off, as I did!

If you have, you know as well as I do that it’s dirty, tough work.

Forget all about your nights, weekends and your holidays, you know.

Just remove the mouse from the flour; just don’t tell the pastry chef about it.

You will work your butt off with your fellow line cooks, know what it’s like to be “in the weeds” (meaning you can’t keep up with all of the dining room tickets coming in) at 9 PM on a Saturday night with a full dining room, and you’ll end up with a whole new understanding of what “teamwork” really means…along with a new slew of profanities in languages that you would never say in polite conversation.

Bourdain was brutally honest about his treatment from the “Food Network” as well as the “Travel Network”, profane, funny and intelligent. This was a free event, but Paul and I both agreed that we’d pay money to attend another speaking event with him again.

On the way back to the car, we stopped at a used bookstore called “Book Corner” and all of the proceeds benefit the nonprofit org called “The Friends Of The Free Library”.

I’d been searching the Web for ages trying to find a recipe from Jeff Smith (remember him? The “Frugal Gourmet”?) for his recipe for “Shrimp Etoufee”. It’s from his “Frugal Gourmet Cooks American”, and I had the paperback, but I lent it to someone, and it just disappeared into the atmosphere somewhere along the way.

I found it there! The hardback version, in wonderful shape, for 6 bucks!
Hmm…I wonder if Tony would like to join Paul and I for dinner next Friday?

"Top Ten CD's Of The Year"

And, away we go!

Here’s the first annual “WhineWithYourCheese” CD picks for the year, all lovingly picked and commented upon by your favorite blogger.

Oh, what...you have another? ;p

My criteria for choosing these selections go as follows:

There isn’t a CD on this list that I haven’t spent a lot of time with. Like you, I also suffer from “buyer’s regret”; what sounded great in, oh, say, March ain’t making the cut in October just because something bigger and shinier came along.

So, there’s no Bruce on my list for that reason.

Let’s go, and start the conversation!


1 – “In Rainbows” – Radiohead

I’m a true Radiohead and Wilco fan, and I was thrilled to pieces when both of my favorite bands released new CD’s this year.

Thom and the boys are getting the first “thumbs up” from me for how they decided to release their new music.

Even better, this is classic Radiohead. From the typical clattering drums of “15 Step” to Thom almost crooning “I don’t want to be your friend; I want to be your lover” to the lovely (and entirely underrated song, IMHO) "Jigsaw Falling Into Place."

Wouldn’t it be nice to see them at VMF next year?


2 – “Sky Blue Sky” – Wilco

You can always count on Jeff and his ever-changing band to do something different, and they do it beautifully with this one.

Just forget the sonic noise from “A Ghost Is Born”, and rejoice in how Jeff Tweedy remembers how to play a guitar on “Impossible Germany”, or how to write a really great song in “Walken”.

If you’ve ever seen them live, Tweedy does a very awkward soft shoe shuffle to “Hummingbird”, and it’s hysterical. He can’t dance, he knows it, the audience expects it, and it’s just great.


3 – “Kill To Get Crimson” – Mark Knopfler

About thirty years ago (gulp!), was the first time I ever heard “Sultans Of Swing”, and I’ve been a Knopfler fan ever since.

Granted, this is not everyone’s cup of tea; it’s very low-key.

But, it’s Mark at his finest, crafting his amazing songwriting around his guitar work.

Every song is a little British short story wrapped around music, and it’s not to be missed.

Sure, “Punish The Monkey” is all about what you’d expect to be, but “The Secondary Waltz” is just a lovely little low-key waltz about learning how to dance when you're ten.


4 – “Grand National” – John Butler Trio

The JBT are from Western Australia (Fremantle is their home base), and they’ve been compared to the “Dave Matthews Band”.

No, no, no…first of all, while Dave Matthews is making videos with Julia Roberts and shooting photo sessions, these guys are playing around the world, and trying to save the world in the process.

Paul and I have seen these guys four times in the past three years, and I’m thinking these three put on the best live show we’ve ever seen, four times over.

They’re still sort of a cult/jam band act, but “Better Than” and “Gov Did Nothing” are standouts for me.


5 – “Passing Stranger” – Scott Matthews

Now, here’s someone new!

A great young singer/songwriter from Northern England that sounds like a combination between the late Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake, but not nearly as depressing.

And, to paraphrase a “Dire Straits” song…oh, yes, this man can play.

“The Fool’s Been Fooling Himself” is the single off of the CD, but “Dream Song” and “Passing Stranger” ain’t nothing to sneeze about, either.

6 – “Back To Black” – Amy Winehouse

I know…why do I have this here?

Because it’s a great CD, and because the first time I heard ”Rehab”, I thought it came out of some lost London soul sessions from the ‘60’s.

Yes, she’s a mess, but you can’t deny the talent that she has.

Or that voice.


7 – “Wincing The Night Away” – The Shins

This is the first CD I bought this year, and I still love it.

This is why I like to go back and listen to things “way back when” in the year, and see if they still make my ears happy, and this one does.

No, one song hasn’t “changed my life”, but this CD still makes me happy, especially “Australia”.

Oh, and of course, the wonderfully fuzzed-out “Phantom Limb”. I have absolutely no idea what James Mercer is singing about, but does it really matter if the music makes you happy?


8 – “Two Shoes” – The Cat Empire

There isn’t anything that made my ears happier this year, since this CD is simply a party waiting to happen.

It’s funk, it’s rock, lots of soul, a touch of reggae and rap and if this band doesn’t get you dancing around the kitchen in your socks while singing to your dog or cat, you may want to get your pulse checked.

This Australian funk-rock-jazz combo recorded “Two Shoes” in Cuba, in the studio where the legendary Ry Cooder produced “The Buena Vista Social Club”, live, and the result is a joyous noise.

Two double platinum releases in Australia, BTW...I'm just saying!


9 – “Sound Of Silver” – LCD Soundsystem

Okay, can you tell that I like to dance? Believe me, “Daft Punk” has been playing in my house for years!

James Murphy pulls it all off here; it’s house, it’s dance, it’s a bit punk, some trance, a tiny bit disco with all shades of Euro club music thrown in for good measure.

If you spent any time dancing around in skinny ties and Chuckie T’s in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s…you’ll love this one.

“Us. Vs. Them” is the ultimate dance rave up of the year.

“Bells”, James said, and it will be so.

10 – “The Good, The Bad And The Queen” – s/t

Once again, this came out very early in the year, and I still love it.

Let’s see…we’ve got Albarn, Simonon, Tong and Allen with Danger Mouse producing.

Sweet.

And, it still is. “Herculean” will probably end up being one of my favorite songs of all time, and there’s a good possibility this CD will, too.

Make no doubt about it; this is one dark, moody piece of work, but in the hands of these incredible musicians, you’ll want to hear it again and again.

No Roux For You!

It’s one thing to take this food loving country by storm, but when you’re kicked to the curb by the same cable network that helped you jump start your career, I’m pretty sure it’s time to sit down with a “Dirty N’Awlins Martini”, and just say “Enough is enough.”


I can’t remember the last time I actually sat down and watched the “Food Network”, since it’s changed so much since its inception in ’93.

In the early days there were shows called “Dining Around” with Nina Griscom, Bill Boggs and Alan Richman, “In Food Today” with Donna Hanover (yes, the ex-wife of that guy running for President) with Bill Boggs and David Rosengarten, ”Tamales’ World Tour” hosted by the legendary team of Susan Feninger and Mary Sue Milliken, and of course, who can’t forget the those “Two Fat Ladies” tooling around the UK in a motorbike with a sidecar?

And what about Sarah Moulton, Jacques Torres and all of those great classic reruns of “The French Chef” by the one and only Julia?

I know I can’t.

I know what I can live without, though, and their new crop of “presenters” is what fits the bill; Robin Miller, Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee and Paula Deen. The current shows (and I say this very loosely), all seem to be based upon getting in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible, instead of focusing on the basics of, well, cooking.

This is not cooking. Buying packaged goods and passing it off as “freshly made” is not cooking.

Hawking knives that can’t be sharpened aren’t good knives.

Making pre-made desserts with instant pudding isn’t cooking, either.

Bottled lemon juice is not, not, the same as fresh, for heaven’s sake…

Oh, and for goddesses’ sake…dried herbs are not the same as fresh!

As a cook, I’m really going to miss Emeril.

You want to know how to make a roux? He’s your guy. Care to know how to fry oysters for a po boy? Check him out. Authentic shrimp etoufee? He’ll show you how.

I never really liked his “shtick”, but I’ve got to add this one last comment.

Right after Katrina, he was on “Good Morning America”, and he was in tears, trying to locate his staff from his New Orleans restaurants. “I don’t know where anyone is, but all you need to do is call me. I’ll help you relocate and find you another job.”

I hope he did.