And now for something a little different.....

OK, so I'm not the best about regular posting, and this blog is typically about wine, but those of you who know me know that I and a bit of a foodie as well (I mean, hey, gotta have something to go with the wine, right?). So, last night, we were among the lucky to see Anthony Bourdain up here in Santa Rosa(that's right, all the Tony, without the bleeps). If you're not familiar with him, he spent more that a quarter century as a professional chef, most recently at Les Halles in New York (most of those as executive chef), wrote the wildly successful book, "Kitchen Confidential", which then lead to the whole travel-around-the-world-exploring-food-and-the-people-behind-it kind of thing, all the while being taped on TV (which he freely admits, he has the best job in the world), and has followed up with a number of other very successful books on his travels.
Most people know him as "the bad boy chef gone to television", and, while that my be true, he is also one of the most genuine, well-read, open, honest people I've had the pleasure to watch, read, and, now see in person and meet. His first foray into the travel-TV thing was via Food Network, and while still some good TV, his stay over there was, oh, let's just say he has some very specific opinions about a lot of what goes on there, and maybe that's why he has been on Travel Channel for the last 4 years or so. One thing that strikes me is that he really gets that it's not just about food - it's about the people behind it, the place that's it's in, and a connection to one another. It's about history, pride, giving and sharing, and telling it like it is.
Over the last several years, he has been pretty much to the corners of the world, and in some pretty scary situations, including having knifes pulled on him, held at gun-point (including via AK-47 with safeties off, no lees), and of course, the Beirut episode from 2006, where they had to be airlifted out because of the Israli-Lebanon conflict that erupted while they were there (for those who know the Emmy-nominated episode - he and the crew are going back there soon, to follow up and be able to show more of the people, food, etc.). And even with all of that, he says the scariest situation he has been in involved Sandra Lee (from Food Network) at last year's premiere for the film "Julie and Julia" - I can't even do justice to how he described this encounter with her - let's just say, I'm sure I'll have nightmares just from listening to it (I think Sandra Lee would scare Tanya Harding). He also shared some of his other stories from his travels, about the people, food, friends he's made; his family (after all, since becoming a dad almost 3 years ago, he's the "new, softer Tony" - yeah, right); Food Network people he actually likes (including Ina Garten - one of my favorites as well); PETA; Ronald, the King, the Colonel, and how the American meat industry might actually be trying to kill us a little at a time; and why American tourists are mostly hated around the world (mostly, because we act like, well, us, instead of how we should, as a guest).
Plus, after almost 2 hours of incredible stories and the like, the chef also signed books for those who had them, which appeared to be the entire crowd of a nearly sold out house at Luther Burbank/Wells Fargo/whatever you want to call it. I have to say, he was still entertaining and nice, even by the time I got to the front of the line to have a couple of books signed, almost a hour later. If you missed his visit, he will most likely be back around in the summer, when his new novel comes out - and I'll probably be there again, hungry for more.
Until later
David

Start the New Year with expanding your knowledge!

So, it's been a while, but have been developing a course through Sonoma State University in Federal Compliance - here's a link to the site and this course description. Other courses are offered through this program, as well as the Wine Business program at SSU - including the FIRST Wine MBA program (which just got a large scholarship endowment). This is a great program, so check it out at www.sonoma.edu/winebiz/.

Here's the link to the class I'll be teaching (I'm also doing some guest lecturing in the undergrad program this spring as well) -

http://www.ssuexed.com/course.php?id=1918&sem=Spring&year=2010

More later,
David