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Total AW: Our night with Tony
Oh my, what a night. I'm a wee bit hungover.
Le Bernardin is such a gorgeous place. We've been lucky enough to dine there once before in the main dining room (to celebrate my promotion in 2010), so it was fitting that we were back to celebrate my husband's promotion and Valentine's day. This event was in a big private room upstairs and it started with champagne and mingling. Tony chatted with a few people, but we weren't able to get over to him before he had to start the cooking demo.
Anthony Bourdain chopping by lindsayll, on Flickr
He chose to make a portugese peasant seafood stew. As he explained, when faced with the challenge of cooking in the presence of a great chef....low ball 'em. He also joked that an event like this was the only way he'd ever be asked to cook at Le Bernardin because he's not that good. So he was going to make his mark and do a dish that left a little stink on the room for a couple weeks. Shortly thereafter, his buddy Eric decided to come bust his chops and get photo evidence of Tony actually cooking. It was clear these guys are good friends.
Eric Ripert drops by by lindsayll, on Flickr
Anthony Bourdain cooking by lindsayll, on Flickr
After he got everything in the stew, he left it to just "cook the *** out of it" and we started our meal. There were 5 tables and 5 courses, with the plan for Tony to have one course at each table. We were fortunate to be sitting at the smallest table, so there were only 5 of us instead of 8 like the other tables, and Tony joined us for the first course. We talked about Treme and The Wire, places he'd been, recommendations he had for places we planned to go, the politics of doing shows in the Middle East, etc. Very warm, authentic, interesting dude.
I don't have the menu with me, but we started with the Le Bernardin signature starter, the thinly pounded tuna over a baguette and foie gras. The rest of our courses were: charred octopus, an urchin-langostine-??? brothy combo thing in a shell, cod over thinly sliced artichoke hearts with truffle sauce and shaved truffles, and then these delicious cream puffs for dessert, followed by the requisite petit fours. Amazing.
Petit Fours to finish by lindsayll, on Flickr
There was a photographer there who snapped our pic with Tony, I don't have that yet, but it will be shared when I do.
It was an interesting cast of characters. We were seated with 3 other dudes, one a wine distributor who flew in just for this from Palm Springs (and wore this crazy huge amber ring), and a couple of guys from NJ, one with a 9 week old baby at home. I don't think I'd be too happy with my husband pulling that one. Not at our table but elsewhere were some clearly $$$ southern folks who came to NY just for this, one of whom I referred to as the southern Sarah Palin. She was wearing a skirt suit with nothing under the jacket and you could litterally see her belly poking through. I wish I could have discretely snapped a photo because it was just so WTF.
Anyway, and then we took the bus back to NJ, paid the babysitter and passed out. The end.
Mucho likes purple nails and purple cupcakes
Re: Total AW: Our night with Tony
I bet her FUPA's name is Shane, like the gunslinger/drifter of literature.--HappyTummy
Does Tony smell like sex? He looks like he oozes it.
I also want to lick him. In places...
AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you hear me groaning with jealousy all the way from Ohio?
God Tony is hot. IS HE HOT IN PERSON?? He looks so trim in those photos! Did you touch him? Did you get to see Eric up close? I lub him too. What an amazing experience for you guys!
Personally, I'm more of a Tony girl. HOT. I unabashedly made eyes at him across the table while my husband sat next to me. I was very happy to be the only girl at the table. When he took his jacket off and put on his apron for the demo...yum. The man is in good shape.
Eric is a fine looking silver fox, but perhaps a tad too feminine for my personal tastes. But he was very charming in his chef's coat and designer jeans, making fun of Tony.
Both looked great in person.
BTW, we were sent home with two signed copies of his Les Halles cookbook and two signed copies of the menu (signed by both Eric & Tony). We don't need duplicates. Shall I run a contest to give away our extras?
Mucho likes purple nails and purple cupcakes
YES
No, you should just send them directly to me.
Baby Boxer is coming! 5.23.12
www.focushunting.com
STEPTHEFUCKASIDE!!!
Con-TEST!
Con-TEST!
Con-TEST!
"As of page 2 this might be the most boring argument ever. It's making me long for Rape Day." - Mouse
Amex has a benefit for Platinum and Centurion cardmembers called "By Invitation Only" and they host all kinds of special access events. We got an email about it, called in the minute the offer went "live" and dropped some cash for the seats. It was small, like 37 people I think. (And just so we're clear, no I don't have a black card. We don't make enough money to spend enough money to be invited to get a black card)
OK, I will do a contest. Separate contests for the cookbook and the menu. I will think something up over the long weekend and post the rules on Tuesday.
Mucho likes purple nails and purple cupcakes
Oh, and yes, KB. I touched Tony. I put my arm around his waist and got an arm around my shoulder.
You can hate me now.
Mucho likes purple nails and purple cupcakes