So tonight, while I was watching No Reservations - Dinner at Anthony's Table, I had a stroke of brilliance which came directly from whomever created that episode (thanks, No Reservations crew!)
We should have a similar dinner/roundtable discussion about the state of food in Columbus. Let's find a resatuarant to host us (I have an idea, but if you run a restaurant and would like to volunteer, please send me an email) and get together about 6-8 local food lovers to talk about the state of food in Columbus!
We'll record the episode, find someone super cool to edit for us for free, and have a video. I'll post it and, well, whoever wants to can post it. How does that sound? I'd like to have a few people who might have controversial points of view, but not have anyone as irritating as Amy Sacco (blech), who is just the sort of person I can't stand - needs to have constant attention. This is probably selfish on my part, because I don't have the energy or desire to fight for the spotlight, and so I find this sort of garrish personality very tiresome.
(at this point, someone who knows me is probably rolling their eyes, thinking how delusional I am, how I am just like that, and how I should get a hold of myself. Just being realistic)
You must be willing to have a time limit to your comments and give up the ground for others. Just like a debate!
A lot of people panned the episode in the comments, and I'll agree a little bit. I don't spend $1800 on dinner, because I can't afford it, and I don't think a lot of you can, either (although if you can, I'll happily join you!). The cast was also incredibly irritating. I love Bill Buford, but his chocolate story seemed contrived purely for one-ups-manship (another incredibly horrid behavior I probably possess). Tony seemed uncomfortable; probably the only person he could really relate to was Ted Allen, and maybe the waiter. I loved it when he talked about how he feels like he doesn't belong in nice restaurants, and it was funny to see the uncomprehension in the eyes of that horrid Sacco lady, who has never felt anything close to a normal moment of embarrassment, I am convinced, because she thinks she's so darn fabulous. It was also funny how the only person who showed the remotest interest in hearing about what they were eating and allowing the waiter to do his job was Mr. Bourdain himself. As a server, it is maddening when no one at the table will listen to you. I once had a table who refused to even make eye contact with me or look up from their conversation for the first 37 minutes they were in the restaurant. After doing the "waitress pause" 37 times, I finally just stood there until finally, after about 60 seconds, one woman said - "I think our waitress wants something." Um, have you forgotten that you are here for a reason? "Well," I said, "I just thought you might want something to drink, but if not, just flag me down when you do." The funny thing about this situation is that I am sure it was somehow my fault they went so long without a drink. Sometimes I can't figure out why people come into a restaurant if they aren't interested in placing an order. Here's a tip for you: you only have to listen to your waitress twice: when she takes a drink order, and when she takes your food order. Otherwise, you are free to ignore her as much as you'd like. But you can't get service if you refuse to do your part.
Blech! Now I'm irritated. What are we talking about? Oh! A Columbus Food Roundtable.
Ideally, I suppose I'd like to have a professional cook in the mix, someone in the wine business, a low-rent foodie, maybe a farmer who supplies to restaurants and home cooks, and maybe a few good home cooks. I would like to focus on things happening in Central Ohio, but we could talk about other cities when talking about our biggest desires for Columbus. I would like to keep the format not snobby, unlike the Bourdain edition, and casual.
here's what we will need:
- a willing restaurant, especially one who will be willing to cook for us on a day they aren't open or really early, or really late. We don't need anything gourmet like the dinner they had at CD50; just something good and tasty that won't be bad if it gets a little cold. Family style might even be cool. It might give you some exposure, who knows?
- a few decent camcorders (I have one)
- a saintly video editor who won't make everyone at the dinner look like a jerk (at least, not me) who will get the editing done in a timely manner. Would also accept someone who would give me a brief tutorial on how to do it.
- 5-7 cool people who are passionate about food and Columbus. I do not want Columbus-haters, so if you just moved here and just want to talk about how great your home state is, I don't want you. I will have a screening process for this, and if you fail, you will be ejected from dinner or ridiculed by your dining companions (I am a very good trash-talker)
Sound interesting? if you would like to participate or would like to nominate someone, please send me an email!
