Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Two Brewers, A Wine Guy, A Chef, And A Greek Lady.
I never met a home brewer who wasn't passionate about his hobby. Almost without exception, when they call the radio show they go on interminably about the vagaries of making one's own beer, veering shortly into technical matters that make the mind of a non-brewer reel.
We had two brewers on the radio show today, and they showed restraint--although I had to cut Larry Hartzog off when at one point he started getting into the matter of wort. He and his fellow brewer Carol Rice were there to talk up the WYES beer tastings next weekend. She called herself a "brewster," saying that this is what a female brewer should be called. That doesn't sound right. Shouldn't it be "brewhen"?
Our only mistake today was in also having a wine guy on. Dan Davis actually uses the term "Wine Guy" as his title at Commander's Palace. He brought wine. The brewers brought beer. And a fourth guest--Stephanie Venturatos, representing the Greek Festival--had a good load of Greek food and desserts. Mark Quitney from the Marriott was the only chef in the room, but he was happy to help get the beer, wine, and food out of the way.
Aside from the overload of beverage discussion, this was another remarkable party on the air--exactly what I hoped our Tuesday round table shows would evolve into. There is no longer any question that the provision of alcoholic beverages at the outset of these shows makes everyone a better guest.
My own behavior today was monastic. All I ate was bread. A biscuit for breakfast. Pizza for lunch, a different kind of pizza for dinner. All this came out of the freezer. When I resume eating the food I was accustomed to before becoming just another part of Mary Ann's leftover-eating program, I expect to find the enjoyment heightened. My plan is to alternate deprivation and satisfaction.
Mary Leigh went into town to hang with friends, but her presence wouldn't have helped at all. She believes that she is getting fat (I can't see that), and she says she doesn't want to dine out anymore. Instead, she says, she wants to cook. How can I tell her that when you eat only food you cook at home, the danger of weight gain rises, because you can eat all of it you want? The only think keeping my brakes set during my long imprisonment here is the terribleness of the freezer's food supply. I stave off hunger, and that's it. If I could stand at the range and cook, I don't think I would have lost a pound.
It has been over three years since a day was missed in the Dining Diary. To browse through all of the entries since 2008, go here.
