A few weeks ago, on a tip from the Hungry Dective Chris Cognac, himself, we learned about a cookbook being put together for the families of two slain Tampa Police Officers. That book, which will include a contribution from Alton Brown, Chris, Anthony Bourdain, John Besh and others, is now available for pre-order. According to the book's organizer, there are 911 recipes from all 50 states.
I submitted a recipe for Messy Chili Turkey Joes and wonder if it will be included in the book. That would be out of this world to be in the same cookbook as Alton!
Anyway, if you would like to help out by ordering a copy they are available on Ebay: Calling All Cars Cookbook
You can also email me lisa@allaboutalton.com for a hard copy of the order form or if you would like to distribute the forms to others or have group sales.
First, the big news of the day regarding Alton Brown. He will be appearing on ABC's Good Morning America on Oct. 6 and the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon on Oct. 8 (or early morning of the 9th if you are technical about it). I have this info from a reliable and trusted source. So be ready and check local listings.
Secondly, AB's book tour begins Monday, October 4! A lot of fans will be getting a chance to met Alton and getting a copy of the book signed. I ordered mine Monday morning from Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Ky and it is waiting on me to pick it up the day of the signing. YAY! 16 days and counting.
Also, I want to wish AB safe travels in his journey for the tour. Have much fun meeting your fans and, God willing, you hit the New York Times best sellers list again!
If you are like me and are waiting to get the book at the signing but want to know about the DVD included, reader and buddy Hector sent a list of the 15 GE shorts.
Fairy Floss Formula
A Plum Of A Pudding
Cowboy Chow
Feeling' Groggy
Knoweth Thy Nog
Sucrostein
Deconstruction Turkey
Looking For Mr. Good Fish
Put A Little France In Your Toast
Feelin' Edgy
Brittle Me This
Macaroon Delight
Nice Rice In A Rush
In A Pickle
Diner Speak
Sucrostein is one of my absolute favorites of the shorts.
And now for something completely different...
The past few months haven't been the easiest for me related to this site. Yes, I've bitched and moaned a lot. Yes, I've whined and complained greatly. Yes, my feelings were hurt by an apparent slight from Alton. But the long, hot summer did teach me a lot. Hopefully, I can now take that knowledge and apply it.
I'm sadder but wiser. But still here. Still a dog-loyal, devoted fan to the best culinary instructor around. Still a writer who wants to share experiences with other fans. Still a journalist who relishes getting a scoop and a story, even if it means knocking on twenty doors to get the information.
I'm going to say this, squirm in your seat if you must, but love all of you readers. Every one of you have brought something to the party, as AB would say. If you felt compelled to say something bad or mean spirited to me or about me, hey you read the site and I said something that sparked you waste your time to comment! So there!
But for you loyal folks, who've read my whining and complaining and hung in, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to the friends who have stood with me, you are the best ever.
If someday I'm so blessed to land that interview with Alton, then I want to share the joy with everyone here. I cannot adequately explain why this one interview with this one person means so much to me... but it does. Even if Alton personally asked me the next time I see him why is it so important, I know I would be at a loss to explain it. It just does and always will.
Now after a lot of thinking, whining, moaning and bitching, I just have to accept if it is meant to be it will happen and leave it in God's hands (yes, I said the G word, big deal).
So in the coming days, weeks, months (hopefully years) I plan to tell everyone about cooking AB's applications, what he has taught me, inspired me to build, up coming events and projects and most importantly meeting Alton!
And finally...
I'm still working to raise money for two of AB's pet causes. It would be very nice to see a few more contributions. Remember PayPal takes a percentage of the total, that's why the fund has a funky amount. Thus far, we have collected $80 to add with the base $100. Please contribute what you can, every dollar helps! The fee calculator is here.
In the process of hawking the new book, Alton Brown as gone against the policy he gave for not granting an interview with me--this site being a blog--and has opened up to a few bloggers. Now, apparently from his own words used in the Zap2it.com blog post about Man vs. Food he is getting critized for his opinion. The host of MvF, Adam Richman, even responded to AB's comment by saying he was no longer his hero... yeah, kinda know the feeling when someone you admire does something disrepectful to you.
Reading the comments left on the Zap2it.com blog and other sites, many people are taking the chance to get their own blows in about AB's comment. This makes me wonder why AB decided to come off his high-horse and slum with bloggers and get stuck in a tar baby?
I go back to his comment to me about never (yes he said never) granting an interview for this site, that he couldn't make an exception that rule and that bloggers lack integrity... yadda, yadda, yadda. We've chewed this cud many, many times. Yeah, ok.
What bears repeating, however, is that AB, so vehemently against bloggers and granting me an interview because this site is one and a man who a month ago called blogs "the tar babies of Modern America" is now reaping the rewards of being in a blog. Sadly, this experience will, most likely, cement his bigotry against all blogs and leave me sans chance to show him that an experience with a blog can be a good one.
If that be the case, it is truly sorrowful. While I'm not passing judgment on the writer at Zap2it.com for including AB's remarks in the post, a juicy comment like the one Alton made has the potential to go sour once in the wilds of cyberspace. As someone who respects and admires him, I would take great care with an interview. Never intentionally turning it into an ambush or witch hunt to boost my readership.
Since AB really doesn't know me on a personal level, or professional level for that matter, it may be exceedingly difficult for him to believe or know or trust that I wouldn't be any different from one of those lacking integrity bloggers he's always guarding against.
However, knowing that I've been a fan for 10 years, that I do my level best to champion his projects and that I am a writer too, I pray he would be open enough to give me a fair shot. That's all I ask of him. One chance. Prove my mettle. If I offend him, screw up, I take full responsibility and the consequences that follow.
As a fair and honest man of faith, I have always believed Alton would grant me an opportunity. Especially given that he often speaks of showing gratitude, in my mind nothing would be more than a gracious gesture to grant this interview.
Now, seeing that he's willing to let down his guard to other bloggers, why, then, can't he do the same for me?
When the live chat with Alton Brown began this past Sunday, AB sarcastically quipped about wasting an hour of your life on the event. After the chat, which ran about an hour and a half, that pretty much summed up the feeling I had. Call me jaded, or the proverbial bloom is off the rose, but the live chat fell short of being all that and a bag of chips.
Going into the event with the idea AB would answer some good questions and maybe be a little candid like he is at his demos the resulting Q&A was, however, a little more than a bland interview.
Perhaps Alton enjoys treading the same ground with questions, good grief he's received and answered enough of them over the years and probably can quickly spout the replies out. Understandably, new fans may not know as much about him as seasoned veterans but is that an excuse to see the why do you use kosher salt question for the millionth time? And for AB to answer said question for the millionth? He does love his salt.
At times it appeared the event was turning into the Dating Game. There were at least two marriage proposals fluttering about the screen and a bizarre request to have his "man baby." EW. And lots of questions about interests outside of work and favorite foods. I was surprised he didn't go into "my turn on are" kind of reply. Now that would've been something to see.
The rapid pace of the questions made it difficult for Alton to keep up, apparently. He tended take long pauses between replies and answered the simpler questions or sent out a reply ripe with snark. My mom was joining with me for the event, I was reading the questions and Alton's replies to her, but she quickly lost interest saying even she knew the answer to many of the questions. AB knowledge by osmosis, I suppose.
One question someone asked, about the B&W scene in "Porterhouse Rules," I did answer (though I never saw my reply on the chat box). The scene he was paying homage to was from Modern Times with Charlie Chaplin. Being a film geek myself, when I saw the episode the first time I knew it.
I suppose after being a fan for 10 years, seeing AB 8 times something like this event is more for the newer fans who haven't experienced as much. While it wasn't a complete waste of time, reading the transcript probably would have sufficed for me.
According to the Food Network there will be a live chat with Alton Brown on Sunday September 25 at 7 p.m. (EST) Details are limited, however, on the Food Network site there's a place to signup for a reminder.
Episode two of America's Best had Alton Brown telling viewers where some of the best destinations with a culinary bent are located around the country. Oh, and guzzling a cocktail along the way.
The two things I took away from this episode, the West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio will be a destination for my trek up to the city in November for the Fabulous Food Show.
Second was the boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America. I saw this several years ago and have always wanted to go, but the Hyde Park campus. Of course the tuition for the five day event is way, way beyond my means. But something to dream about, I suppose. Or maybe a well-to-do TV chef could be my benefactor and donate the funds to attend. :P
And finally upon bestowing the big shiny plate to the owners of PDT for being the top food destination in America, AB chowed down on one of the establishment's signature hot dogs and sampled a cocktail, which looked to be the Hemingway Daiquiri? The guzzling of said libation was impressive to say the least.
This promotional video from publisher Stewart, Tabori & Chang explains a bit about the new cookbook from Alton Brown. I have to say watching it was a hoot, AB interviewing himself about the book and getting information wrong was priceless. The other fun part was AB telling "the interviewer" to check his facts and not to call the applications recipes.
I know it was tongue-in-cheek, but I wonder how much of this was rooted in the less than stellar interviews Alton has had over the years. Hey AB, I've got an even better idea on an interview... let me! Then your problem will be solved.
I've heard a lot of folks who ordered through Amazon.com have the book in their collective hot little hands. I, however, am waiting to purchase mine at the book signing in Lexington. So, I must indure a few more weeks sans book.
In the first part of the four episode series, America's Best, Alton Brown counted down the best comfort foods across the country according to Food Network Magazine. Perhaps AB can be the next Casey Kasem in the future since that spot is open.
Anyway, the format of the show itself wasn't ground breaking. Pretty much anyone with two brain cells would have gathered from the promos on Food Network and the write up in the magazine this show was going to be a straight countdown.
The part that made it veer from a boring, talking head countdown format was, of course, AB.
Anyone else had host and this show would have been in the crapper from the get go. Remember that yawn feast Top 5 from years ago? Yeah, it could've been like that.
Fortunately the powers that be allowed Alton to, well, be Alton in the show. Which, thankfully, breathed life into the program. From the start with hisspy film genre like spoof, AB played the hosting duties a wee bit campy and 100 percent fun. My favorite part was AB hiding behind the hay. I really got a big chuckle from the straw in the haystack both being the same color as his hair and sticking wildly in multiple directions... just like his hair!
The show is never going to be mistaken for high brow entertainment. For goodness sakes he's handing out big shiny plates! But it is was fun, entertaining and informative about restaurants across the country. Places I may neverf get to experience but now know they exist.
Although, I would like to see if the Zimmerman's Roadhouse, the winner of the best comfort food, mac & cheese can compare with AB's baked mac & cheese. That's my personal favorite. I drooled more, however, over the brick oven pizzas and the chicken soup.
Still waiting to see the wild blue sportcoat. Looks as if he's in the French Quarter, perhaps, the destination food episode will hold a viewing of said jacket.
Tuesday night's episode is slated to be Destination Foods.
Sadly week two of the fundraiser only yielded on more donation. I am very happy to receive that addition to the pot. I was hoping by this time into the fundraiser for Seafood Watch/Monterey Bay Aquarium and Heifer International that my wonderful readers and fellow Alton Brown fans would have been just as excited to support the efforts.
Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case.
I know things are tough these days. My kickoff donation was something I had saved back for a couple of months and only wanted to see if others would want to join in to support for these to great organizations. It would be very nice to get another $20 (or $20.91 with the Paypal fees) to get the amount from the readers to match the initial pot amount. That would, at least, double the amount we started with.
So what's the future for the fundraiser? Well, I could go all PSB on everyone and stop periodically during future posts to ask for donations. Maybe a raffle? But I don't have anything cool to raffle off.
Reminder to everyone America's Best with Alton Brown starts Monday, September 20 at 9 p.m. The four part special, which airs consecutive nights this week, has AB unveiling Food Network Magazine's best restaurants in four different categories.
Comfort Food explores the 10 best places for pizza, burgers, fried chicken, etc.
American Classics the food that you think of as all-American fare will be uncovered in this episode.
Sweets will be a fitting end to a culinary journey, as Alton reveals the top 10 sweetest eats.
If you've caught the promo for the show, not doubt you've noticed it seems to have a lot of fun to it. So, let's hope the show has a lot of AB's wit and silliness to it rather than a dry top ten countdown style program.
By the way, it takes a brave man to wear a coat like the one AB is sporting in show. I have a feeling somewhere there's a 1974 Ford Pinto missing it's seat covers. ;)
This new ICA video, another find from my friend Anne, has Alton Brown discussing truffles. Not the confection but the real item the candy is name for. Funny that last week's ICA was battle truffle in Kitchen Stadium. And in that battle, AB uttered a nearly infamous declaration about white truffles being better than... um, er... most of the sex one has in a lifetime.
Well, AB, I will have to take your word on that since I'm allergic to mushrooms and most other fungi and would likely be allergic to these dirt clods as well.
In this video, however, he doesn't get into that discussion. Just a little something about male armpits.
Thanks to my friend Anne for finding a couple of new videos featuring Alton Brown. The videos are listed for ICA and have AB talking about panko bread crumbs and blue cheese.
The items he made in the blue cheese video look great. Only problem is I have to tread lightly with eating blue cheese since I have a mold allergy and sometimes it doesn't agree with my mouth and throat. But, it is one of my favorite cheeses.
Thanks to Alton, I learned about panko bread crumbs eons ago and do love them for added crunch. One of the reasons his mac & cheese to so good are those little crumbs!
Anyway, here's AB on panko and blue cheese. Enjoy.
The first week of the fundraiser is complete and I'm happy and sad. Happy that a few readers decided to help out two organizations that Alton Brown supports. Sad that just a few have joined in the campaign.
I don't know exactly what I was expecting in regard to turn out. I am, however, extremely pleased to get the donations thus far! That is so great!
In case you missed the post last week, I'm trying to raise some money to help out Seafood Watch - Monterey Bay Aquarium and Heifer International since this are two charities AB likes very much and has lent his support to.
I was planning on sending in a donation of my own so I thought, after a friend told me about another fansite that raised money for their celeb's charity, why not see if I could get some readers to chipin for these two fine organizations and tell them fans of one of their prominent supporters our making the contribution.
When the fundraiser is said and done, I would like to send the money to both agencies from the fans of AB and even give him list of contributors at some point.
I would like everyone to consider a small contribution for the fundraiser. If not because these organizations are important to Alton, if not to help our fellow man, animals and seas but but because it is a way for us to band together make a difference, even if it is small.
When I was so upset by resent comments from AB about bloggers, blogs and his alleged support of another blog, a lot readers emailed to say how much they needed the site for information and enjoyed it. While I'm still not settled on closing the site altogether (I'm waiting until I can talk with Alton about the whole thing), I do want to use it to do something to help others.
So, if you have garnered any tidbit of information, learned something about an application, been ticked off by something I've said, anything at all, please give a few bucks to the fundraiser. Since I don't ask for donations for myself, this would be away for you great readers to really show some support.
Thanks to the contributors so far. And thanks in advance to the future contributors.
Caught the first promo for new special America's Best hosted by Alton Brown. The show, which airs later this month, has AB dolling out large shiny plates to the best restaurants selected for the list. For you viewing pleasure here is the promo if you haven't seen it yet. Also, have found a couple of promo photos of AB for the show.
Fans of FOA will remember Chris Cognac as the fun-loving police officer who escorted Alton Brown around the City of Angels while he was parted from his beloved motorcycle thanks to that nasty incident with the bunny. Well, when not fighting crime Chris is blogging about food and his food adventures on the awesome site called The Hungry Dectective.
This afternoon, whilst on Facebook, I saw his latest blog entry. By the way, Chris was cool enough to friend me on FB. And thanks to being a FB friend, he saw my smoker video that was featured on CNN earlier this year and sent the link to AB. I never, however, heard from Mr. Brown about the video. Oh well...
Back to helping out!
Chris posted about a cookbook fundraiser the Tampa Police Department is doing to help two slain officers' families. The people putting together the cookbook are looking for recipes from all 50 states. If I knew some foodie cops I'd have them represent West Virginia.
And don't forget the Seafood Watch/Monterey Bay Aquarium and Heifer International fundraiser for this site. If you want to contribute, click the Chipin link on the page or read the post about it here.
Besides teaching us a lot about food, food science and many things culinary, Alton Brown has brought awareness to several causes. Most notably his current focus on sustainable seafood has brought awareness, for me at least, to Seafood Watch and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Along with support for this organization, AB also has lent his name and support to Heifer International.
As a result of learning more about Monterey Bay Aquarium and Seafood Watch, I signed up for their newsletters to get important information about what they are doing. A few days ago their newsletter had an article about rescued sea otter pups, and being the otter lover that I am, I wanted to help the Aquarium with a donation. Additionally when the Gulf oil spill was at its worse, the Aquarium dispatched assistance to the area.
The other charity AB likes a lot, Heifer International, also is active with assisting people effected by disasters. Heifer is, and has been, helping people in Haiti recover from the January earthquake. Even this week, nearly 9 months later, a team from the organization is going to Haiti to look over the country and recovery.
All of this made me want to offer my own help. Of course, I could simply send a small amount of money to both of these great organizations and know this would be appreciated and needed. But what if I could do more?
A dear, close friend told me about a way that could very well bring more power to my initial amount. She told me about a group of fans who used a fansite to hold a fundraiser for their celebrity's favorite charity as a way to honor his birthday. By bringing together a lot of other people who shared a similar interest, they raised a good deal of money for a great cause.
What a perfect thing!
So the wheels turned and my friend and I thought a fundraiser of some sort for this site would be a great way to take my amount and pair it was others who may want to contribute to the causes as well.
Although I missed AB's birthday, I thought about just taking the amount raised and contributing it on behalf his fans or in his behalf. I'm open for suggestions on the final way to present the amount.
What we will be doing is to take final the amount and splitting it in half. 50% to Seafood Watch and 50% to Heifer International.
My promises for the fundraiser.
1. All of the money, minus the Paypal fees, will go to both organizations. Paypal takes 2.9% of the total transferred plus 30 cents for each transaction. Here is a nifty Paypal calculator to work out the fees. I have worked out a common few amount totals that one may wish to donate: $10 -- $10.61 $25 -- $26.06 $50 -- $ 51.80 $100 -- $103.30
You don't have to calculate the fees in the amount, just want everyone to be aware that Paypal will take some of the total!
2. I will post/tweet/update via Facebook on the progress. Plus have a widget displayed to let everyone know what's going on.
I will get it started, or make the kickoff (to honor the start of football season! yay!) donation of $100 (plus the Paypal fees). With the pot primed, the fundraiser is open for two months. At the end, I make a big post with the final total and thanks to everyone (if don't want to be on the list, tell me).
If you've never used a Chipin donation before, in the part that says unit price, add the amount there.
If you can't make a big donation, don't worry any amount will help. Also, placing the widget below on websites, or tweet, or blog, or on Facebook or anywhere online linking back to this post will help raise awareness, so please to that too!
If you don't want to contribute to the Seafood Watch/Heifer International projects (or want to do another good deed!), perhaps you would consider a small donation to help a sweet little puppy. I'm also trying to help out this little guy who needs a heart operation. His name is Birkley and his foster parents need help raising money to get the money for the operation.
It would mean a lot to me if some of you could help him too. You can read about him at Little Victories' website. Plus AB is a dog lover too!
If anyone would like to put his story on Twitter, Facebook, blogs that would help too!
The 40th Anniversary edition of the Sesame Street cookbook C is for Cooking apparently features a recipe (oops, application) from Alton Brown. The book has 16 kid friendly recipes from celebrity chefs including AB. No idea what his contribution is. I am wondering if this coincides with Alton being on the program later this season?
So the great debate begins, do I purchase this book? Perhaps for my future little ones to enjoy one day... yeah, that's the ticket. I still have my Disney cookbook that I learned to make French Toast from, so who knows this may spark some little one to be the next AB.
