Food TV

I know it’s been a week since I posted, but I am back now, with the renewed vigor of one who thought they were on the verge of death only to be granted a last minute reprieve. That being said, todays blog is not specifically about AB, rather it is about a wonderful community of people known as the Briners over at the Good Eats Fan Page. When I published my interview with Nic Skrade of Uptown Tattoo, I got introduced to this wonderful community. What I found in the forums was a group of very close friends, almost family. They laugh together, cry together, and support each other at the hard times in their lives. They are young and old; Christian and Pagan (and probably any other faith you can think of…); Republican and Democrat… They are as diverse a group I have found online. And I love them.

This Christmas, I had only been a part of the group a short time, when I found that they have a fun gift exchange with each other over the holiday season. According to Shawn Banks, the site moderator and organizer of the gift exchange, the purpose behind it is “a fun way for foodies to get at least ONE foodie gift, put together with them in mind, and lots of love”. And that is exactly what it is. While I did not fit the criteria of being a member of the board for at least 6 months or 100 posts, I was still allowed to participate. I appreciated the confidence and trust put into me even though I had just joined their group. What I found out, is that while trust is a key issue in a group gift exchange with what amounts to a bunch of strangers across the country, it is not wholeheartedly relied on. Unfortunately in the world, some people are out to get something for nothing. And sometimes life happens, and what was intended as a gesture of goodwill is no longer possible. Knowing this, ChefShawn instituted what is known as the “gypped fund”. This is to cover a secret santa gift for those that are screwed out of the gift that they deserve, having given one of their own. Everyone who joins the gift exchange is encouraged (but not required) to give a gift of $3 to go towards this fund. Before the gypped fund was instituted there were several volunteer secret santas to cover those that did not recieve their gifts, simply out of the holiday spirit…

Of course, all hope is that the fund will not be needed for the purpose intended. And so, it was decided that the money would go to a worthy cause if it were not needed for Briners whose Santa’s abandoned them. Where to send the money you ask? Why to Alton Brown’s charity of choice, of course!!! Heifer International, dedicated to helping underprivleged families in rural areas and third world countries, by providing them with livestock and the knowledge of how to care for it and use it to feed their families. Each donation to Heifer International comes to families in the form of cattle, pigs, goats, etc… It worked. Last year the Briners were able to donate one animal to the cause. This year, however, there was a different spark to the group. This year, several Briners said that they would be a replacement santa to those who did not receive the gifts that they were promised. The reason for this, was that they would donate another set of wonderful and amazing gifts to someone, simply so that the fund was not touched. Because of the goodness of the hearts of these people, and the generosity of one who has said that they would double whatever was donated by the group as a whole, the Briners are going to donate an amazing $1200 to Heifer International this year. It seems that they will be able to donate a cow, a pig, and several chicks, “and then some” according to ChefShawn.

I am proud to be a member of this group!!! Kudos to all the members of the Good Eats Fan Page, and Kudos to Alton Brown for inspiring his fans to donate their hard earned money to such a worthy cause!!!!

Although originally aired in July 02, this is the very first time I have seen this entertaining hour long episode of Good Eats. All I can say is, WOOHOO!!! I loved every second of it. From the comical reference to Gilligans Island, and the way the crew was trying NOT to wake him up, to the fun “disposal” of his coconut friend Coco, (in a man made oven… insert evil laugh here…).

The episode starts with AB writing in a journal by candle light, how he became trapped on this deserted island, and what foods he made to survive the ordeal. Writing out the recipes so that they might one day be included in survival packs. How very noble of him… The scene shifts to the accident that left him stranded in the first place, as well as him landing on the beach. In desperate search of something to drink he wanders inland. Without his glasses, finding something to drink may be difficult, but then he crashes face first into a coconut palm. After a long and difficulttime of trying to get the hard outer shell off the coconut, he stumbles onto a box left by the army. Amongst other various and sundry supplies he finds a hand grenade. With a gleam in his eye he looks back at the errant coconut… Several seconds and one loud boom later, we see the singed outer husk of the coconut, and the interior falling to the ground. And then we get the instructions to drill into 2 of the three “eyeholes” and drink. And a little bit of interesting history. Coconut milk is so pure that is was used as an intravenous nourishment solution in WWII soldiers. Weird…

What follows next is (mostly) typical Good Eats, but in a “hovel” rather than a kitchen. Recipe after recipe for coconut dishes, followed by papayas, mangoes, and eventually pineapples. He even made his own chocolate from cacao pods that were growing there too. Strangely, mangoes and cacao do not naturally grow in the same areas, and AB takes note of this fact, but is grateful to have found the mangoes nonetheless. And I, for one, have to say that I am really pleased at the section that teaches how to peel and cut a mango, as I once spent a good half hour, and got my hands very sticky, and very nearly lost a finger, trying to make a mango smoothie from scratch. In the banana grove, AB runs into a wild pig, and gets chased up a tree, (that is in fact how he discovered the papayas). Finally, craving a protien rather than seafood, he uses a final hand grenade to dispatch of said pig and makes a lovely sweet and sour pork. I shuddered a bit when he started the sweet & sour sauce with ketchup, but in the end it looked awesome!!!!!

After what is protrayed to be months and months on the island, AB steps out of the hovel to find a man with a surfboard. He is thrilled and throws himself at the man with enthusiasm, grateful beyond words to be rescued. The man looks at him with confusion and eventually tells him that they are on the island of Oahu, just outside of Waikiki… Silly Alton!

All in all, I really enjoyed Down & Out in Paradise, and wish that there would be more hour long episodes of the wonderful show that is… GOOD EATS.

Good day all, and until next time, why don’t you go see if anything’s up at the Hogwarts Herald…