Technicolor dining - checking in

Technicolor dining just passed the six month mark!  I am grateful to those who interact with the blog site, Facebook page, and Twitter page. I am still surprised when someone tells me that they have signed up to receive my blog posts or they come to the site and read the posts as a series of vignettes. I still get tongue tied when a chef asks me what I think of a dish or what questions I have about the dish(es) they've prepared. I still enjoy watching the look of surprise on a server's face when I order what they recommended. I still occasionally receive a look of pity from nearby diners who see me  dining alone, but some diners and servers have applauded me for dining solo. The dining gods have truly blessed me.

Here a few of the most common comments/ questions I'm asked:

Do you eat out every night?
Answer: No.  I'm an introvert ; being out every would make me cranky.

You seem to know a lot about beverages, do you drink a lot?
Answer:  I actually drink a great deal of water when I am at home. I also drink  tea and hot chocolate. I have a fully stocked bar , but it's primarily used when guests visit.

Does your family read your blog?
Answer: Actually, my mother does read my blog. She tells me she enjoys when I mention her in my posts. Hi Mom!

I hope that you will continue to follow my adventures.  There is much more in store and sure to unfold in the upcoming months.

Be well,
Technicolor girl

Spring: Chef Crush

photo by TEP

I walked down the street with a fellow diner. As she described one of the restaurants she frequented she mentioned stated the chef was one of her 'chef crushes'.  I looked at the  woman for a
moment  and thought, 'did she say 'chef crush'?' She certainly did and surprisingly, I understood exactly what she meant.

So what is a chef crush?  I think the chefcrush website's description is a good place to start:
Because cooking makes a person cute and sometimes even sexy! We love good food, and we totally crush on the people who cook it for us. These dreamy chefs make us feel all tingly inside, like we’re back in junior high flipping through the glossy pages of our teen magazines.

Personally, I don't think of my chef crushes as 'cute' or 'sexy'. The chefs I tend to 'crush on' or admire generally fall into one of several categories:

photo by TEP

• They are passionate about cooking and have a charismatic, charming , or sometimes humorous way about them
• They engage with customers and build relationships because they know that repeat customers will refer their business to others in their network
• They are shy, but blossom like a flower when discussing food
• They seek feedback about their dishes and are constantly evolving their dishes

Notice that I didn't mention gender, looks, or size. This is also not about stalking or engaging in any behaviors that would cause discomfort or embarrassment to either party or a visit from the police. This about having a healthy respect for oneself and  for the chef, but admiring the craft and the chef's talent.

Can you have a crush on more than one chef at a time? Absolutely!


photo by TEP

Do YOU have a chef crush? Have you had a chef crush? What made the chef appealing?

A sincere thanks to my chef crushes for the work that you do. I raise my glass to you!

Be well,

Technicolor girl