8- I Met the Real Alton in Chicago! Neat-O!

Woo Hoo!
Yesterday my brother, Flat BA, and I met the real Alton appearing in Chicago.
(Click on the pics to enlarge.)

Once he warmed up to the idea, Alton posed for LOTS of funny pics.

(That's Guru behind Alton. Golden Girl's mom is in brown. And, I'm pretty sure the "sweet as tea" woman with the book is Alton's publicist, Athalie White.)

Alton had us cracking up!

He got a kick out our photo albums and saw pictures of when we posed with Katie and Dianna. He said their sockpuppets were "Reeealy nice."

Then he was kind enough to sign my brother Flat BA and me.
Oh, and each of our albums, too.

We had lots photographers clicking away.
Matter of fact, that one is the official photographer for the Museum and Science and Industry web page.

About Alton's Science Talk
Backing up a bit. My brother and I listened to Alton give a talk about science and food. He showed us 4 molecules and explained "how they do their voodoo" in cooking. It might sound simple, but he said understanding this was really important. So, I got comfortable and listened really well.

Alton said that water...wets.
(As this point, Flat BA said, "Duh!"
I told him to HUSH.)

Then Alton said that fats...slide.
(I held my hand over Flat BA's mouth.)

Carbohydrates...build.
(Flat BA nodded. He has carbo-loaded before long bike rides before.)

And, lastly, the fun one.
Proteins...tangle.

Huh?

Well, Alton explained that one, saying that basically, using heat, or acid, you can made proteins wind up tight or loosen up and get all chilled out.

Neat.

Alton said a lot of other stuff and then we kids (and a few adults) were able to get their questions answered. (The museum let us write down some questions on cards before Alton's talk.)

We met Chef Louisa Chu, too. Alton said she was a judge on Iron Chef America. We love that show!

(My brother and I didn't know she was a Paris trained chef. Flat BA and I just knew her as the very funny and insightful lady who "interviewed" him "Mr. Lipton" style.

She looked familiar but we couldn't place her. Then Flat BA remembered...that she was the "fixer" on Anthony Bourdain's Paris episode of No Reservations.)

We also hung out with some of the Chicagoland Alton fans who call themselves Briners.

(Briners. It's an unusual nickname, but it has to do with the fact that Alton likes to brine various kinds of protein before cooking. And, if you have never brined your Thanksgiving day turkey, well, you're missing out on the maximum moist and meaty mouthfuls offered by Tom or Tina Turkey.)

From left to right, there's Dana, Golden Girl, Guru, and JJ.

Wow, this was a fantastic day!
We are so glad Alton had fun meeting us.
-Flat AB and Flat BA