20b - Monterey Bay Report

Note:
First, an apology. Due to an unusually hectic work schedule, I had to take a short "sabbatical" from being agent to the Flats. (The boys didn't seem to mind, they had logged quite a few frequent flier miles recently and appreciated the rest.) Sorry for the delay. Thank you for your understanding.
--Dana

Since Flat BA is a man of few words and I'm a woman of many, I agreed to let FBA give you the short version of the Cooking Demo with Alton Brown and Darina Allen at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cooking for Solutions event on Friday evening, May 16, 2008. Take it away, FBA.
--GoldenGirl

Thanks, GoldenGirl.
If you want the long-winded version, you'll have to read her posts. I hope you have a comfy chair!

First off, bernabee was an awesome hostess and a really sweet person. I got to hang out with her and GG Friday night and then we hooked up with LucyLu, cornchili, Missjane and her daughter, Elizabeth, the next day (more on that later).

The cooking demo with Alton and Darina was pretty cool especially since Darina is this big deal chef from Ireland (International Cooking Teacher of the Year) with a TV show, a fancy cooking school and best-selling cookbooks AND she'd never even heard of Alton Brown! She called him "Alvin" -- twice!! Man, that was just too funny.

Darina cooked a whole flounder with herb butter which did look tasty. Alton, being Alton, kept asking "why are you doing that" questions but I don't think she's used to working with a sidekick so it kind of threw her in the beginning. You could tell the audience was filled with Good Eats fans and they really got AB's humor -- Darina, not so much. In the end, Darina and Alton made a funny comedy team and I'd watch their act on TV anytime. Also, you could tell they both share the same passions for quality food prepared simply but well AND for choosing foods with an eye toward sustainability -- especially seafood.
**Darina and Alton working as a team

Following the demo, bernabee and GoldenGirl made a beeline for the stage in order to ask Alton for his signature. (Those wacky girls, don't they know they can wait and do that at the wine and hors d'oeuvre reception that follows? -- Apparently NOT.) Here's how the conversation went. (Oh, and notice that bernabee has NO lines. At this point she was just awestruck -- I don't think AB noticed she was standing there with GG who was doing ALL the talking.)

**That's me, Flat BA, with Alton. GG is the blond on the left; bernabee is the brunette on the right.
(I'm calling that guy in the back "Alton's assistant" but he probably has a better title than that.)

AB: "Oh, now YOU have him . . . is this guy just going to keep following me?"

GG: "Yes. Well, this guy (Flat BA) and the other guy (Flat AB)."

GG: "Would you do us a really big favor and add 'Chicago 3/15/08' and 'Atlanta 3/29/08' to our Flat BA clone since those original signatures weren't copied?"

AB: "You want me to LIE?!!!"

GG: "No, not 'lie' just document the previous signings since those signatures were lost when, you know . . . "

AB: "What's in is for me?"

GG: "It would just make us really, really happy."

AB: "Oh, all right."

AB (writes): "Chicago 3/15/08 AB"

AB (to his assistant): "Hey, when was I in Atlanta? I don't remember doing anything in Atlanta."
GG: "Actually, that was the Cobb County Library fundraiser on March 29th. See, here's a photograph of your original signature on the back of the original Flat BA."
AB: "Oh yeah, okay."

AB (writes): "Atlanta 3/29/08 AB"

AB (writes): "Monterey 5/16/08 AB"

GG: "Thank you!"

AB: "Hey, I didn't sign that . . . what's THAT?!"


GG (puzzled): "I don't know." [It says CLONED 4/13/08]

FBA (turns to bernabee, who is looking at AB all starry-eyed):
"Uh, are you still alive??? Earth to bernabee! Look, she's starting to catch flies in her mouth!"

AB: "C'mon . . . don't you want wine?! Let's all go get some wine!"

By all accounts, the Monterey event was a wonderful experience. Please visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium's website for information on future events.