19 - FAB and Alton in the Gateway City! -And Good Eats With Friends

FAB went to visit with "eye4got" so he would be in town for Alton's appearance and booksigning. This is another stop on his "Feasting on Asphalt - The River Run Book Tour."
I'll let eye4got fill you in on the rest
--Dana

Hi everyone, it's me - eye4got,
FAB came to visit St. Louis.
Our first stop was the warehouse at my 2nd job.
An apron just wasn't going to cut it there.
So, we got him some proper safety gear.
(Like the hat?)
This alcohol may be 190 proof but it is not good eats (or drinks).

Is this the secret ingredient that gives Twinkies their 20-year shelf life?

FAB helped me ship some orders.

This is a street sign near my house. There wasn't any place to park near the intersection so I had to stop on the shoulder about a quarter mile away and walk up.Eye got some strange looks while taking this picture.

Mystic, Tena, Steve, Daniel, FAB, Kristina and Itchyfoot at the Thai Restaurant.
FAB was surprisingly adept at using chopsticks and he liked his first taste of Thai food.
After dinner, Itchyfoot and Eye made our way down to Ted Drewe's for some frozen custard.FAB remembered seeing Ted Drewes spotlighted on Alton's Feasting on Asphalt show during season 1.The next morning, the group met for brunch. After all that ice cream the night before - coffee and orange juice seemed a healthy choice for FAB. (Well, at least the juice part.)Tena and FAB smile for the camera.

Little Daniel summed up our experience nicely.

FAB never seems to pass up an opportunity to stop and smell the roses - er, tulips.
*FAB waves to Honeycomb and give her permission to release the stranglehold she has had on the Groundhog since February.*
Waiting to be let in to the book signing, we chatted with Amy whose husband was going through military orientation prior to being deployed. Eye told her about the GEFP and invited her to join. She seemed like she'd fit in well with us. FAB says her hubby later joined up - soldiermedic.
Next we headed up to a private reception for friends of the bookstore and their friends. (Kudos to JJ.)FAB poses with Rotten and Jugglergirl.

After the private reception Alton had a little Q and A.
FAB says "Alton spoke to the masses."
Yep, this is a former church.

Alton recognized Flat AB.

And, finally here's a shot of the 3 of us - Alton, Flat AB...and eye4got.

Thanks for the recap and fantastic photos, eye4got!

While Flat AB was off exploring St. Louis, his brother Flat BA, headed off to California. Alton will be hosting the Monterey Bay Aquarium's events on sustainable seafood choices, "Cooking for Solutions" this weekend, May 15-17, 2008.

There are rumors that Alton will be "swimmin' with da fishes"
and FBA just can't wait to see that!

--Dana

16 - East Coast Briner Meet Dining in Style!

Hey kids!
I just flew in from the East Coast and man, are my arms tired!

Actually, I'm still on a plane.
I'll arrive in Chicago soon, then after a quick layover, I'm off again.

But, hey - I had a fantastic weekend with a bunch of Briners and took a LOT of pictures! (As usual, click on the picture to see it bigger.)
Okay, first, you know what Briners are, right?
If you are a loyal fan of my blog, this is "old hat." They are a swell group of Alton fans who not only talk about good eats - but they prepare them and eat them, too!

Every few months a different group gets together someplace in the nation. This month it was the East Coasters.

And, there will be a Midwest Meet soon.
But, that's another post. *Wink*

So, a bunch o' Briners gathered at the beeeautiful Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, WV.
Nice place, huh?!
On Friday night Pixietoes, Kinsley, and Mongo joined KittyFixer, SlamDunkPro and me for champange and hor'dourves in the FAB suite.
KittyFixer teasted SDP that only HE would bring food to a 4 star resort, but...

"Hey, it’s a Briner Meet...Soneone's gotta cook, right?"

SlamDunkPro served:
Crab Salad in phyllo cups, Sun Dried tomato & basil pesto on water crackers with fresh mozzarella, and Hot Szechuan shrimp wrapped in snowpeas.
It was all fan-tastic!

Saturday morning we headed into town. The Blue Moon Café is a fun place for a casual meal. Mongo and I munched on the Monument burger, which only comes one way – whatever way the chef feels like making it!
We all consumed mass quantities of their signature French fries which were excellent (not Popburger, but close). Then we headed back to the Inn.

Okay, confession time.
Sometimes I get a little jealous that Flat BA has a bike and I don't.
I scampered up on a gentleman’s BMW bike and tried to go for a ride. At least I got to pretend.
*Smile*
Dinnertime arrived, and of course I was was ready!
First there were the appetizers.
This one was the "Seafood “Trio” was really good.
Smoked Salmon with Citrus Crème Fraiche, Smoked Trout over Corn and Truffle Pudding, & Seared Scallop with Melon and Mint Salsa.

Vicky tried to explain what all that means. Then Eric tried.
But, it went over my head. (So much does!)
I just know it's good eats.

Before the main dishes arrived, we had a little entertainment.
You guys remember the "Mini-Vick's" ?
Sure, you do!
I stayed with them in Pennsylvania last month.
*Laugh*
I guess spoons are multi-taskers, too!

Then, it was my turn.
I did my best Frank Sinatra song.
(I was dressed for it.)
Okay, Pixie, it wasn't THAT funny!
(Maybe it was...)
There were MANY amazing entrees.
This one was:
Quails stuffed with Game Mousseline and Foie Gras, Pistachio Pesto Herbed Spaetzle and Seared Foie Gras with Huckleberry Gastrique.

Confession:
I cheated and got help from SDP and Kinsley on that one.
I thought it tasted great.
But, honestly, I don't know all those words yet.

Me? I woulda said:
Little chickens with some mousse-y stuff, with some, well, it was like liverwurst, but the BEST liverwurst IN THE WORLD!
And, some pasta with some fruity sauce.
(It was good. I know THAT much!)

I almost forgot about dessert!
We had cheesecake and all sorta of pastry thingies.

Didn't the ladies look pretty?
I was sorry to see the night end.

Okay gang, soon I'll be in Chicago, then St. Louis!
Gonna see the real Alton there.

And, Flat BA?
Well, he's been laying low, but he's gonna hit the road soon, too. He's off to New Orleans to see Alton on his "Feasting on Asphalt - The River Run" book tour.

If you need information on Alton's appearances, you can check his schedule at www.altonbrown.com. Look under "Where's AB?"

See you soon!
--Flat AB

3- On Patrol with Chris Cognac and Jean Claude Dhien

Hey everybody!
I'm having a blast in California.

Last night I was on patrol with Sgt. Chris Cognac and Jean Claude Dhien. You might know Chris Cognac from his Food Network show The Hungry Detective or recognize him from his appearances as a judge on Iron Chef America. Oh, and he was in Season 1 of Feasting on Asphalt. The busy guy also writes for his local paper and has a website called The Culinary Detective. And, this week, you can catch Chris as a participant on the new NBC gameshow Amne$ia.

Jean Claude Dhien has been the photographer for Seasons 1 and 2 of Feasting on Asphalt and his photos will be available in the new book Feasting on Asphalt:The River Run, due in book stores around March 26th. I hear that he's also a trained chef, too.

(No, Wanda, I didn't drink any of his fancy French wine.
But, I did make fun of his French accent just a little bit. )

Jean Claude is really talented - please don't judge the quick shot above. We just used Chris' phone for that one. Hopefully, I'll be able to share some nicer photos in a few days.

And, with any luck, Chris and JC will write up some fun stories from patrolling.

It was good hanging out with the guys :)
OK, I'm off to Chicago next!
To meet the real AB.

My kinda town, Chicago is.

--Flat AB