They say you should never meet your heroes...

[fairyrune]

...lest they turn out to be less than what you imagine them to be.

They are wrong.

Last night, I met one of my heroes. None other than Mr. Alton Brown.























He did a book signing at the B&N in Paramus. The Q&A session beforehand was highly entertaining. (Can you say Bunny Hop?) During said session, he mentioned having made a Buttermilk Maple ice cream with Bacon this past Saturday. I raised my hand and asked if we could get the recipe. He complemented my glasses, and said that we should all go to the Food and Wine Festival in NYC this Saturday, at which point somebody shouted out that it conflicts with ComicCon, and the whole conversation got derailed.

After the Q&A, we all queued up to get our books/what-have-you signed. There were tons of people, but the employees assured us that Mr. Brown would sign something for everyone, no matter how long it took.

When it was finally my turn, I only turned into a little bit of a gibbering idiot. He smiled, and shook my hand*, and seemed generally interested in me. He even remembered my question from earlier. I asked him very nicely if he could maybe put the recipe for the ice cream online, since my parents are coming to buy me laundry machines for the new house this weekend. He agreed, told me that laundry is important, and congratulated me on the house.

Alton was so kind, and gracious. I wasn't so much surprised as relieved. So often we hear about people we admire being less-than-nice in real life, but Alton was a true gentleman. I think I would give my eye teeth to be able to take that man out for a beer.

I've been through some tough times recently, but those two minutes with one of my heroes made everything just that much better.

*(I considered never washing my hands again, but I don't think Alton would approve.)

P.S.-There's lots going on, and I haven't been on the internet much lately. I probably won't be around much for a while yet, but if you have my cell phone number, please do use it!

Comments

[frost-faerie.livejournal.com]

Squee! I so totally heart Alton Brown!

[ladyjoust.livejournal.com]

Ah, my old B&N! I wanted to make it to the event, but was unable. Glad you did, and glad Alton Brown was as awesome as you would have hoped (not so much when Bill Nye, the Science Guy was there. Bit of an asshat, he was. So very disheartening).

[atarunomiko.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! He was? What happened? That sucks, I always had a huge crush on him when I was little, revived by seeing him on Living With Ed in recent years...

[synnoveaevael.livejournal.com]

i TOTALLY worked at that B&N for 3 days. lol

yay alton!! he's goddamned awesome.

[jedi-007.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I's gonna see him Sat at the Food and Wine thingy :)

[fairyrune]

OMG. If he talks about that ice cream, take notes for me? Pretty pretty please?

Also, if you have the opportunity to find out, I really really want to know if he actually has a pet pot bellied pig named Compost.

[sciencenerd.livejournal.com]

I saw him on Monday at the B and N in Princeton. He did the same thing with the Q and A session then the book signing. He told us that he would give a free book to a person that brought him a pork roll sandwich for him and his assistant (Jim). Also, someone asked how he got into cooking. He was saying that he wanted to get girls. It turned out that more girls were interested in a home cooked food then going out and he was poor. So the first dinner was vegetarian (morrocan) and then by the third date it was expensive. Cooking with wine. Also the leftovers made a good breakfast. At this point some person covered their kids ears.. He was like this isn't Anthony Bourdain. Then he went on saying that one time his date canceled when he was already committed to cooking so he finished it by himself.. not saying which he finished by himself..

Also, someone asked him about the different sets he used... but the person was far away and Alton heard it as different sex..

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

That is so absolutely lovely! I jumped up and down when I got your text. YAY HERO-MEETING!!!

[barrelofrain.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. I had a similar experience when I met Augusten Burroughs. He was fantastic, and since I was in school for advertising, he recommended a book for me to check out. Isn't it great when that happens?

[lanthiriel.livejournal.com]

Hurray! :D

[ammre.livejournal.com]

ILOVEHIMI"MSOJELISCANILICKYOURHAND?@!


He helped get me through my broken months. I'd watch his show every weeknight.

[makiieris.livejournal.com]

So glad that it was an amazingly positive experience for you :) Yeah for getting to meet the man!

[blueyz72.livejournal.com]

I"m SO jealous, but Yay cool for you :)

[craftyskwrl.livejournal.com]

So Jealous! I really wanted to go but wee girl was feisty. Alton Brown kicks ass!

Congrats!

[atarunomiko.livejournal.com]

That's so great, I'm glad he was nice. Reminds me of when I met my own hero, J. Michael Straczynski. I got all trembly and practically cried when I said Babylon 5 changed my life. He was so kind about it and even asked me what kind of writing I do.

The ice cream recipe sounds similar to this one I found a couple years ago when I was on my bacon-as-dessert kick, but the buttermilk maple part is different. There was also a bacon and egg ice cream recipe somewhere.
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2008/03/candied-bacon-i-1/

[pinball351.livejournal.com]

That's cool :D It was like that meeting Jewel Staite. I wouldn't say she's my hero, but I'm *really* glad she turned out to be so nice. But Jewel Staite didn't have any recipes for ice cream. Woot for you!