Good Morning!

This morning was a rare occasion, I was home working and had the TV on and on the local morning show Chef Anne Burrell was cooking with the host and they were talking about her new cook book and she would be signing books later today. Chef Anne Burrell is on Food TV and the Cooking Channel and I remember seeing her as a Sous Chef for Mario Batali on the show Iron Chef. You will recognize her from her signature blonde spikey hair and she always wears skirts when she cooks. On her new show How to Cook Like a Restaurant Chef…she is witty, relaxed, informative and fun.

Her food always looks amazing and when she makes it, she shares tips and insider info about ingredients and cooking techniques through the show. She makes cooking and being happy seem effortless. I like to cook and I love being happy so in some way I feel like we are two of the same kinda spirits. She is probably in her mid 30’s and I have no idea if she is married, owns a restaurant, lives who knows where, probably New York…but I decided since she was in town, I would go and check out the book signing.

I arrived at the store at 11, she would start at 11:30 and I was about 15th in line and within a few minutes the line started expanding and I bet there were at least 75-90 people behind me by the time she started. They folks from the store ask you for the name you wanted her to sign and they wrote it down on a post it note and that way she could just open the book right up and sign and be on to the next person.

When she walked out the energy was crazy good. She is a walking smile. She was engaging and funny and spent a few minutes with each person and took pictures. There were two little girls in front of me and they were twins, about 9 years old and they walked up and they stood there and chatted with Anne, one little girl ask her to come over for dinner…she said Oh, I wish! We could make dinner together and hang out…If I could I totally would. The little girls hugged Anne and stood to the side for a few minutes taking more pictures and hugging their newly signed cookbooks. She honestly seemed like a really fun Aunt to the twins.

Then it was my turn…She was funny and engaging and we spoke for a few minutes and I wished her luck on the new show Next Food Network Chef that she is competing on and she said thanks for the good vibes girl…these chefs are good and I am loving the experience, but the food is no joke, we are seriously cooking! We laughed and I told her how touching it was to see how many folks are here with kids. We hugged and I headed to the check out to pay for my cookbooks and there were the twins in line and they were giggling and talking about what to make for dinner. They were with their dad and he was trying to be “cool” but they were so wound up he was exhausted.

The twins were having a ball and I said to the dad, you know they will talk about this for years…he said I had to take the day off for this. When they found out she (Chef Anne Burrell) was coming here 2 weeks ago I have not had a minute of peace. I laughed and said well, you are awesome for taking the time off and creating a special experience for them.

I am back at home and looking over the cookbook and thinking about what I will make first and of course which wine I will pair with it. It was inspiring to meet a self made woman with a love for life that is contagious. I will keep you posted when I make one of her dishes and what I pair with it.

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi