Dominique Crenn's Cookbook "Atelier Crenn Metamorphosis of Taste" Goes On Sale Tuesday, Nov. 3, Foreward Released Today

(The Following is the foreward for acclaimed San Francisco chef Dominique Crenn's first cookbook, "Atelier Crenn  Metamorphosis of Taste" 

DOMINIQUE CRENN is like a Marvel Super Hero.

If you are familiar with Marvel Super-Heroes, you know they lead two lives. They have their superhero lives where they leap or fly or cling to buildings all over town fighting evil people and saving the world from doom.

And then they have their “regular” life where they look like normal folk and you wouldn’t even know they are anything special. The Incredible Hulk, for example, is Dr. Bruce Banner, a physicist. The Amazing Spiderman is Peter Parker, a student and photographer in his normal life. Thor, the Norse god of thunder and lightning, is Dr. Donald Blake, a respected surgeon.     

And Dominque Crenn, the acclaimed super hero chef is, in her regular life, a cook.

I think in her heart, in that very artistic heart of hers, she might have fun being the superhero chef – who wouldn’t? – but, she is most in her element, most in her purest state of bliss when she is being a cook.

Still, like, all superheroes, it is fun to see the transformation. It’s exciting to see her magically transform from cook to superhero chef.  

I have seen superhero Dominique single-handedly take a celebrity chef-studded food event that was heading toward doldrums and transform it into a joyous, free-spirited party with her super powers of unrestrained spontaneity, mischievousness, merrymaking and beauty.

And I have seen “regular” Dominique inconspicuously walked into my restaurant in Los Angeles, dressed casually and quietly take a seat at the Mozzarella Bar. I’ve seen her ask the server about the dishes like she didn’t know foie gras from chopped liver. I’ve seen her quietly study the plate when it arrived, sniff and slowly taste. A cook still learning. Or at least hoping to learn.

And, to me, that is the mark of the great ones. The chefs, the cooks, who after all the acclaim, all the stars and rave reviews, are still leaning, still searching for flavor. That’s Dominique Crenn.

I first met Dominique Crenn two years ago at a food event in downtown Los Angeles She was sitting at a table with a mutual friend, quietly sipping a glass of white wine. We quickly hit it off, talking about our worlds in the kitchen.

I learned she was, like me, deeply influenced by her father, who you will read about in this book’s opening pages. He was an artist, and I think Dominique is an artist, too. A poet, too.

When you go through this book, I think you will agree. Go to one of the opening chapters, Metamorphosis, and read perhaps the loveliest, most poetic menu ever called “Chef’s Grand Tasting Menu”. Poetic Culinary. Read and you will understand.

But, her food, isn’t about words. It isn’t about looks, though it is certainly fun to behold. Her food is about soul. It is about childhood. It is about passions. But, and this is a giant “but”, it is about deliciousness. Front and center, it is about how damn good her food tastes.

Hey, what did I say?  Dominique Creen might be a super hero chef. But, really, Dominique Crenn is a cook.  

- Nancy Silverton

"Metamorphosis of Taste" by Dominique Crenn goes on sale Tuesday, November 3, 2015.  Get it at your local bookstore. Or get it here.

http://www.amazon.com/Atelier-Crenn-Metamorphosis-Taste-Dominique/dp/0544444671/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446404480&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=dominiique+crenn

"The Corner Joins Mickey Mantle, Julius Caesar, Al Green, Michelangelo, Spirit of St. Louis, John F. Kennedy, Many Other Legends as 14th Best, Mozza Staff Ecstatic

Chefs, sous chefs, line cooks, servers, runners, dishwashers, somms and even owners on "The Corner" were thrilled this week when a rating of restaurants in Los Angeles listed the combined efforts of Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza and Chi Spacca as the 14th best in the entire city. 

 "You can have your Michelin stars, your Pellegrino 50 Best listing. your Gault Millau 19.5s, I'll take being listed the same as Al Green, Michelangelo and Mickey Mantle any day," said Mozza co-owner and chef Nancy Silverton referring to three other legends who too were listed as 14th best in their fields by various "raters".   "Ever heard of Julius Caesar? 14th." 

Although Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza and Chi Spacca are three clearly distinctive restaurants, they are so closely associated with each other that the triumvirate were rated as one.   In celebration, The Corner staff sang "Let's Stay Together",  the soul classic by Al Green who was rated the 14th best singer by Rolling Stone magazine.   As the party grew raucous, toasts were made to other legends who were rated 14th best including undefeated heavyweight champion  Rocky Marciano,  ( greatest boxers of all time list), "Some Like It Hot" ( greatest American movies of all time list ) Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind' ( greatest songs list) and John F. Kennedy, ( greatest presidents list).

"I love that we were rating as one, unlike some, mutual-wall places that were rated separately," said Chi Spacca general manager Kim "Grumpy" Trac, who, in a rare celebratory mood, fire off several rounds from his Barrett  82A1 50 Cal. sniper rifle.  Trac was Chino Valley Rancher's egged on by Pizzeria Mozza server Juile Burrise who yelled "Ernie Banks wore number 14.. Let's shoot two!"

***  The rating may recall a 2014 L.A. restaurant listing that put Melisse as the 32nd best in the city. Check it :  http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/4/25/32-is-the-new-1-melisse-given-same-number-as-koufax-magiclisted-as

Check out some of the other notable 14th bests.

Julius Caesar - rated 14th best general by Paradox Plaza https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-top-100-generals-of-history.266934/    (Also spelled as  Cesare)

Mickey Mantle was rated the 14th best baseball player of all time by The Bleacher Report  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1977372-the-100-greatest-mlb-players-of-all-time/page/48

"Some Like It Hot" - rated 14th best American movie of all time by the AFI-  http://www.afi.com/100years/movies.aspx

Rocky Mariciano - rated 14th best boxer of all time by ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/greatest/featureVideo?page=greatest1120

 "Blowin in the Wind" by Bob Dylan rated 14th best song of all time by Rolling Stone - http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/bob-dylan-blowin-in-the-wind-20110517

John F. Kennedy was rated 14th best president by the  American Political Science Association https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/02/16/new-ranking-of-u-s-presidents-puts-lincoln-1-obama-18-kennedy-judged-most-over-rated/

The "Spirit of St. Louis"  was rated 14th most important airplane of all time, ( Charles Lindburgh flew across the Atlantic in this plane ) http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/g2142/the-30-most-important-airplanes-of-all-time/

Al Green     http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/robert-plant-20101202 

Michelangelo Buonarrotti -  rated the 14th greatest painter of all time  http://www.theartwolf.com/articles/most-important-painters.htm

"One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest"  by Ken Kesey was ranked the 14th best novel of all time by Good Reads  http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2681.Time_Magazine_s_All_Time_100_Novels

One?  Shit, we've all flew over that nest at some point . Me ? I'm going over tonight. 

14 best joke,  Some website      " A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Amal". The other goes to a family in Spain, who name him "Juan". Years later Juan sends a picture of himself to his mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wished she also had a picture of Amal. Her husband responds: "They're twins. If you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal."

Washington D.C. Stunner; Nancy Silverton Awards "5 Nods" To A Chicken Salad By Former White House Sous Chef Frank Ruta

Since its creation during the early Ming Dynasty in 1369 at Emperor Hongwu's temple in Nanjing, no chicken salad - Chinese, Caesar or not - has ever been awarded what is considered to be the "Supreme Royale Accolade". Until now.

Just moments ago , in the Georgetown sector of Washington, D.C., a chicken salad was awarded an unheard of ( for a salad) "5 Nods" from Nancy Silverton, the creator of the now-worldwide used Nodding System. (* For more on the system see below..

Silverton, in a classic act of serendipity, stumbled on The Grill Room, located in the Capella Hotel, an hour ago after being revolted by the two M Street lunch places suggested by this reporter. She turned off of M Street and down 31st Street near a canal and found The Grill Room.

Immediately, she knew she was in the right place when she spotted Larry Stone , one of America's most renowned sommeliers, hosting a wine lunch  Passing on invite to join that lengthy lunch, Silverton opted for a seat at an outside  table along the canal and perused the menu by chef Frank Ruta, a former White House executive sous chef who cooked for Carter, Reagan and the first Bush, (who,  looking back, seems like a titan compared to the second one.)

She ordered the chicken salad and a glass of Tempranillo. "Whenever I go to restaurant I don't know, especially at a hotel, I play it safe and go directly to a chicken Caesar," said Silverton.  "How bad can it be? Though, I'll say, I've had some awful, dried-out, over-dressed versions.  But, still, it is my hotel restaurant 'go to' order."   

This is how it is described on the menu.  Grilled Chicken Breast “Caesar”  -Romaine wedge, crispy fried lemons and capers, reggiano cheese crostini. $20.

Silverton was taken aback by the chicken salad. "It was outstanding.  The chicken was plump and juicy and probably had been in a flavorful brine. The romaine was perfectly dressed  The fried capers and lemons excellent."

Silverton was so impressed she issued the following press release 

"Since eating that salad, I have changed my mind and I'll be voting for Frank Ruta for president and hoping he selects Hillary to be his VP," said Silverton "I'm sure he's a better cook than her."

Here's is the Washington Post review of the Grill by Tom Sietsema  https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/the-grill-room-review-a-new-reason-to-go-thanks-to-frank-ruta-and-co/2015/04/21/d9f420a2-db07-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html

  * The Nancy Nod was created in the mid 2010s to counter the overuse - and hence watering-down - of superlatives. By "Nodding" instead of talking, Silverton  - and now billions of others - express their satisfaction. A single nod is a polite gesture that acknowledges food is consumed and the eater is grateful for being nourished and kept from hunger. .  Above one nod, indicates a level of satisfaction up until a redline of Five Nods. .(WARNING  Above five nods could indicate an actual "nodding" is occurring and precautions should be taken to avoid said person from falling over )  

A gelato was the first-ever food to be awarded Five Nods. See this story. 

http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/1/12/nw6s2jk2qectcua6hpzok65h65cc2n

The sesame loaf at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco once received Five Nods. See here.

http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2014/4/8/nancy-silverton-awards-coveted-5-nods-to-tartine-sesame-loaf

In addition, the 2015 McLaren P1, the 2015 LaFerrari, and the  Krikorian Writes website have all been awarded Five Nods

Editors NOTE - For the record, Somm Stone gave Silverton a second - and free - glass of red wine from Quintessa, one of the properties he manages on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley. The wine had no affect on the 5 Nod rating.  

Nancy Silverton Has A Cold

Nancy Silverton, holding a glass of Aglianico del Vulture  in one hand and IPhone 6 in the other, stood in a dark corner of the owner's parking lot of Complesso Mozza.  Two young chefs - Ryan Vito DeNicola and Tiffany Fox -  waited for her to say something they could understand, her voice a barely audible slur, like Brando toward the end.   But, she said nothing they could grasp. She had been silent during much of the evening, except now where she seemed even more distant speaking than not, staring out through the semidarkness into the alley where idled her midnight blue Porsche from which Coltane and Tyner joyously engulfed "But Not For Me"  The young chefs knew - as did some of Silverton's employees who stood nearby - that it was a bad idea to force conversation upon her when she was in this mood of sullen silence, a mood as rare as a full moonset during her nine-year reign at Mozza. 

Silverton had been working on a book she could not wait to finish;  she was tired of all the publicity attached to her dating a gang reporter; she was weary of traveling - having hours earlier returned from West Carolina - and stressing on an upcoming trip - a day in D.C and three in N. Y. C.  - before heading to somewhere in the Mid East for a pop up; she was tried of being recognized by strangers who saw her on the PBS show "I'll Have What Phil's Having", and was even concerned that very show could overrun her small Umbrian summer getaway with tourists;, she was tired of getting people reservations;, she so worn out that her body was - so very uncharacteristically  - reacting with ache. Silverton was ill. She was the victim of an ailment so common that most people would consider it trivial. But when it gets to Silverton it can plunge her into a state of disbelief, like the state of the confusion a Bengal tiger must have when confined to a cage. 

Nancy Silverton had a cold.

Silverton with a cold is Picasso without paint, LaFerrari without fuel, Seabiscuit without a racetrack-- only worse. For the common cold robs Silverton of that uninsurable jewel, her voice, cutting into the core of her confidence, and it affects not only her own psyche but also seems to cause a kind of psychosomatic nasal drip within dozens of people who work for her, drink with her, worship her, depend on her for their own welfare and stability. 

Silverton with a cold is cause for concern. Mere mortals get colds and are left to fend for themselves to get through the annoyance. Silverton gets visitors like she has just had open heart surgery. Friends and family - bordering on somber -arrive at her house, some - like writer Margy Rochlin - so shaken they retreat to the back yard to escape the strange sight of a docile Silverton. Her daughter Vanessa Silverton-Peel arrives and glares at me with a "What have you done to my mother?" look. They don't stay long. 

For me, however, Silverton with a cold is a wonderful thing. She stays home this past weekend.  I get food from Chi Spacca on Friday night  ( shoulder lamb shouler chops with Jimmy Nardello peppers and broccolini) and from Pizzeria Mozza on Saturday night ( the new Jimmy Nardello pizza, meatballs and a Trecolre salad) and we dine at home.  And, if anyone needed any proof she was actually sick, I can attest that she passes on the red wine and goes for a diet Dr. Pepper. 

We even watched television together. . I had been hooked on Veena Sud's "the Killing" and was 17 episodes in when Nancy got sick. I weakly offer to start from the beginning, but she says no, If you have ever had to explain a complicated story that is a season and a half in to someone, you will know what i went through. Nancy asked so many question that I stopped the show so much that one 42 minute episode took one hour and 15 minutes. Still, I'd like to tell Veena Sud one day that Sunday night. (possible Spoiler ) as we were going to bed, Nancy said "Looks like Gwen did it." 

So. Nancy Silverton has a cold. When she coughs, - and she coughed so much at a visit to Urgent Care ( near Bogie's Liquors) that her Armenian Greek doctor said her throat looked "like a cobblestone street" - it pains me, too. I lie awake with her.  

I hope Nancy Silverton gets over this cold. But, not too quickly .  

###

This story is a straight out robbery of a classic piece of journalism by Gay Talese that ran in Esquire. 

Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" ran in April 1966 and became one of the most celebrated magazine stories ever published, a pioneering example of what came to be called New Journalism -- a work of rigorously faithful fact enlivened with the kind of vivid storytelling that had previously been reserved for fiction.

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a638/esq1003-oct-sinatra-rev/

Nancy Silverton Has A Cold

Nancy Silverton, holding a glass of Aglianico del Vulture  in one hand and IPhone 6 in the other, stood in a dark corner of the owner's parking lot of Complesso Mozza.  Two young chefs - Ryan Vito DeNicola and Tiffany Fox -  waited for her to say something they could understand, her voice a barely audible slur, like Brando toward the end.   But, she said nothing they could grasp. She had been silent during much of the evening, except now where she seemed even more distant speaking than not, staring out through the semidarkness into the alley where idled her midnight blue Porsche from which Coltane and Tyner joyously engulfed "But Not For Me"  The young chefs knew - as did some of Silverton's employees who stood nearby - that it was a bad idea to force conversation upon her when she was in this mood of sullen silence, a mood as rare as a full moonset during her nine-year reign at Mozza. 

Silverton had been working on a book she could not wait to finish;  she was tired of all the publicity attached to her dating a gang reporter; she was weary of traveling - having hours earlier returned from West Carolina - and stressing on an upcoming trip - a day in D.C and three in N. Y. C.  - before heading to somewhere in the Mid East for a pop up; she was tried of being recognized by strangers who saw her on the PBS show "I'll Have What Phil's Having", and was even concerned that very show could overrun her small Umbrian summer getaway with tourists;, she was tired of getting people reservations;, she so worn out that her body was - so very uncharacteristically  - reacting with ache. Silverton was ill. She was the victim of an ailment so common that most people would consider it trivial. But when it gets to Silverton it can plunge her into a state of disbelief, like the state of confusion a Bengal tiger must have when confined to a cage. Nancy Silverton had a cold.

Silverton with a cold is Picasso without paint, LaFerrari without fuel, Seabiscuit without a racetrack-- only worse. For the common cold robs Silverton of that uninsurable jewel, her voice, cutting into the core of her confidence, and it affects not only her own psyche but also seems to cause a kind of psychosomatic nasal drip within dozens of people who work for her, drink with her, worship her, depend on her for their own welfare and stability. 

Silverton with a cold is cause for concern. Mere mortals get colds and are left to fend for themselves to get through the annoyance. Silverton gets visitors like she has just had open heart surgery. Friends and family - bordering on somber -arrive at her house, some - like writer Margy Rochlin - so shaken they retreat to the back yard to escape the strange sight of a docile Silverton. Her daughter Vanessa Silverton-Peel arrives and glares at me with a "What have you done to my mother?" look. They don't stay long. 

For me, however, Silverton with a cold is a wonderful thing. She stays home this past weekend.  I get food from Chi Spacca on Friday night  ( shoulder lamb shouler chops with Jimmy Nardello peppers and broccolini) and from Pizzeria Mozza on Saturday night ( the new Jimmy Nardello pizza, meatballs and a Trecolre salad) and we dine at home.  And, if anyone needed any proof she was actually sick, I can attest that she passes on the red wine and goes for a diet Dr. Pepper. 

We even watched television together. . I had been hooked on Veena Sud's "the Killing" and was 17 episodes in when Nancy got sick. I weakly offer to start from the beginning, but she says no, If you have ever had to explain a complicated story that is a season and a half in to someone, you will know what i went through. Nancy asked so many question that I stopped the show so much that one 42 minute episode took one hour and 15 minutes. Still, I'd like to tell Veena Sud one day that Sunday night. (possible Spoiler ) as we were going to bed, Nancy said "Looks like Gwen did it." 

So. Nancy Silverton has a cold. When she coughs, - and she coughed so much at a visit to Urgent Care ( near Bogie's Liquors) that her Armenian Greek doctor said her throat looked "like a cobblestone street" - it pains me, too. I lie awake with her.  

So I hope Nancy Silverton gets over this cold. But, not too quickly .  

###

This story is a straight out robbery of a classic piece of journalism by Gay Talese that ran in Esquire. 

Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" ran in April 1966 and became one of the most celebrated magazine stories ever published, a pioneering example of what came to be called New Journalism -- a work of rigorously faithful fact enlivened with the kind of vivid storytelling that had previously been reserved for fiction.

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a638/esq1003-oct-sinatra-rev/

Moruno At L.A. Farmer's Market Becomes First Take-Out Window Ever To Win A Michelin Star

Acknowledging that "To Go" was an integral part of the dining experience not only in America, but the entire planet, Michelin, the world's most prestigious restaurant guide, has finally awarded one of their coveted "stars" to a food take out window.

Winner of the single Michelin is Moruno, a Spanish-themed soon-to-be-actual sit down restaurant that for the time being is offering only take out food at the Farmer's Market, the Los Angeles landmark at Third Street and Fairfax Avenue.

Moruno, which loosely translates to "skewers", opened in July in the southwest corner of the market in the space formerly occupied by Amy Pressman's "Short Order" near Dupar's.  Anxious to get cooking, the owners. David Rosoff and Chris Feldmeier, decided to open a take out window rather than wait for all the permits needed for the full-blown restaurant which is expected to open in the next few months.

Reaction to the Moruno take out window has been overwhelmingly positive.

"I think it is fair to say that when it come to take out windows, Moruno is in a class all by itself," said Michael Ellis, the Michelin Guide's international director. "More than 3.2  billion people a day worldwide order take out, so why should Michelin ignore them. From now. on, thanks to Moruno's lead, we will not."

Though admittedly humbled by the honor, co-owner Rosoff said both he, Feldmeier, sous chef Derek "Der Wreck" McCabe, prep cook Marissa "Two Kitchens",  as well as LSB (Lead Sandwich Bagger) Hector "Prince of Troy" Lopez all suspected a recent customer was, in fact, a Michelin inspector. 

"I have to admit we had an unfair advantage because the inspector was wearing one of those golf shirts you see guys wearing at company conventions and it had the Michelin Man where the alligator usually is," Rosoff said.

Sources in the Michelin Guide said that "Los Escobar de la Escobar", a take out window in Medellin, Colombia was "almost" awarded a star, but two of the guide's inspectors were kidnapped by a prep cook and a security guard  which, according to one of the sources "is not conducive to winning Michelin stars."

Part of the beauty of Moruno is that one can order from the  take out and walk 18 feet to the tables of the Farmer's Market and relish the food and enjoy the people watching.

A customer, Ralph Waxman, raved about his Moruno take out window lunch, "I had a delicious lamb sandwich, a outstanding  pork moruno, those brilliant lentils with yogurt  and I looked up and I saw Helen walk by. If that's not a lunch worthy of a Michelin star, well, than what is?"

http://morunola.com/

Deb michail A happy customer, points to moruno chef chris feldmeier

"The Theory of Dropitivity" Italy MMXV Shocker! Space Cadet Leon Gold Wins Guest Of The Year Award

If you had told me that 12-year-old Leon Gold would win the coveted 2015 GOYA (Guest of the Year Award) for our annual summer trip to Italy, I would have thought you had lost your mind. 

I have known that space cadet for something like seven, eight  years and - after giving up saying 'hello' and getting no response -  I haven't uttered a single word to him in a good five years.  

But, defying critics, the odds, logic. and even Galileo Galilei,  the 2015 GOYA goes to Leon Gold, son of Laurie Ochoa and Jonathan Gold.

Now, many of you who know me fairly well might be wondering the same thing. "Mike, are you drinking heavily again?"

Nah. And for the record, Nancy - and many others - voted for Leon, as well. Still, the reason for this report took so long to publish after we've been back from Italy - 15 days - is because some of the other contenders for this year's GOYA couldn't believe it and demanded a recount. The original count was verified and so it is official. Leon Gold wins this year's GOYA..

And part of the reason is this. Though it probably seemed a put-down in the headline and second paragraph - referring to Leon as a "space cadet" -  it turns out Leon Gold IS a space cadet. I mean someone has to be a cadet. which is, what, basically a trainee, right?. Someone has to train to be an astronaut to go into space or to be a physicist or a cosmologist and that's what Leon is. A space or physicist or cosmologist trainee. A space cadet.

Nancy and I met the Ochoa/Golds in Modena near Osteria Francescan where Nancy and I - along with Bobby Silverstein and Danielle Bernabe - had a lunch for the ages  and where Laurie Ochoa, Jonathan and Leon had dinner. As usual I didn't say a word to Leon when I saw him. ( Not that he woulda heard me as he was wearing earphones listening to a podcast about physics or some such thing )  The next day we all had a lunch in the Modena countryside and it was here Leon made his first two impressions.  One is that if you are like an Emily Post type -  ya know, all proper and full of etiquette - I don't recommend sitting across from him at a meal, This guy grabs his fork by the tines as he delves deep into a plate. And if there's a bowl of anything eatable nearby ,  you can lay pretty good odds Leon's fingers will be in that bowl. ("Just like you', Nancy would say to me.)

But, at that lunch, a paperback by American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson at his side, he made a pronouncement that didn't really hit me until later. It was like his first scientific ruling. He pronounced the so-ca;;led "three second rule " a fallacy. "Even if your food lands on the ground for one billionth of a second, it is no good. It will pickup as many microorganisms in that one billionth of a second as it will in three seconds or in 60 seconds. The three second rule is false."

He made this profound statement as seriously as I imagine Nicolas Copernicus announced that it was the Earth that orbited the Sun, not the other way around. 

I thought about Leon's theory for, well, for about three seconds. and it made sense. 

A day later in Panicale, Umbria, where Nancy has a home, I was walking the Ochoa/Golds to the apartment they had rented from our friends Enid and Richard since they didn't know exactly where said apartment was located inside the walls of the old town. On the way there. a super car came whizzing and roaring by. and Leon yelled out "Watch out, Michael!"   Now I would have had to be about 3,000 pounds heavier for this beautiful car to be even close to hitting me, but i was kinda stunned the kid even knew my name.

At dinner that evening, Leon told Nancy that "We spend too much money on the military and not enough on the space program." Did he, Nancy asked, think there was life in outer space?  "I don't know, but we are not going to find out bombing people." 

Was this the same Leon? This fool was starting to rack up GOYA  points.

The next dinner, i was sitting next to Leon. - which is better than sitting across.- and he started talking about how he doesn't think it is good for humans to be in cell phone photos. It's good for cats, but not humans, he said.  He mentioned something about nobody in the entire Milky Way Galaxy should be in a photograph. So I went with a variation of line I occasionally go to. "Why? Do you think people in the Snickers Galaxy might find out about us?" 

Leon gave out a sort of impish grin and said. "No. But, they might in Butterfingers Galaxy." We both smiled.

At long last, someone has responded to my Snickers Galaxy line. Leon scores more GOYA points.   

A day or two later, I am bored with the adult conversation about the merits of pici and umbricelli and other various noodle configurations.and lardo and culatello di Zibello and  so I turned to Leon and told him a story.

By now,  If you watch the news at all, you know this story. Leon. apparently doesn't watch the news, and doesn't know the story, but was utterly fascinated by it. It is the recent news story of the Grizzly bear from Montana who became an astronaut and on a mission to outer space, his fellow astronaut, a human from Tennessee, died somewhat mysteriously  and the grizzly bear astronaut ended up being charged with his murder. 

I am telling you, Leon was riveted by this story. It turns out the two astronauts -  bear and human - snuck along a 12 pack of beer - which Laurie accurately chimed in was Hamms -  and the human astronaut had been hogging them, He had guzzled eight of the first 11 beers and was reaching for the 12th when a struggle ensued. In that tussle for the last beer, the grizzly bear astronaut allegedly shoved the human astronaut out of the space capsule door and into outer space where he was never heard from. When the space ship managed to land back at Cape Canaveral, the grizzly bear was arrested and charged with murder. 

This Leon kid was in pure fascination.  He asked many questions, but, at that point, that is all I knew of the story.  

Two days later, at dinner, I get "a call" on my cell. I whisper into it. Leon is listening in with much interest. "What happened?". A verdict is coming down in the grizzly bear astronaut murder case, I tell him. We should know by the time the dolci arrives.  

Forty five minutes later, as the torta della nonna is dropped, I get "the call".. 

"Not guilty. The grizzly bear was found not guilty on all counts."

Leon was thrilled by this verdict. He wants to know what happened in the trial.

"I don't have all the details but apparently there was a camera on board and it showed the human astronaut drunk and stumbling. and he trips and falls against the space ship door and he goes tumbling out. The grizzly bear tried desperately to save him, but he couldn't. They also were able to prove the grizzly bear astronaut only had three beers as only three cans were crushed like only a grizzly bear can crush a beer can. Claw marks and all." 

"Will the  grizzly bear get to go back and be an astronaut again?"

"I don't know," I told Leon. "It's kinda soon for all that. i think he just want to go back to Montana and relax. Take a nap for a couple of months. 

t was fun telling that story. And it was fun having someone enjoy it. For that, for debunking the "Three second rule" and for a somewhat feeble attempt to save my life from a speeding Lamborghini Miura,  Leon Gold with this year's GOYA

In late July, as Nancy and I were on our morning five kilometer walk. the Ochao/Gold car drives by and stops to say goodbye. Laurie is driving. I guess Jonathan can't drive and plot his dining course at the same time. Leon is in the backseat with his earphones on. Nancy says something to him, thinking maybe he will say good bye or thank us for the good time or something, anything. But, nothing . He just keeps those earphones on. Leon Gold is out there somewhere in space. 

But, the next time you drop some food, don't bother picking it up and eating it. Just step on it. Accoridng to Leon Gold's theory of dropitivity, it's already ruined. 

"We are all in the gutter ( or on the floor) but some of us are looking at the stars" - Oscar Wilde

As GOYA, Leon Gold also wins a free pizza at Mozza

RECENT PREVIOUS GOYA WINNERS

2014 - (TIE) Hourie Sahakian and Tiffany Fox

2013 - Liz "Go Go" Hong

2012 - Cast of "The Wire"

2011 - .The Berrettos (aka Oliver and his buddies) 

2010 - (TIE) Duke and Patsi

Sharon and Billy Harris File For Divorce After Sting Debacle

In the Lake Hollywood kitchen of Sharon and Billy Harris hangs a large print of "The Police", with the long-defunct band's leader Sting prominently displayed. 

The Harris family won't be looking at that print the same way anymore.   

Today, in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom, Sharon Harris filed for divorce from husband William B. Harris for what her attorney said was an "Unconscionable Act of Miscommunication" based on an incident that occurred on August, 5, 2015 in the whereabouts of Tuscany, Italy,

"Billy Harris, by his very miscalculations, to wit, laziness and lack of punctuality, missed a platinum opportunity to give his wife a day to remember and for that there is no second chance," said Sharon Harris' attorney Marvin Mitchelson, III.  "A question here, a bit of aggressiveness, or pushiness by Mr. Harris there and most importantly a heavier foot on the gas pedal and this could have all been avoided."   

What Mitchelson - grandson of the attorney who famously argued the landmark 1979 Lee Marvin/Michelle Triola Marvin. palimony case -was referring to was the early evening of August 5 when celebrity host and renowned magician Billy Harris missed an extraordinary opportunity to see Sting  - and his wife Trudy - host a elite party at their vineyard in Chianti, Tuscany.  

Sharon was in such a state shock over the foul-up that two days later she filed for divorce in a Perugia courthouse just 30 kilometers from the charming hilltop Umbrian village the up-to-that-moment happily married couple were vacationing. The case has since been transferred to Los Angeles Municipals Court. Division 4, courtroom 9 where the case was heard today..

###

BACKGROUND

(Note: Much of the following was from preliminary hearing transcripts leaked to this reporter earlier today)

Although much of the information had been previously sealed, what was known is this. While on vacation in the town of Panciale, the Harris would spend time with two other vacationing Americans, journalist Michael Krikorian and chef Nancy Silverton. 

On August 4th, Silverton and Krikorian had been invited by the Italian food writer Faith Willinger and the famous butcher Dario Cecchini to attended a party to celebrate the new vintages of wines at Sting and Trudy's il Palagio estate in Chianti. Silverton had made a vague mention of the party and suggested they all meet at a designated spot in Florence at 4:10 p.m to head to the butcher shop in Panzano and then "maybe go to a party". She made no mention, nor did Krikorian that Sting would be at this party. Though unconfirmed, sources say they both knew Sting would be there. 

Later, Krikorian told the Harris he waited at  the assigned spot in Florence until 4:11 p.m. before leaving.  Immediately after, Silverton broke the news that not only was Sting at his winery, he sang two songs. "I'll Be Watching You" and "Time in a Bottle" 

The Harris' were dumbfounded.,  

"Really?", said Sharon. "Really?", said Billy. "Really?", said Sharon "Really?", said Billy. "Really?", said Sharon. "Really?", said Billy. (It should be noted that this is the relatively new usage of "really" that means "You got to be fuckin' kidding me." ) Simply by chance, an experimental Lamborghini drone flying overhead recorded the Harris' telling Silverton and Krikorian "really?" 61 times. Really.

"We were supposed to meet at 4:10 and you left at 4:11?," Billy asked in disbelief. 

"Yeah, Billy. I waited a minute" Krikorian said. "What'd you want me to do? Wait all night? Precision, man. Good thing you weren't in charge of D-Day. We'd be eating wiener schnitzel instead of pappardelle tonight."

At that point, Sharon got up and looked at Billy and said "Late again, aren't you, Billy?  Late again.".

"Look Sharon.."

"Don't talk to me, Billy.  Don't waste time talking to me. You might be late for something else."

.###

In today's court session, Harris looked at his cell phone several times, even texted twice. Finally, the Judge admonished Harris for the phone. 

"Mr Harris, I will warn you only once.  If you look at that phone, if you text, if it beeps, the bailiff will remove it and place it under lock and key until these proceedings are finished. Is that understood?"

"Yes, your highness.  Oops, I mean your Judgeness," said a flustered Harris.

"It's 'Your honor'," the judge said. 

"Well, no, not really, judge. I certainly don't consider it to be my honor."

Flabbergasted, the Judge ordered the proceedings to continue. 

For two hours, the lawyers argued motions. Billy shot looks at Sharon who was steadfast in her refusal to look his way.

The judge called a recess. Back in court, the judge was speaking on a Mitchelson motion when Billy Harris 'phone beeped. Further defying the judge's order, he looked at it. 

"Mr. Harris, I warned you," the judge said sternly. "Baliff, remove this goddamn cellphone from Mr. Harris' possession."

But, as the deputy approached, Harris stood up, his body shielding the phone from the approaching officer of the court..

Billy Harris was beaming. 

He turned to Sharon and says "Honey, it's a text from Nancy. She says her and Michael already got their invite to Sting's party for this winter's releases. And Nancy says they can bring two guests and they want to bring us. And get this, baby. Nancy says Sting is hoping at this winter's party one of the guest will be a magician?"

Sharon stood up and walked to her husband.. 

"Billy, I love you." Then they kissed

The judge, besides himself. pounded the gavel.. 

":Get these to love birds out of my courtroom. Case dismissed." 

Italy 2015 Sandwich Wars - Nancy Silverton's Open Face Board Challenges Florence's Top-Rated Panini

Of all the events held at this year's Italy 2015, none was more anticipated than the showdown between the top-rated sandwich shoppe in Florence and Nancy Silverton's prototype panini board. 

Firenze's finest, All'Antico Vinalo, had amassed stats like Barry Bonds on jungle juice. An unheard of 6,433 five-star reviews on Trip Advisor. (Yeah, I know. Trip Advisor and all that, but sometimes it hits the mark.)  So Nancy and I , more encouraged by our friend Phil "I'll Have What Phil's Having" Rosenthal, went there.  And we were not disappointed. Damn, they were some outstanding sandwiches. Sorry, I mean some molto buono panini. 

"Make us your two favorites," Nancy told the colorful counterman as she helped herself to a serve yourself cup of Chianti,  A few minutes late a porchetta panino the size of one of those emergency tires in your trunk was dropped on our narrow counter. The thing almost tipped over. Then a soppressata number that had won some "Street Food" award, or so bragged the counterman. We ate. We relished.  Nancy studied. I wolfed. 

To top this would be a challenge. But, that's the essence of Nancy Silverton as a chef. That is how she gets her inspiration. By truly enjoying and admiring a dish and then, somehow, making it better.  

Automotively speaking, she's the Carroll Shelby of the kitchen. Like the late Texas legend, Silverton takes a regular Ford Mustang and soups it up into a fire-spitting Mustang Shelby GT 500.

So two, maybe three days after the Firenze lunch, back on home turf, Nancy laid out a lunchtime buffet of open face panini for three esteemed Italian tastemakers: Eiizabeth Minchili, who writes 'about the good stuff in Italy"; Rolando Beramendl, founder of Manicaretti,  the outstanding Italian food importer, and superb Umbrian chef Salvatore Denaro.

Earlier that morning, Nancy went to work in the kitchen. When I got up, she had prepared the fixings of what would go on the sandwiches.   Then we took our normal five-kilometer walk, but this time we stopped to pick -without clippers - wild flowers. Seven cuts later, we had amassed enough agriculture to fill a Fiat's trunk. At home though, the pile yielded two small vases. But, seriously, those were some pretty vases. 

By the time Elizabeth, Rolando and Salvatore arrived, the old wood front room table that greets guests looked like Panini Paradiso. 

The lineup:

1.  Marinated radicchio, bagna cauda, hard-cooked egg and anchovy

2. Ricotta with mint, sauteed eggplant, fresh marjoram

3. Prosciutto cotto, tomato, melted young pecorino, grated Parmigiano, fresh thyme

4. Finicchiona, peppers marinated in balsamic, basil, capers, anchovy

All were as you would expect a Nancy Silverton panini to be;. Straight out delicious.

Elizabeth called it 'The day I learned how to throw a panino party.'

Rolando has this to say. "In 19xx, Nancy came to Florence and we ate crostini galore at Enoteca Fuori. I felt we had made a full circle when we had that sandwich meal at her house in Panicale which reminded me so much of that moment yet it was 20 years into the future. Nancy is full of inspiration and as always takes all our memories and things we have learned over the year to the next level.That is why I have such an enormous admiration for her."

Those sandwiches in Florence were excellent. Anyone going there, we would encourage them to go. Here's those raves from Trip Advisor -  http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187895-d1102253-r142089446-All_Antico_Vinaio-Florence_Tuscany.html

But, this stuff Nancy made was in a different classification.

You know me well, you know I love the landmark Steve McQueen car chase in Bullitt. The bad guys have a 1968 Charger 440 Magnum and Det Frank Bullitt has a '68 Mustang 390 GT fastback and they race and chase and soar through the streets of San Francisco then out of the city until the Charger crashes in flames in Brisbane, San Mateo County.

What does all that have to do with the sandwich/panino wars? Not much. But, I guess what I'm getting at is if McQueen had been in one of those Silverton Shelby Mustangs. the chase woulda ended way before they got out of San Francisco. 

A standard model car - or sandwich - can be superb, But, once the likes of a Carroll Shelby or Nancy Silverton get a hold of it, Watch out. That baby is gonna soar.