It’s not often that people get to meet their idols. You either have to be in the right place at the right time, or you have to know someone, who knows someone, who knows your idol.
For as long as I’ve been faithfully watching the food network, Alton Brown has been my favorite celebrity chef. He not only teaches you how to cook, but gives you a behind the scenes of his successful recipes and the science that goes into all foods. He is a Culinary Mastermind, and I get happily geeked out when I watch his shows. (Good Eats is my all time favorite.)
When I found out he was taking his show, Eat Your Science, on the road, I was there. I had to see him and I was going to do everything in my power to meet him.
There I sat, in the company of about 1500 other food geeks anticipating the awesome show of a star food geek. Alton Brown didn’t disappoint. He mixed food science with music, even getting down to the nitty-gritty of popcorn and his incredibly awesome popcorn rocket invention. Epic show!!
But just as epic as his show, was the awarded chance to meet him. I’m fortunate enough to know someone, who knows someone, who was able to get me a back stage pass to meet my Culinary Idol.
As I stood there at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Alton to come down from his dressing room, my palms were sweating, I was excited, and I was anxious; all good feelings to have when you’re about to meet your idol, I suppose.
When he came down, he couldn’t have been nicer. Great guy. I was immediately put at ease. But not really. For some reason, when I meet someone whom I have put high on a pedestal, I say the dumbest things. Like, remember when I met Christopher Kimball? I clutched. Kinda the same thing happen when I met Alton. I got tongue-tied. Of all the things I wanted to tell him; how much I have learned from his shows and his cookbooks, I had some really poignant things on my mind, but what came out of my mouth was a different story.
“I wash mushrooms because of you.”
Really Brooke? Really?
Fact of the matter is, this is true. He explains that washing mushrooms with water and not just brushing them off is very important. But really?! I have no clue why that came out of my mouth – I wasn’t even thinking that. Being the great guy that he is, he didn’t skip a beat.
“Well, you should. They’re grown in poop.”
And that was the laugh that I needed to put me at ease enough to ask him to take a picture with me, wearing a DIY Dutchess crown. And, being the great guy that he is, he put that crown on, no problem.
Thank you Alton Brown. You truly are my Culinary Idol.
P.S. Can I work for you?
Brent Warberg says
That’s my girl. Love, Daddy
Kirstie Ganobsik says
hahaha – that’s great. What a story to tell for posterity – it’s much better than if you’d sounded poised and posh anyway! Congrats on meeting your idol:-)
Brooke Fedigan says
It was so fun!
Natasha Botkin says
That’s super cool! Thanks for sharing! Xoxo
Brooke Fedigan says
Thanks, Natasha! xo
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Brooke, I love this!! Congrats on meeting Alton, what fun and the crown is perfect.
Brooke Fedigan says
Thank you, Rhoda! It was a TON of fun meeting Alton, and he was such a good sport about wearing the crown. Great guy!