2007 Keith's Blog

2007 Keith's Blog

12.29.07 Forrest, Forrest Gump. If you've seen it, you'll understand and if you haven't you should. A brilliant movie, great story... and if you're a sappy, pseudo sentimental kinda person like me you'll smile and drip a happy tear here and there throughout the movie.

I'm not into the "chick flick" scene ( I've never even seen Beaches) but I like a good movie that makes you think and dream and recall all those great feelings and scenes that pile up over the years.

I grew up in a great time in American history... the "Pigeon Hills" 1961. Yeah, I'm a country boy but I ain't no hick. What the hell is a hick anyway? But Forrest Gump had the edge. He was impaired, as it would seem to the outside world. A little slow perhaps. And although results matter to a degree, it was the journey that was beautiful, the journey mattered, beautiful and strangely romantic.

As far as I know, I wasn't born slightly retarded like Forrest, but sometimes I feel that I grew up a little slow. Not totally innocent and ignorant but perhaps just one synapse (or ten) away from feeling like I really understood this life. Like, I just realized why gangsters hug each other when they meet...I think it's so they can check out who's packin' heat. Anyway, the heat I'm packin' these days is an old Vulcan we bought at a sale at a synagogue in York three years ago before we even opened.

So as this year winds down and I take a moment in retrospect, I think how fortunate I am to be here in Hanover in this gorgeous warehouse. Warm and fuzzy, yeah whatever. Point being, twenty years ago I left the 9 to 5 world of cable tv and sit down dinners at the dining room table and dove into a world of darkness... I've walked through the crazy, scary forrest and have seen a sunrise of hope and excitement. Life is great, I feel awake now, more focused. This has been a good groove. It's like, I've been made... the making has been fun. K

12/12/07 No truffles today for Keith, boohoo. But, I was able to send out lots of great food. I put my three new truffles on a dessert tray for the first time today. This week I made goat cheese, Raspberry, and Grand Marnier truffles. The Belgian chocolate I use for our desserts is truly super delicious. Great chocolate does melt in your hands by the way!

12.11.07 AM Truffles. I need truffles. I've never had "real truffles". Of course I've had my own chocolate truffles; the ones that take forever to temper the chocolate, add flavorful goodness, chill, shape, chill, dip and thread and then sell for a buck 33 each. Sorry folks, Hershey choc doesn't quite cut it so - BUY THE GOOD STUFF! Seriously... or else.

Anyway, I want truffles, I want to taste the earthy pleasure, the foreign goodness. Pan seared foie gras with no guilt. Most of us eat animals, why not their happily fattened livers... Does a clam have any greater freedom or responsibility than a duck? Ask ken Wilber, I don't know. Ask my son Nate, he would know... or give you an answer you'd have to process for the next week.

Nathan enables me to stretch my mind. He feeds me the good food- food for my soul, for my mind... and I feed him our red thai curry and asian pasta salad. Nate, I miss our conversations, and your ability to serve me exactly what I need.

Years ago, Ken Wilbur wrote a book he named " A Brief History of Everything". When he was home this fall, Nate gave me his freshly read copy to read. Two months later I finished the book. Two days ago I finished it and promptly started over reading the book, hopefully this time with a preunderstanding of all the big words, concepts that stretch the mind and a reaquaitance of the soul that has been stifeled during the ultra "flatland" of current administrations. If you hunger for the truth, read Ken Wilbur. Skip over the Chia Pet, and anything at WalMart (of course) and Read, Ken Wilbur. Happy Holidays Nate, I miss you.

11/26/07 Allrighty then... Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone and my digestive system is finally done screaming "uncle". Melinda sent out some great sides for turkey day last week and I made pumpkin cheesecakes and pumpkin bread. The response has been great and we've been getting inquiries about what we're serving for Christmas.