J.P. Foodie

A philosophical moment of what it means to maintain a life on the road.

2010-01-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well it's been awhile. and like an exhausted aching marathon runner in their last three miles, the last leg, though the rhythm has long been set, it's come time to bear down, eliminate all distractions, and focus on that finish line. Each leg a race of passion and endurance, pushing one's limits to do the best humanly possible. The cost is severe at times, sanity, sense of being grounded, balance on what's left behind, which is always there to be dealt with when the challenge is over. If not for the passion and the future, one must have a sense of freedom and ability to be understood in a higher purpose of what is being done, in order to survive in one piece. Cooking has meant so much to me, even though i did not immediately first realize it, once being given and experiencing this opportunity i have been given back inspiration and confidence that i had once felt lost forever. So there in itself lies the "Murphy's law" of sorts of what can go wrong will go wrong. Having achieved and realized this great venture, there is always some catch 22 on some sick cosmic twist that if you are not fully ready for you will soon be hit with it full force of no mercy or sensitivity. But as cliche as it may sound, everything that doesn't kill you or bring you down will always make you stronger. Not letting the bad situation effect you forever is one of the greatest capabilities of what i think it means to be human. The fact that some are affected forever is what makes us human as well. Everyone has choices that they have to make and some of the hardest ones ever can make the world of difference. To how the rest of your future, if you choose to accept it, will play out. I am not trying to go on some absurd rant here but i love my job and there are aspects of my job that are extremely difficult to handle, but the process and end result could enrich my life on so many levels. I'd be a fool not make the absolute best of this situation. There are plenty of people who would die for the chance that i have been given so i can never regret any part of what i am doing or would not learn or excel myself as much as i hav the in the last six months. By the end of this tour, there will some bigger and more elaborate responsibilities that will take me to the next level of preparation of an amazing culinary adventure across the country.

Fear and Loathing in Talladega- A Little Tribute to the Late Hunter S. Thompson

2009-12-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

It was a morning filled with hatred and disgust for the hangover that engulfs the very depth of the brain. With each loud sound or voice, the dying screeches of my sanity, pierce my eardrums shattering any hope of peace and content. Dear god man please let this day go smoothly!! A crack of the bus door opens the grim reality that kicks you swiftly to the gut, begging for a end to mercy with no reply from above. I keep it cool, slap my legs twice, down a hot cup, and walk toward the light. We’re in strange lands, amidst the belly of the old south, remnants of the old and the new with the twisted pride of country living and a love of endless left turns at insane speeds. Holy freak show, I might love it if it weren't my least lucky state of the upper 48, but who doesn’t love a freak show. Great Lenin its Halloween, too! Did I stumble into the depths of Satan’s groundhog day? Or is it some strange blessing.

So back to that walk….

Too discombobulated to comprehend or realize the content or condition of the ground I now must trot through, this treacherous slop half way up my shins F@#K what happened to my shoes, now buried in a an easy foot of muddy hell. Oh well, live it up one step at a time until the end which is eminent.

Was taking a bit too long with this if you like and would like to hear more please respond and i'd gladly oblige!!

Internet hasn't been fast enough to even load this site, but finally catching a break enough to get this out and work on more recipes and tips as well as tidbits from the road....

NYC Photos!!!

2009-11-19T20:47:00.001-08:00

NYC and No Eat n Greet!!

2009-11-13T19:43:00.000-08:00

Hey Blog world here's the NY breakdown I have been trying to complete for the last few weeks, sorry if you all have been anticipating more posts. It has still been extremely difficult to get much free time with my 14 hour days running so long. The time out here takes it's toll on you. So any time I could even think about writing, I have been either completely exhausted, or I can't connect to the internet faster than dial up speed. It has been mostly all work and no play until we arrived in NY. I have been waiting for this day for about 13 years. Ever since I started taking serious interests in cooking I have been dying to go to NY city. With its fast paced atmosphere and endless places to try every kind of food you can think of. I have a few simple things to do in the AM then it's off to a day of appetizers at as many places we can go or until we are too full to eat another bite. So we start with Chinatown going to a six table closet of a restaurant called Little Asian Cuisine. We immediately notice the dumplings and an interesting white wine chicken dish. We finish it off with some schezuan dumplings with some unbelievable spice. Well thats enough Asian off to Angelo's Italian Restaurant that Rusty was dying to have me try this absurd fresh mozzarella dish in this fantastic light tomato sauce. With a couple of delectable Stuffed mushrooms and a good but not extraordinary fried calamari. Time for some sweets not very far away we decided to do a hit n run at Farrara's (IS NOW MY DESSERT HEAVEN) We sampled about 8 different pastries including... Chocolate Mignon=Food Orgasm... Napoleons=Sugar Magic.... and a variety of Mini Canoli's and Biscotti's=You wish Starbucks made something this good. And if that weren't enough lets try get some Caraca's (A Zac Brown favorite!) for a retardedly good made to order (no rushing here!!) Arepas, which are pulled pork and plantain sandwich with fresh perfectly cooked bread and a sauce that I still want to try to recreate but I just can't figure out a few things that are in there. And of course it wouldn't be a complete day in NY without a vended Dog, and a NY slice (or two..) pizza. I still wouldn't dare declare a winner between a NY and a Chicago Deep. They should be in categories all to themselves. Look for some summaries of different cities and I have been working on a Gonzo journalism tribute to the late Hunter Thompson about my weird trip to Talladega. As always all comments are greatly appreciated as well as my thanks for your valuable time spent reading my blog.

LOOK FOR NEW POSTS THIS WEEK!!!!!

2009-11-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!!!

Sorry about not posting anything for a while it's been a crazy few weeks, between being busy, sick, and some computer issues I am still working on. I've had no peace of mind to write how I enjoy doing so. Things are still going great though. NY was awesome, for one cause I was off, and two Rusty and I started the day doing appetizers at as many places we could before having to get back to the venue. I'll dedicate my next post specifically to my experience there (with some pics!!!). The Fox was an operation, being the headliners and coordinators for a charity event of that scale with that many performers is a daunting task, but it pulled together as always for a great show and for a great cause. Atlanta loves the Fox. Of course I'll have to throw in some tidbits about Halloween at Talladega Speedway. People watching paradise!!

As always thank you to all who have taken the time to follow this blog. I am looking forward to spending more time sharing the day to day trials of a traveling chef and philosopher.

Week 3 Days 2, 3, and 4 Writing takes time! Cooking takes more.

2009-10-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am starting to realize why I enjoy blogging about this is because I feel it's original and unique. The difficulty in writing about this is that there is a great deal of repetition in what goes on from the day to day on the road and I don't want to just tell you same things over and over. That's where I feel the road is sometimes over glorified in stories (the off the wall legendary tales of mischief and debauchery are on the 20,000 plus seating tours due to more time to get in trouble then non-stop working), but this is not that kind of tour. Everyone on this tour is a family working closely together from sun up to sun down with even tighter sleeping quarters when we are not working. Sure we throw down a good drink or two to celebrate the days hard work and the accomplishment of another job well done. In the end we are all busting are humps making everything the best we can. All of us wake up everyday and put our best foot forward, and if we didn't this tour wouldn't mean as much to me as it has grown to. Sure the hardest thing about the job is being away from the ones you love and what you call home, but if we weren't doing what we wanted to do then we wouldn't be doing this.

Rusty and I are in full groove with the eat and greets and have continued to cook the after show meals ranging from chicken and dumplings to Turkey Chili. All take three to four hours of cooking and spicing while cleaning up and putting everything away from the eat and greets, so when we finish up the last meal we are done around 10:30. From that point we get a quick shower lock everything down have a couple drinks then pass out and do it all over again in the next city. That's why I am not going to obsess over the day to day details of each show from my perspective. I welcome and encourage all comments any one would like to offer, or if you have any questions about a particular day or venue and ill be more then happy to reply.

Day 2 - In short Knoxville went well but there was a bit of an echo during the show due to the fact it was in an indoor ice rink. My day would have been easy except for stocking the bus because none of them were next to each other altogether spread out over half a mile walk. The help was great and fast, but the traffic of the Tennesee/Georgia game left Rusty arriving at 3:30 when service starts at 5 but we managed to get everything done right on time with 0 seconds to spare.

Day 3 - Charleston, SC waking up to yet again another venue that didn't know we needed two helpers for the day and our trailer was a quarter mile from the buses and venue, so i ran a good few miles that day. The staff pulled through and actually got three people for us so it all ran smooth as could be after that. Ate Sticky Fingers for catering that night cause Charleston is the home of that fine BBQ establishment.

Day 4 - Portsmouth VA Easiest day ever!!! Got there tents and buffet area was fully setup and the help worked fast and had good knife skills. And I have to give mad props to the area super-intendent, she was 4'10" if an inch, but this old gal spit fire. We ask for something she'd holler on the radio and five dudes would pull up in a cart out of nowhere within two minutes. Plus she was just an absolute trip.

Week 3 Day 1 Feeling the Groove

2009-10-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

Week 3 Day 1 Salem, VA

(Notice: Dates should be aligned by this Sunday, I'm still staggering them out due to internet difficulties on the bus in some cities)

Hello everyone. So getting into my third week as a traveling chef on our way to Salem,VA which I can't say I've ever heard of before going here for the tour. I've gotten my rest in, spent some time with my girl, and now i'm ready to kick some butt this week.

Arriving in Salem I manage to get out of bed right on time today, so good start. I take a walk around every venue as part of my morning ritual, I find my catering area, where the local catering is set up, meet my helpers for the day (2 assistants and 1 runner), then I check in and manage stocking the buses with the rider list. After this is done I realize today I am going to have to set up both tents today for the eat n greet. Which after the first time doing it I had been trying to avoid. For no other reason but they aren't the easiest things to unload, transport, or set up. But I manage to get my stage hands in time to make it less daunting, and the help I have been given today both appear to be really hard workers. The eat and greet runs smooth as can be and we both notice that we are really getting in our groove. Rusty finds some great local farmers markets and bakery's . He returns with some amazing produce and breads. Veggies so fresh they look like they were picked early that morning. His trip to the mountains does however put us closer than we have been before to the three hour til service mark. But we rock it out pulling it off at the last minute. There are talks of making the eat n greet bigger. Zac Brown is so happy with the results and turnout of the event and he even tells the crowd about it during the show saying soon enough he hopes to feed everyone at the shows. This is a really good thing for us, especially if we keep fine tuning our routine. Tomorrow is Knoxville TN. The venue has been moved to the Knoxville Bears ice rink due to flooding of the original venue. Until the next post I thank you again as always, and look for more recipes or tips in the posts to come. Sorry there have not been more as of yet, I am new to this whole blogging thing and with the intensity of this job it's been harder than I had planned to get them up quickly. I assure you more are on the way.

Week 2 Day 3 (Recipe #1) The wrong side of the bed (if I had more than one side to get out of)

2009-10-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! So Austin was awesome, but I wish I could say the same for my day in Oklahoma City. I wake up a little hungover to another day of pouring rain, and no help (yes the rain continues). Just a nightmare day, I wake up thirty minutes late. My tents were set up in a mud marsh. The venue decides to not get anything but lunch meat on our 150 item rider list. As if that wasn't bad enough, the stuff they did give was left in a container of spoiled crab juice. My gosh I want to strangle someone in this city if they dont get something right, but after some good thoughts and pushing forward we manage to pull off another. Zac Brown Band's eat and greet keeps going smoothly, all the attendees and the staff pulled through for us after the rocky start and everyone keeps loving what we are putting out there. Enough to be creating quite the buzz. Unfortunately I don't have much else to report about this stop, I figure now would be the perfect time to give you all a recipe. Please try and enjoy and I'm sorry i do not give exact measurements. I learned how I will try and teach you, through tasting and care, i think anyone can find a passion in cooking.

KICK ASS MASHED POTATOES

First cut and boil your potatoes (any kind will do), and don't be afraid to leave the skin on
When potatoes are done strain and put them back in the pot they were boiled in
Using a HAND MASHER ADD...

Heavy Whipping Cream (1% lightest milk for healthier version)
Cream Cheese
granulated garlic
Unsalted Butter
Pepper (white or black)
Salt (any kind)

Pour the Whipping Cream in first, so you can mash the potatoes to the consistency you prefer (Tip: Add little by little of the the cream then the easier it gets the closer you are to a smooth consistency)
I dont give amounts of ingredients cause I encourage everyone to use this first recipes as a means to test your palat, Add each ingredient in small doses, and if you think it's missing something add more. You'll feel better about yourself that you can add ingredients and rely on taste.

Photos From Austin City Limits and Merriweather

2009-10-10T17:22:00.001-07:00

Week 2 Day 2 AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

2009-10-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

(Please disregard the site's posting dates (they don't line up), as mentioned earlier internet doesn't always work so well.)

Well I've been waiting for this day since I found out we were going. Austin City Limits has been hosting some of the best artists from all genres for over twenty years. Most of you may remember seeing Austin City Limits on PBS. I consider it's show the original "unplugged" (although not all are acoustic), but needless to say I think today will be a real treat. Some of the bands I am looking most forward to watching are Flogging Molly, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead, Mos Def, Dave Matthews closing the day on the Livestrong Stage. And who can forget the half mile row of some of austins finest festival cuisine, with everything from gator on a stick to some of the hottest foods you can think of.

We were told we that we'd be parking at a Wal-mart then getting a shuttle to the venue, instead we find ourselves parked under an overpass a half mile away. Oh and big surprise, the rain has followed us to Texas (ironically they are having a drought for the season, go figure). Not having to cook today, means nothing is gonna ruin this day. After devouring a jalapeño burger i make my way backstage of the Flogging Molly concert and had the good fortune of meeting some of the band before their set. Let me tell you, these guys are all a class act. Sure they might be crazy Irish folks, but how can you not love a band that all drink a guiness on stage during their first song. From that point the rain starts to let loose, yet this crowd is not going anywhere packing the fronts of every stage and even having their own mud people, who just dont give a dang about the weather and just want a hell of a time. Trail of the Dead played well but I can't really say much about them cause i was enjoying people watching the large crowds entirely too much. Mos Def Killed it and even rocked the drums for a few songs. This being the twelfth time I've seen Dave Matthews, they have never disappointed. Well now that i am soggy and muddy time to call it a night and try to wake up and make some great food for the Oklahoma City show. Good night my friends, and as always thanks for your time in reading my exploits and experiences from the road as a traveling Chef.

Week 2 Day 1 Everything is bigger in Texas!

2009-10-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

(Notice: Wireless internet does not work everywhere on the road, I write about everyday but sometimes can't post right away)

Day 1 of week 2

So after a solid half day drive on the bus we arrive in Dallas. I'm starting to get used to the fact that most all I am going to see of some cities are behind amphitheaters. Dallas is no different. Indoor venue at the Nokia Theatre, which the Zac Brown Band crew, Sonia Leigh, and Nic Cowan, and the one and only and Levi Lowery, all appreciate the change. Finding comfort in not having to be in this infinite rain that keeps following us from city to city. So we finally started to switch up our side dishes, and start using only local produce to decide what we pair with our permanent menu of the pork and beef tenderloin. Which I am extremely happy cause it's adding that level of appreciation and knowledge of local farming. Rusty has been teaching me a great deal of new things to add to my growing repituor of bad ass food. We still have killed every eat and greet thus far, and the food that has been catered for us continues to make me feel that much better about our own product. In other words, our food is so much better than we've had catered for us, and we've only been doing this for two weeks now. No real funny stories to tell except some jerk had the gumption to steal a handle of Grey Goose from our after show drinking table. Which pissed everybody off, but was then followed by all night song writing and jam sessions on our bus. Zac Brown hopped on our bus again because the man loves music and loves playing and this bus is chalk full of talented pickers and singers. This is quite the treat for the non musically gifted to hear beautiful music everynight in the smallest possible setting.

The Best Summary I can give for days 3 and 4

2009-10-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Day 3

Hello my friendly followers out there! Sorry it was a little tough to stay on top of the first week (as i thought it would be), but for those of you who were waiting for an update for the end of the first week, then wait no longer. My help in Charlotte (day 3) were on the ball today (progressively better each day) keeps making things look better and better. In my opinion today was the best eat and greet we have put together thus far, I feel today was the most tender I have gotten the meat all tour, and we are finally getting in that groove of perfect timing for the whole meal, so everything is coming out hotter and fresher than the day before. So after day 3 I am blessed with my first day off for a festival in Maryland. Zac Brown Band's set (the parts i caught anyway) was awesome at the Fillmore, and the staff there were on top of everything we and the weather could throw at them. Big ups to the staff and Janeane (sp?) an alum from my high school who is now GM of the facility.

Day 4

Not much to report on day 4 except that, today was the first time this tour I was off and able to catch a whole Zac Brown Band set from start to finish. I must say not coming into this tour as a regular fan of country, I am starting to remember all the sounds of the comfort and peace that i have spent my whole life surrounded by, whether it be just living in Georgia or through my father's love and passion for music. It all boils down to good soulful music, speaking to the best of southern tradition and ideals. I might say this entirely too much but I LOVE MY JOB! You don't have to be from a certain area, or only like a certain type of music to appreciate that there is something to be found deep within all of us that music fulfills. It's one of those absolute undeniable connections in all of us. From Rap to Country, the power to it all is always the music itself not the lines we draw to separate us.

As far as the food we have had different catering each day for each venue, but til we lock down our eat and greet, we are stuck cooking the same things for the next few stops. Through friendly conversation and connections with other traveling chefs, I have been able to learn a great deal of things of how my life as a chef can keep growing and improving. Like the cliche "practice makes perfect", lol but too damn true. So util Dallas in a few days, thank you always all ways. Feel free to spread this to anyone you like, and i swear there will be recipes and home favorites i will be posting soon, and if i can ever get my camera working right or charged then there will be video soon too.

Day Two. Things are getting easier?!

2009-09-26T17:59:00.002-07:00

Well we were on time today and the combined age of my helpers was not a 120 like yesterday, so just like i hoped with each day passing the job gets easier. So many kind and gratious fans in Simspsonville probably shook fifty hands thanking me for such a wonderful meal. Right now i love my job, despite the long hours and fast paced atmosphere. Things are looking on the up and up. For the first time in two weeks of work I finally got to catch more than one full song. I love this job, and i am starting to feel that i had to something right in this life to be able to give good people good things, travel the country, and somehow get paid for it all. Not that my job is easy but the experience keeps paying off any possible negative effects. And if the $100 dollar bill i found when i decided to take the initiative to clean some things, eventhough i didn't have to, then i dont know the meaning of the word "karma". Still terribly exhausted, so i am sorry if my blogs are a little short for the first week. I promise everyone i will get into more details as this crazy journey continues on until then good night my friends, and remember positive thinking is the easiest step towards solving any problem!

Day One two hours late and under the gun!!

2009-09-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

So first day of the tour we are running two hours behind schedule due to some trailer tire issues (for the second time). At first look, not a good start. To make things more hecitc, the helpers i had been so eagerly waiting for to make my life easier, were two sweet older ladies who happened to be 55 and 65. Oh crap. Half of my job is lifting heavy things, so needless to say i worked my ass off. The food went great though, still just getting the best compliments ever. So come 11:30 at night i finally finish all of my duties. Zac Brown Band and his openers Sonia Leigh and Nic, and Levi played a hell of a show and Zac Brown Band finished with standing ovations and a thirty minute cry for a second encore. Good way to start the tour despite my diffculties. Not much to report on specifics of the food cause we will be doing the same menu all week long. Sorry really exhausted so this blog is gonna be a little shorter then i'd like it to be. Still just gonna ride the high and take every experience i learn out here to heart, and keep putting my best foot forward.

NEW PHOTOS

2009-09-24T13:41:00.001-07:00

Pictures from the first day cooking "our trial run" It was like a crazy episode of Top Chef!

No One Sleeps on Tour

2009-09-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

So I am starting to think that no one sleeps on tour. Was up til two this morning and fifty people were still up and running around, then when i got up at 8 today everyone was up already. Well today was the first day of the "eat and greet" menu today, highlighting Zac Brown's recipes, cooking for 75 people in three hours, 8 items, all fresh and homemade. Pork Tenderloin with Zac Brown's sauce Beef Tenderloin with his rub, and his pocket knife cole slaw, Rusty's cheddar stone grits and collard greens, i made the herb vinegarette for a medi salad, fresh bread roles, and cookies. Cant get into the specifics of the recipes for the "eat and greet" cause they will be selling the sauce and rub, but i will fill you in when i get to start on my own recipes for the non-eat n greets. So far it's a lot of damn work, but nothing truly great that you want should never be too easy. That has never made as much since for me until this day. All in all good things. My life will get alot easier when i have some helpers and runners at my disposal to delegate, and hopefully ease my load. Tomorrow is the first day of the tour near raleigh, NC. My day begins when the bus arrives at eigtht, setting up "riders" (-food and beverage requests filled by the venue coordinators for every show) for each of the three tour busses. It's a pretty funny list with some strange requests, some of you may have heard of the green m&m's stories from i believe Alice Cooper, well that is in the "rider" request. Then I immediately go into the prep for the eat and greet, followed by clean up then i should be all done by 8pm (i'm hoping). Then repeat the whole process for the rest of the weeks dates.

I love cooking, so far we have got nothing but the kindest compliments for the food we've done. As far as saying it's the best food they have ever had on a catered venue. lol. We haven't even got to playing around with some realy fun healthy foods yet! I am once again feeling that this is gonna continue to be a surreal experience and one hell of a time. The truly hardest part is being away from my loved ones. If that is the hardest thing to deal with, aside from the hours and stress, then i dont think i could be at all disappointed. Well thanks again as always for caring enough to follow my blog. Look for some more pictures as my job is better understood. Time to crash and kick some ass tomorrow.

NEW PHOTOS

2009-09-21T19:16:00.001-07:00

Problems with building a kitchen in a Trailer

2009-09-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

So it has been an odd day, probably the last truly easy one I will have for awhile. With all good days problems are always there to be fixed. 70 hours building a kitchen inside a trailer this week and just when we think we are all set, circuit blows in athens today cause we have to much running off of one power line (Not a good thing to say the least), but like any bump in the road it's just a bump. Nothing to freak out over, or let myself get worked up about. The band is ironing out there sound and lights and started with sound checks, but just as we had problems so did they. Georgia is having some of the heaviest rain in months so coordinating this many people in the weather has left them seperated, and made it difficult to get everyone in the same place at the same time. Suprisingly everyone is remakably calm about it all, as they choose to be. Positive attitude goes along way everywhere.

On a fun note we cook our first meals for the band and staff tomorrow, Lunch is Spaghetti with a light homemade spaghetti sauce, with a greek salad, fruit medley, and some rolls. For dinner nothing but comfort with Prime Rib potatos au gratin, sauteed mushrooms and green beans, collard greens, and home made cookies. Sound delicous?? I say yes. Hope the oven is firing up tomorrow or things could change up a bit. All in all good things and good times out here. Everyone is still as kind as can be and we are all getting more comfortable with one another now that we are all remembering each others names and faces. Well a few more things to do today and then tomorrow brings more experience and new challenges. Thanks to you all who became followers of my blog i hope you at very least find it mildly entertaining and amusing.

First day of a New Adventure as a Traveling Chef

2009-09-21T07:51:00.001-07:00

Well up after a first night of bunks on the tour bus. Damn it's good being a little guy in one of these, enough room for me to stretch out and still have room for my computer and a drink. Not so lucky for my larger friend (6'3" 250+). Ha score one for the shorties of the world. Everyone i've met is insanely nice. Very much of a peace, love, and family vibe (like hippy but not quite) with road tested experience from Cowboy Mouth to Better than Ezra and Brooks and Dunn. Lots of work to do but i will post again before the end of the day. Thanks for checking out my first blog and i look forward to posting more stories about the way I see life and give everyone a taste of what it's like cooking for a headling band on a National Tour.