Okay, let me just admit it right here. I’m a recovering packrat and an inveterate procrastinator. Neither has anything to do with Valentine’s Day—they’re not even particularly lovable personality traits in a mate. But as much as they occasionally cause me grief, they sometimes work out nicely. Like with this post, a nice little mix of items all loosely strung together around the notion of love—and all things gathered from here and there and just saved because, hey, you never know.
I’ll start with a book. Way back in August, Penguin Books offered to send me a copy of Kathleen Flinn’s charming The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears in Paris at the World’s Most Famous Cooking School. It was just coming out in paperback at the time, and I should have read it right away. I should have reported on it here, and copies of the book should have made their way into numerous Christmas stockings. Instead, it languished in the well-intentioned pile of stuff I mean to read. Well, now I’m telling you about it as a possible last-minute Valentine’s Day gift—or just a fun foodie read for yourself.
Flinn’s book has an unexpectedly [and unintentionally] timely element to it. The events that inspired it came about when she was downsized out of a software job in London. Although it was first published in January 2007, well before the current global economic crisis, her experience of staring down the “what next” question is all too familiar to far too many people right now. What she decides is next for her is attending the legendary Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
The title refers to a Chef Instructor’s advice on slicing onions, but it’s also the underlying theme of the book as Flinn faces the ups and downs of the rigorous classwork as well as challenges in her own life. Don’t let me scare you off—overall, it’s an enjoyable read [and a cautionary tale to me to never think “it might be fun” to attend a cooking school even vaguely on this level]. Flinn’s goal is not to become a famous chef, but rather to be a food writer. Her skills shine in this book. You get a real sense of the intense level of study at Le Cordon Bleu, along with sometimes gossipy asides about some of her classmates. You also get a feel for daily life in Paris, as experienced by Flinn and her fiancé/husband. And if that’s not enough, each chapter of The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry ends with a recipe!
Stand By Me: A valentine for the world
At last count, there were about a gazillion love songs out there, some beautiful, some corny, some just plain silly. More than most, Ben E. King’s 1961 hit Stand By Me gets to the very core of what love is and why it matters. And that is this: Whatever is happening in our lives, we want—we need—someone to stand by us. Just as important, we want to be that person for someone else, to be able to cowboy up and be there, no matter how tough things may get.
To me, Ben E. King’s original recording is one of the classic love songs. Small wonder that it’s ranked #121 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. But the message could as easily extend to include the love of family and friends. The version above, sent to us by our friend Mellen in Washington, DC, expands the meaning even further beyond romantic love to embrace the idea of world peace and interdependency. It was produced by Playing For Change, a foundation dedicated to “connecting the world through music.” It’s one of two songs they currently have available on iTunes, with more to come. Turn up your speakers and watch it. And as Mellen’s email said, “Get ready to feel good.”
Ready to be the next Top [Facebook Delish] Chef?
Ahhh, the Intertubes just get more modern all the time, don’t they? We all thought blogging was plenty social as a medium and then here comes a whole category called social media. And now [because social gatherings just naturally call for food, I guess], Delish.com is hosting its “first ever Facebook cook-off.” The challenge? According to their very own Facebook page, it’s to “create a recipe sure to inspire the editors and staff of Delish (as well as your friends and fellow Facebookers), post it under the ‘Recipe competition’ folder, upload a photo, and get your friends to comment! The winner of the challenge will be featured on the Delish Website, with the title of ‘Top Facebook Delish Chef,’ as well as receive everlasting fame.” Wellll, everlasting is relative, especially on the Intertubes. But it does sound like fun, doesn’t it? If you’re interested, visit Delish.com’s Facebook page. The deadline is March 31, 2009.
Thanks for the song, friend. I needed that.
That was AMAZING! You should have warned me to watch it before I put on my eye makeup though. Very powerful.
I have heard so many fabulous things about that book. Thanks for the reminder.
Christina—Yeah, I’ve played it a number of times and just feel better each time I do.
Melissa—No eye makeup is yet another reason I’m glad I’m a guy. Well, glad I’m not a glam rock guy, I suppose.
Sarah—It really was a delightful read.
really? I just didn’t think it was that great a read at all. I read it cover to cover in a weekend, but only because I’m curious about Le Cordon Bleu, not because her writing was at all compelling. I thought the cooking/career-change storyline dragged at times, and the love story wasn’t very unique. Just my opinion!
Hi, Katherine—I can see your point of view about it not being overly compelling. It was really more like having a friend who went to school there telling you her stories about what it was like. But sometimes I find that kind of writing enjoyable in its own right.