Experiencing Jsix’s chef Christian Graves’s kitchen for BlackBook

Monday BlackBook published a feature article I wrote:

Jsix’s Christian Graves Gives Us His ‘Chef’s Kitchen Experience’

I had plans to head to San Diego this June for my brother’s wedding rather than work. Either it was coincidence or I mentioned my plans online though, as I received an e-mail from Hotel Solamar and Jsix’s publicist inviting me to stay there and participate in Christian Graves’s “Chef’s Kitchen Experience.” (“Inviting me” is a euphemism for “it was free.”) When I mentioned I was traveling with my wife and 6-month-old daughter, thankfully the publicist didn’t wince; if she had I would’ve felt awful about having them sleep on a bench in Balboa Park while I enjoyed the restaurant and hotel.

I knew Christian was an excellent chef and that he and this trip to a local farm that supplies his kitchen would make worthy subjects for an article for BlackBook. And I realize I’m committing a journalism faux pas here, but I want to like the subjects of my articles (then again, I mostly cover travel, not terrorism). When possible I want to encourage readers to give their business to talented people who are nice. Hopefully Christian’s warm personality came through in my piece.

My favorite example didn’t make it into the final version though. When I asked him why he became a chef, he answered that he found something special about being able to cook for two people who were leaving their infant daughter behind for the first time and watching them enjoy themselves and stare into each other’s eyes.

You can watch Christian plot out our meal here:

Bobcat Goldthwait is quite the charmer (a phrase making its Internet debut)

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I interviewed Bobcat Goldthwait in advance of his Aug. 4 performance at Louisville’s Improv:

• Would I get a man capable of playing the evil criminal mastermind from Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment?
• Would I get a man capable of playing the kindhearted cadet of Police Academy 3: Back in Training?
• Would I get a mature elder spokesman of comedy who’s moved behind the camera, directing TV shows and the upcoming indie film World’s Greatest Dad?

Actually, I got all three in a funny 30-minute conversation that ranged from the impact of social media on comedy, Hot to Trot (he brought it up), and the most grotesque video to hit the Internet (I’m not going to include its name here, but Bobcat was not in it–I think).

My article on Bobcat will run later this month on Louisville.com.