My Old Life

2907 Views 46 Replies 11 Participants Last post by epski, Jul 27, 2003

EquiPro

Discussion Starter · Jul 25, 2003

Many of you will not really relate to this place, but it is definitely an interesting place for me.

I have, for many years now, run in gourmet circles. Probably 90% of our friends are wine snobs, and we frequent fine restaurants regularly.

For the past 10 years or so, our favorite French Restaurant, L'Etoile, has held specialty wine dinners a few times per year. These are events that we NEVER miss. I have memories of some of the best meals that I have ever consumed paired with amazing wines and finished off with desserts that take your breat away from these events. I have always made it a point to attend these without fail, and they are great times with my dear friends and my husband.

Today I received an invitation to one of L'Etoile's famous wine dinners:

Gourmet Dinner wtih Harold Wood, the highly respected epicurean.

The menu is 6 courses with six different wines.

1) Duck Foie Gras Pressed with Apples and paired with a Perrier Jouet Rose Champagne

2)Veloute of Maine Lobster, Infusion of Porcini Mushrooms & Corriander paired with a Montmains 1999 Chablis Premier Cru

3) Fillet of Yellow Edge Grouper, Barigoule of Glazed Vegetables, Jus of Seafood & Artichokes paired with a Grenovilles 1999 Chablis Grand Cru

4) Partridge Breasts, Galette of Celery, Foie Gra, Pommes Maxim's, Fruit Gastric paired with a Domaine Billard Gonnet 1999 Pommard Rugiens Premier Cru

5) Chaurce Cheese, Plum with Cloves Scented Oil

6) Pinapple Ravioli with a Trio of Exotic Fruits, Verjus Sorbet, Coulis "Arc En Cief" paired with a Close Labere 1998 Sauternes

I am very lucky because I have plans to be down at South Padre Island during this dinner, but I can't imagine what I would have done, had I been here at home. I see how much this is my old life, and I would be very sad to miss out on such an occassion with my husband and my good friends. However, I know without any second thoughts that I simply could NOT consume those foods. I used to love Foie Gras, and Lobster was one of my most favorites.

I guess that I would have called the restaurant and asked them to prepare something for me, even if it wasn't quite up to main menu. However, it is a really big eye opener for me that this will ALWAYS be an issue from this point on.

WOW.

Again, I am SO glad that I have already purchased the plane tickets and hotel room. I shudder to think what I would have done. It is bound to come up again, and is definitely something that I will have to consider long and hard.

See less See more

21 - 40 of 47 Posts

Tame

· #21 · Jul 26, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by zapmama27

Where I'm from, fine wine includes everything besides Boones Farm, and many here would argue that Boones farm is indeed a fine wine.

Boone's Natural Blush and Strawberry Hill are fine wines...at least they are when the other option is Natural Light in the can. (Ah, memories of hanging around bonfires when I was 15).

Bleh. Natty Light. Just as bad as Milwaukee's Best (aka "The Beast"). What was worse? Milwaukee's Best Light - half the piss calories, all the piss taste.

See less See more

GhostUser

· #22 · Jul 26, 2003

boones sangria is the best! if you throw it in a punchbowl with some brandy and fruit you've got a party.

eqipro, how did you come to be veg? i'm asking because going vegan has also dramatically changed my social life...

carnelian

· #23 · Jul 26, 2003

Don't forget Mogen David, also known as Mad Dog 20/20!

EquiPro

Discussion Starter · #24 · Jul 26, 2003

Another site regarding Foie Gras:

http://www.goveg.com/r-foie.html

I could never eat it again. Never.

SunnyK

· #25 · Jul 26, 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Tame

Bleh. Natty Light. Just as bad as Milwaukee's Best (aka "The Beast"). What was worse? Milwaukee's Best Light - half the piss calories, all the piss taste.

Hehe. We used to call Stella (Egyptian) beer "watered-down camel piss." But it's just as good as any all-American crap.

GhostUser

· #26 · Jul 26, 2003

EquiPro,

Ignore those jealous of your snobbiness. They only wish to be as snobby as you.

The snob eateries that I have frequented are very happy to accomodate any appetite; it is seen as a challenge. Often, you get a lovely meal of sauted vegetables, fruits, and/or nuts over a grain. And, if you are able to give 24 hours notice, you can end up with some glorious meals.

Dont fret, my dear!

See less See more

GhostUser

· #27 · Jul 26, 2003

shewolf, the pineapple is dessert, I do believe

Then again, dessert and wine? There are worse things on earth.

See less See more

GhostUser

· #28 · Jul 26, 2003

I've never heard of Foie Gras until now. That is the most disturbing thing I've ever read. I just found proof of where hell is. It's right here on earth and evil lives. How can anyone with a brain put another living creature through that and still live with themselves. I'm so sad now.

I hate humans sometimes. (where's my cave!)

See less See more

epski

· #29 · Jul 26, 2003

Isn't it wild that hell and heaven exist at the same time? Right here in the living world?

GhostUser

· #30 · Jul 26, 2003

Its strange to live in a time where so much has been done to help animals at the same time so much is done to harm them.

I was always partial to the Schlitz, Blatz, and Hams. In college, whoever drank the crappiest beer ruled in popularity. It was always a struggle to find the lowest forms of beer but those three mentioned above take the cake.

GhostUser

· #31 · Jul 26, 2003

The only snobbiness I'm fond of is moral and ethical snobbiness. I could really care less about expensive fancy dinners, expensive wines. You can have just as much fun sitting at a friends house having a potluck. I guess I'm just not the type of person to fit in to those circles.

Why don't you invite friends over or ask your fiends to go to a nive vegan restaurant and explain why you changed instead of hiding from your ethical decisions. This could have been a good opportunity to educate your friends. And if they were good friends, I'm sure they would listen.

EquiPro

Discussion Starter · #32 · Jul 27, 2003

I don't consider myself a snob at all. I believe that each and everyone of us is made from the same "stuff" and that we are each an intigral and unique part of the only thing that really exists.

I do a lot of stuff at my house. Everyone comes over here because we have a pool, and we all pitch in with the food or to purchase foods. It isn't the same as going to dinner where everything is prepared for you in the most amazing ways imaginable, paired perfectly with wines. No cooking. No cleaning. Just fun. It's nice to be pampered. Even if you are paying for it.

epski

· #33 · Jul 27, 2003

I do think that fine meals can be enjoyed, even potluck style, especially if your friends happen to be vegan chefs.

That doesn't make one elitist or snobbish. Appreciating a certain type of cuisine over another is not much different from the food choices people make every day ("I don't like Westsoy, but I do like Silk").

GhostUser

· #34 · Jul 27, 2003

Why are you both acting like being called snobby is a bad thing? It isn't. Snobbery is an appreication of more refined things - fancy wines, food that rivals works of art, etc.

Elitish is different. That is when you think your life/choices/ways/etc are the only way and better then those around you. *cough* not that anyone on vb is in that camp *cough* *spit* *cough* I gotta get that fixed sometime.

Of course, to be a real snob, you need to either have dark-rimmed glasses or wear your hair pulled back into a ponytail and amazingly look stylish

EquiPro, I am confident you will have no trouble finding an upscale restaurant to cater to your needs.

See less See more

shewolf

· #35 · Jul 27, 2003

Ravioli as dessert? *shakes head*

GhostUser

· #36 · Jul 27, 2003

It probably isn't raviloi in the terms we think of. It could be a cover, similar to a wonton cover, stuffed with pineapple, boiled, and have the other stuff poured on top of it.

See less See more

epski

· #37 · Jul 27, 2003

2

All humor aside (after all, I'm here now

)...

WEBSTERS:

snob: a person who attaches great importance to wealth, social position, etc., having contempt for those whom he considers his inferiors, and admiring and seeking to associate with those whom he considers his superiors; a person who feels and acts smugly superior about his particular tastes or interests (sounds like your def. of elitish, er, elitist)

elitist: a person who is or who believes himself or herself to be a member of an elite group.

(elite: the group or part of a group selected or regarded as the finest, best, most distinguished, most powerful, etc.)

Your definition of snobbery is actually:

epicure: a person who has a discriminating taste for fine foods and drinks.

I consider EquiPro and myself to be epicurean.

My point was that you can appreciate fine cuisine without being a snob, or elitist, but rather an epicure, which does not imply any judgment toward others or one's position. I think someone who calls an epicure elitist or snobbish may be revealing more about his or her character than the epicure's.

Words are sooooo important, and so many of us have forgotten their true meaning. I have a huge vocabulary, but I still keep a dictionary handy, because you never know.

I'd think of something witty to say to prove I have a sense of humor but, frankly, I can sometimes be too stoic for my own good.

Quote:

Originally posted by kristadb

Why are you both acting like being called snobby is a bad thing? It isn't. Snobbery is an appreication of more refined things - fancy wines, food that rivals works of art, etc.

Elitish is different. That is when you think your life/choices/ways/etc are the only way and better then those around you. *cough* not that anyone on vb is in that camp *cough* *spit* *cough* I gotta get that fixed sometime.

Of course, to be a real snob, you need to either have dark-rimmed glasses or wear your hair pulled back into a ponytail and amazingly look stylish

See less See more

Tame

· #38 · Jul 27, 2003

Can you be a snob if you frequently pee outdoors because you have consumed too much malt liquor? Just checking.

See less See more

Oatmeal

· #39 · Jul 27, 2003

2

Quote:

Originally posted by zapmama27

When I asked about force feeding with a pipe shoved down their throat, he said that practice is severly outdaterd, does anyone know the answer, is this true or not?

It probably means they found a way to further increase production. I.e. I don't think it's better for the birds, in fact I'd expect it to be worse for them, whatever it is.

As for your invitation, Equi, can I have it? *looks for his vegan brochures*

See less See more

EquiPro

Discussion Starter · #40 · Jul 27, 2003

sure - send me your address and it's yours!

21 - 40 of 47 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.