Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article <
n253s7tae4rmsdph4...@4ax.com>,
>>
http://www.zinio.com/pages/Saveur/Jun-Jul-12/416223185/pg-32
>>
>> koko
> <grin> That and a buck and a half will get you a cup of coffee.
> Famous I've got covered; I'm still waiting for Rich.
>
> The lengthy story below is from my blog site. Because I'd hate for
> notbob to piss and moan about not being able to access the site, I
> copied it and pasted it here. I hate being a source of his grumpiness.
> "-)
>
> <
http://web.me.com/barbschaller/Hanging_Out_with_The_Tattooed_Lady/I_Can_
> Can,_Can_You_%282011%29/Entries/2011/9/3_Michael_Stern_for_Saveur.html>
>
> September 3, 2011
>
>
> About two-and-one half weeks ago I received a most interesting telephone
> call. It was from Jane Stern, author and web and radio personality.
> She and Michael Stern appear regularly on Minnesota Public Radio's "The
> Splendid Table" with Lynn Rosetto Kasper. They have written a shipload
> of books about roadfood -- the best local foods and where to find them.
> I've always enjoyed their segments and recognize the name, so when the
> female voice on the phone said, "My name is Jane Stern and I was given
> your name by. . . ," it took me all of about 2 seconds to say I know the
> name and aren't you half of Michael and Jane Stern of roadfood renown?
> She is. And she and Michael are writing an article about state fairs
> for Saveur magazine and want to talk to me about my canning ribbons.
> Saveur. Whoa! Those dogs run in tall grass. We spent about 40 minutes
> talking about me and my canning escapades and ended with a meeting
> scheduled after the fair began, on September 1.
>
> I had inadvertently gotten myself doubled booked for our scheduled time
> and as soon as I figured that out I began trying to contact Jane to set
> a different time. When I didn't get a response to a couple emails and a
> phone call, I contacted Saveur and was then contacted by Michael Stern,
> who explained that Jane had been hammered by Hurricane Irene and was
> dealing with the aftermath. Ugh! Poor thing, I can't even begin to
> think about what that must be like. Michael explained that he would be
> coming to the Great Minnesota Get-Together and would like to speak with
> me about my canning successes over the years. Well, yeah, Michael--I'd
> be tickled to speak with you.
>
> We arranged to meet this morning at the Creative Activities building at
> the Fair; he would be there with a photographer following along to take
> pictures. A ride was arranged for me to get from the bus drop to the
> building. What a treat to be able to have that service; at this point
> in the fair, I tend to trudge rather than step smartly along. A summer
> intern from the Fair's public relations department fetched me and took
> me to the building. Better, even, than that, she stayed with me again
> and shot some great video with my iPad of some of my chat with Michael.
>
> Michael was surprised to learn of my disgust for anything beet related
> and downright puzzled as to how I could win a blue ribbon -- er-r-r, two
> blue ribbons -- for something I'd never tasted. I did not have an answer
> beyond "heck if I know." I have to admit it is a puzzlement. The
> recipe I use came from a church friend who swore it was the best thing
> ever and I should use her recipe. Well, heck, why not? I had tried one
> from a rec.food.preserving acquaintance that involved red wine and the
> judges were underwhelmed by it so I was game for pretty much anything.
> Jeez, all I wanted was a ribbon but when I got one (the third year I
> entered the lot), I decided I would like one of a different color, blue
> being my first choice of color.
>
> That I have received two blue ribbons for pickled boiled dirt chunks
> makes for my best ever state fair canning story. Michael liked the
> story, too.
>
> He had scoped out the display yesterday and was eager to hear about and
> taste, if possible, my bread and butter pickles. Hey, mon, I don't
> leave home without them.
>
> I had brought a small container of pickles and the pint jar of PBDC that
> had been judged. He loved both. And if he didn't, he put on a dang
> good show of pretending he did. Go figure. The pickles I understand,
> but the beets? I'll never understand that.
>
> The photographer he'd brought along arrived and took a bunch of pictures
> of Michael sticking a fork into my jars (I'd brought the forks); she
> could hardly wait to taste them, too. By their reactions, you might
> have thought I'd delivered them in the holy grail. "They have a
> wonderful earthy taste." Right. Earthy. Hello? Can you say dirt?
> Gimme a stinkin' break. Michael left and headed over to MPR to do "The
> Splendid Table" with Lynn Rosetto Kasper and the photographer stayed
> behind and took a boatload of pictures of me holding that damn jar of
> beets. It is, I believe, a year before the story will be published and
> I can't wait to see it.
>
> Michael was delightful. He has a big easy smile that immediately put me
> at ease and he was very curious about all aspects of my canning -- he
> seemed more than a little impressed when I quoted some numbers about my
> entries and results. Nice man. I suspected that he would not be
> traveling with a checked bag so I offered to mail a jar of pickles to
> him -- that's on next week's agenda.
>
> I moseyed over to the MPR site and was amazed to find an available bench
> in the front row. I sat between two lovely women and we had a nice
> visit while we waited the 30 minutes for the show to begin. Lynn
> introduced Michael and they talked mainly about Fair food -- several
> samples of food were delivered to them and assessed. A warm apple pie a
> la mode seemed to be the favorite.
>
> I do not recall what their conversation was that led Michael to call me
> out from the crowd to be acknowledged for my ribbon sluttiness but the
> next thing I knew, Lynn was inviting me to join them with my samples of
> pickles and PBDC. Too funny! She was interested and curious about why
> my pickles keep winning blue ribbons. Heck if I know -- I just make
> them. She was also rather surprised, I think, when I told her that the
> recipe I use is readily found online -- do a search with my name and
> bread and butter pickles and you will find the recipe.
>
> I'm thinking that the show will be broadcast on National Public Radio
> stations next weekend and I look forward to hearing it. Stay tuned.
>
> June Cleaver lives!
>
> Addendum: If the show is broadcast, I do not know when it will be. It
> was not aired on September 10, as I expected it would be. <shrugs>
Very neat, Barb! Keep up the good work. BTW, whenever I see a
beet recipe, I think of you.
--
Jean B.