Runs with knives!
Yesterday, I learned of the passing of Iron Chef Masahiko Kobe (on March 14, 2019). I didn’t know that he’d passed. He was the youngest of the original Iron Chefs. Kobe was considered “Iron Chef Italian” and the “Prince of Pasta”, even though he lost…
What a busy week/weekend for the Vogel household, especially for me (see below), but we made sure Wendy was busy and had a great time on her birthday weekend. On Monday, September 12, 2022, I started a new job that I am absolutely loving so…
Jean-Robert de Cavel, the Chef for whom I worked for over 14 years, passed away on December 23, 2022. He was 61 years old.
I worked with him at an event on November 19, 2022. This was the last time I saw him. Fortunately, the photographer at the event captured two pictures of Chef and me. These are precious to me.
Rest in peace, Chef. It was always a pleasure to work with you.
On 2023-01-16, I joined 1300+ people for a mass of Christian burial in honor of Jean-Robert. Among that group, a bunch of us (the estimates range from 150-300) were dressed in our chef whites to honor the chef. During the service, one of Chef’s good friends, Mr. Dennis Spiegel asked all the chefs in church to reply to his call of “Order in!” with “Oui, Chef!”. It wrecked me.
It happened a couple more times outside the church, and I sure hope that someone recorded it. ALL of Cincinnati heard us. #ouichef
Wendy & I just got back from an astounding trip aboard the Chandrilla Star Line’s Galactic Starcruiser “Halcyon” at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. We cruised June 4-6, 2023. It was an entirely amazing experience throughout! We’ll post much more soon, including…
Hello, and welcome, Halcyon Family! (don’t miss bonus video below!) Thanks for checking out Under the Tusken Sun, the hot new fantasy romance by Sienna Starfall published by Spicy Bantha Publishing. Enjoy the first chapter here, and may the stars light your way! To see real books,…
I’ve lost two of my most significant Chef-mentors in the last 7 months. Chef Jean-Robert de Cavel in December 2022, and Chef John Kinsella, CMC earlier this week.
Chef Kinsella was the force that shaped me from a newbie into a culinarian. His stern-but-mean-but-compassionate-and-angry leadership style toughened us up. Chef Kinsella introduced me to butchery, charcuterie, and garde manger, which are still areas of specific interest to me. Chef K was rarely without a glass of something in his hand, as the attached picture shows. He was a great teacher who could be a real SOB, but a great teacher.
Chef Jean-Robert took me from a newbie cook (full of enthusiasm but ignorant to the ways of the culinary world) to a Chef, proper. JR trained me in the French tradition of food preparation, menu development, hospitality, and management. His stern-but-mean-but-compassionate leadership style forged me into who I am today culinary-wise.
These two giants leave massive emptiness here. I hope that my culinary work is testament to their legacy. We’re all heartbroken, but as Chef Jean-Robert would say, “Allez, donkey! We’ve got people to feed…“
RIP, Chefs.
Wendy & I have added two new inmates to the asylum. Meet Toast and Truffle! They’re litter-mates and were born May 28, 2023 or thereabouts. Toast is the Siamiese-looking male, and Truffle is the female void-cat. My friend Abby helped come up with Toast’s name…