[13:14] Justin: But what do I make for Joel?
[13:14] Justin: lol
[13:15] Justin: I should just give him a head of lettuce
[13:15] John Stewart: lol
[13:15] Justin: Teach him that vegetarianism doesn’t work
[13:15] John Stewart: make something with beets!
[13:15] Justin: Hahahaha
[13:15] Justin: Oh!
[13:15] Justin: In a magazine that I read
[13:15] Justin: Top chefs in NY were asked a bunch of different questions
[13:16] Justin: Here’s one that I really liked
[13:16] Justin: Q: What do you think of vegetarians?
[13:17] Justin: A: Besides the one toque who said, “I like to eat them,” the chefs responded mostly with a mixture of confusion, sadness, pity, and a tiny bit of love. “Who am I to judge?” asked one. “They’re in denial of evolution,” said another.
[13:17] John Stewart: I like to eat them? hahaha
[13:18] Justin: I told Joel that he is in denial of evolution yesterday
[13:18] Justin: He wasn’t happy
[13:18] Justin: lol
[13:18] Justin: He was pining for calamari, too
[13:18] Justin: It was awesome
[13:18] John Stewart: Mmmmm!
[13:18] Justin: Remember when he was at Morty’s with us one time?
[13:18] Justin: And he was going on and on about the wings
[13:18] Justin: And how tempting they were? 😮
[13:19] John Stewart: They *are* tempting
[13:19] Justin: Indeed
[13:19] Justin: And delicious
[13:19] John Stewart: oh man
[13:19] John Stewart: We should get Joel to eat a rib
[13:19] John Stewart: just so he can experience it
[13:20] Justin: I had ribs yesterday
[13:20] Justin: And he was beside me
[13:20] Justin: He was going nuts too
[13:20] John Stewart: what a maniac
[13:20] Justin: I know
[13:20] Justin: He looked so distraught, eating his mixed greens
[13:20] Justin: What a noob factory
[13:20] John Stewart: that could have just been the malnutrition
[13:21] Justin: lol
[13:21] Justin: True
[13:23] Justin: This is getting posted
[13:23] Justin: I love picking on Joel
[13:23] John Stewart: haha
[13:23] John Stewart: me too
[13:23] John Stewart: poor guy
[13:23] John Stewart: he has the worst friends a vegetarian could ever have

We love you, Joel 🙂

“I love barbequing, I love booze… how about an all-booze barbeque?” – Rob Rainford

Over the past few weeks, I have had a most sensational culinary experience in New York. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have made it out to some of the finest restaurants in the city and it has been wonderful (to say the least)! I must contend that food is one of the things that I enjoy the most (in life (that was for you, Catherine)), and being in one of the best food cities in the world has been fairly unbelievable. In retrospect, I somewhat squandered my first trip out here (last fall) as I barely made it out to nice places to eat.

I have been fueling this passion for food by watching episodes of Licence to Grill, my favourite cooking show ever. And then there’s the lusting of kitchens. And of grills. And of tasty food in magazines and cookbooks. Ohhh boy. Interestingly enough, a pastor at church commented on how bizarre it would be to find a civilization that would have something on stage that would slowly uncover layer after layer — with people throwing money at it or making comments — to reveal ribs or lamb or something. (This was to say that our civilization’s fascination and obsession with sex is rather bizarre.) Nevertheless, I would certainly be more at home in the food-crazed society. Mmmm food!

Today, I was thinking about what sort of compromises I would make if money got tight. The first thing that would probably go would be the luxury expenses that I am currently making. This includes the gym membership at one of the nicer facilities, taking taxis when convenient, and buying new toys.

I realized (again) that there would be a lot of sacrifices in order to live in New York (but especially in Manhattan), and that would probably be the second thing to go; I could see myself finding a place out in Brooklyn or Queens, and the thought had even crossed my mind to find something in New Jersey (which is affectionately called the “armpit of America”). The value of what I would be able to get outside of Manhattan could double or triple (or more), and that is very non-trivial.

Towards the bottom of the list (well, it is actually at the bottom right now, and the list is undefined between #2 and the bottom) is food. I think that I have an uncompromising standard for food, and I would do whatever I could to make sure that the food that I buy is both tasty and of good quality. The fancy shmancy lunches and dinners would (grudgingly) go, but the basic groceries and what-have-you would see no real change. I loooooooooooooove food. Just ask anyone I know 😉

I am not sure if I would go so far to say that I am addicted to food, but I do think about it quite often and I would go out of my way to get good food. In fact, I have been thinking about grilling and eating sushi and everything back in Waterloo (and have been for weeks)! Is it wrong to want to move back to Canada just so that I can barbeque again? 🙁