I have been away, and I mean that both literally and figuratively. I’ve been off the blog for about a year and a half, but I feel it is an appropriate time to return to you all now. If you wonder where I’ve been, I guess I could respond in one sentence. I’ve been busy. I took a new job, my father died, I moved to Baton Rouge, I became a teacher in rural Louisiana, went through a year of teaching hellfire only to come out like a strange phoenix with hoppy breath, and I’m about to move back to New Orleans to teach in that fine city. There you go, my apologies for the absence, I’ll try to not do it again.
I have a few posts that never made it live, but there is now an occasion would bring me back. Sadly, it comes from the very negative aspect of one of the most amazing cities on this planet. New Orleans is a beautiful and luscious city in which people of many persuasions thrive. This does mean that the cruel underbelly of the city lurks waiting sometimes to prey on those who make this city the oasis that it is.
Chef Zimet
Nathanial Zimet, chef/owner of Boucherie, was shot multiple times in an apparent robbery while returning home from preparing for the Bayou Bougaloo festival. I’ve met him once casually and he was a very jovial man. He has made a great mark in the city with his attitude towards food at his restaurant Boucherie, which hits on my top 5 restaurants in the city (I’ll have to make that another post). As most people who work in the food service industry, he is without insurance and as you can imagine, his recovery will not be cheap.
New Orleans has a large loving heart, and it’s beating to support Chef Zimet in his time of need. There have been multiple benefits planned for his recovery costs, and a major event from the beer community- that the chef supports greatly- is taking place tonight.
“Bullets Not Beer” is a food and beer tasting event that is taking place tonight at the NOLA Brewing Co. and will feature live music. Due to capacity issues, the limit is 300 people through the door. Last I checked it was nearly sold out. Local breweries have made donations as have many individual beer lovers opened up the beer cellar to donate some rare treats. I sent down a few hard to get treats (Dogfishhead’s 90 minute IPA and Left Hand’s Milk Stout) to be enjoyed by those in attendance. I’m in the middle of moving and can’t make it down, but even though I’m not there, I’m happy. This event and the general support from the community for a man, who’s making New Orleans a more awesome place to live, make me smile. I miss the city and I’m proud to become a resident again in a few days.
Sure, the city has its rouge edges, but its got enough soul to make up for it. My best wishes to Chef Zimet, I hope you heal up soon.
If you are interested in hearing about more benefit events and/or donating to his recovery please follow the following link: http://benefit4nathanial.wordpress.com/
Photo courtesy of myneworleans.com via The Beer Buddha.
