It takes a big event to get me to miss Modern Family, but I am going to miss it tonight. My friends, Cal and Jack, own Hancock Gourmet Lobster, up in GodKnowsWhere, Maine. It’s a small business…or at least it started that way…and I lovelovelovelove their food. Calling it “food” is like calling Sarah Palin “just a hockey mom”…(inside joke, they are going to lovelovelove that reference).
I am from Kansas and our lobster came in cans, and only for special events. Like never. I think I had lobster once before I was 21.
But back then there was no Hancock Gourmet Lobster. If you wanted to get great lobster you had to travel to Ogunquit, Maine, to visit Cal’s shirttail relatives’ The Lobster Pound. Trust me, that is a long drive. (No comparison, either.)
So, it is much easier to just travel online and buy Cal’s own special lobster dishes there. Ezy-pzy, it shows up in a day or two.
You’re probably thinking I am no expert. D’oh. But listen to this story. Some weeks back, Cal is called by the Food Channel because they want to do a piece on her company for the TV. Fine. Good. It takes days,…cameras, filming food is very hard I hear, etc. So, the last day, who shows up and completely surprises them?
Yep. Bobby Flay. Himself. Food God. He is the one on the left, with NotCal.
“Cal,” God says, “Let’s have a lobster mac and cheese throwdown!” What a surprise to everyone there!! I guess it was like Regis Philbin or Dr. Phil walking into your office. Women fainted.
Cal collected herself, she’s way too kewl for Bobby Himself. So they cooked and cooked and threw the whole thing down. They won’t tell me who won, but Las Vegas has Cal 7 to 1.
Better watch the Food Channel with me at 8 pm tonight and see what happens.
Side Story: Cal and Jack decided to have a party at their house tonight for their local friends to watch the show. Jack sends out an email inviting people a couple of weeks back. Last week, someone stopped by their office to ask directions to their house, someone they do not know, at all. Turns out, the email got forwarded around by accident, went “viral” as they say. So if you are in Maine tonight, go ahead and stop by, because it sounds like it might be a big party. Tell them I sent you. They’ll love it. Friends and non-friends will be there.









10 users commented in " Tonight’s Bobby Flay Throwdown, 8 pm, CST "
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by GL Hoffman, GL Hoffman. GL Hoffman said: #Backstory on the newest #bobbyFlay throwdown on http://bit.ly/eh5Ku7 Featuring Lobster Mac and Cheese. and my friends biz. Please RT. [...]
GL–Now you’re confusing me. I thought Cal (Curmodgeon at large) was you. Please consider the limited intellectual capacity of your audience when composting (that is BS Blogging).
I do have a soft spot for Maine. The Red Head and I spent most of our honeymoon hanging out along the coast.
Enjoy your holiday.
Chris
Chris—I can see how that happened since Cal, Curmudgeon at Large, had just blogged for me with http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2010/11/23/fix-the-little-things-first-is-my-advice/.
CAL is cranky all the time. Cal my friend only gets cranky from time to time, at Jack and Republicans. Cosi fan tutti.
Historical factoid. Servants and workers in Maine used to demand the right to not be served lobster every day as part of there working conditions in the 19th century, due to its being a poor persons cheap food. Rats of the sea and all….darn tasty rats though.
Way to destroy the moment, Nick. LoL.
I was wondering how the first person to even THINK about eating one of those ugly things.