Monday, July 13, 2009

Tails of the Cocktail....

So a funny thing happened in New Orleans....
Well, actually, many funny things happened in New Orleans at this years Tales of the Cocktail event.

While it was great to see so many friends and colleagues from around the country and beyond, I somehow left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Perhaps it was the swigs from so many bottles of lukewarm tequila, pisco, or flasks of whiskey, mezcal, or pot stilled rum. More so, I feel there was so little need for this hyped up event in order to share what really mattered.

It's pretty hard to get a cocktail in that town, the lines are long, bar staff can be short, if not grumpy. The events are crowded and at the end of the day, most everyone is most interested in just getting drunk. It's not to say that many of the participants didn't bring their A game, I can't say I spit anything out, but the context just doesn't work for inventive, and dare I say, fussy drinks. Hence, I remember few, if any. Panels become overly branded, overly expensive, and in some cases, irrelevant. Events are overly exclusive, and poorly coordinated.

Truth be told, cold beer in the swimming pool, a simple shot of whiskey on the rocks, or some gin and vermouth over ice in a plastic cup made, for me, the perfect balm for the sticky temperature and derelict temperament.

What happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans.

I suppose Las Vegas' well known adage, is applicable in this instance. I dutifully left my camera in the hotel room, intent on just going along for the ride. What I witnessed, I can simply summarize as ranging from mild bravado, to downright narcissism, and debauchery making a crowd of talented service industry professionals into drunken caricatures of reckless Hollywood stars. All in good "fun" I assure you, but revealing as well.

The real inspiration I bring back with me had little to do with the circus that Tales really is, but rather the food I ate in that city. This year found me dining far less at the "finer" seats in the city, but more having some amazing, authentic, soulful and unpretentious meals, with some fine company, at a leisurely pace. Heaps of fried chicken and catfish, piles of greens cooked within inches of their lives, yards of boudin, mounds of alligator, fistfuls of shrimp or crab, smothered in sauces rich and satisfying, all served with simple cans of cold, domestic beer or just ice tea and coca cola.

I return with a real sense that this "cocktail thing" may just be a bit out of control. We've stopped being servants and craftsmen and become authors, artists, chefs, and technicians. Do we need degrees or crowns?
Some of the best things in life, as in gastronomy or mixology, require little hermeneutics or decoding. They just present themselves as they are, satisfy, and then resonate. The way a walk in the park might stick with you better than an art history exam.

For my part, I still appreciate immensely the hard work and rich creative resources of my colleagues. I maintain a deep respect for experimentation and innovation, love to be challenged, and whole heartedly give credit where credit is due.

That being said, I come back humbled, wishing only to throw some thick chunks chilled melon into a glass with a small sprig of fresh herb and a healthy dose of blanco tequila and a twist of lime, set it carefully on a cocktail napkin on a clean bar top, smile and be smiled at. Either that or a shot and a beer. It's your dime.

5 comments:

Virginia said...

Thank you for the eloquent, thoughtful post... love the images brought on by the great meals you had in incomparable New Orleans, and appreciate the well-stated insight on being 'craftsmen and servers'.

Virginia
www.theperfectspotsf.com

Dinah (MetaGrrrl) said...

Thanks, Daniel.

I had mixed feelings too. I chalked it up to digestive unhappiness leaving me ill-prepared for a constant diet of booze & rich food, but there was more to it.

Seems like it boiled down to wanting convivial, creative conversation and finding what was on offer was often just a wild party.

Once I've recovered my equilibrium, I'm looking forward to coming in for a good drink and a smile.

And perhaps a little conversation about the woeful decline in respect for the honorable role of servant.

Roberto said...

Thank you for a refreshing and thought provoking angle of the Tales experience. I concur with Virginia on the insight of 'craftsmen and servers'. I look forward to visiting Alembic soon.

Wild Bill Turkey said...

I was sorry I missed going, as a mere enthusiast, a couple of years ago. But as the build-up to it this year got both bigger AND more precious, I began to suspect it would be about like you describe.

New Orleans is one of the best spices in the mix of the United States, and has a deep, rich history of food and drink found nowhere else on Earth. But I've about decided that Mardi Gras and Tales are the worst times to enjoy it.

Welcome Home.

Unknown said...

Well said and necessary statements as to the state of Tales.
I just thought it was me being more cynical than usual but I couldn't agree more with just about everything written.
There are good people at Tales but they are getting harder to find with all the money, titles and cliques.
It's more Studio 54 than a place to learn anymore. There are a lot of good peopel there but they can get easily overshadowed by the egos and money.