EOG - Page 1 - The Open Bag

On the morning of Tuesday September 11th I was parked on my couch with about three memo pads writing the draft for all the Equal Opportunity Gourmet articles while in the midst of getting my morning fix of ER on TNT. As I was trying to finish the rest of the articles that I had planned to write for the September edition, which I was already behind schedule on, my aunt Charlotte called from Florida and told us to turn on CNN. What I then saw on my TV horrified me, disgusted me, and enraged me.

Needless to say, I did not feel much like writing anything after what I saw.

Therefore, any of the effort I had already put into that upcoming EOG was tabled and I decided to combine what I had already finished with those items yet to come and other items I was concocting. I decided that it would be better to put out a delayed September/October edition of Equal-Opportunity Gourmet. Firstly, at the time it did not seem appropriate in the midst of the events of that day, their ramifications, and what everybody was feeling in the wake of them, to write and post pieces regarding what Frito-Lay was up to this month. Plus, as I already mentioned, I really wasn't in the proper mental frame of mind to write this stuff anyway.

A funny aside...a couple of weeks after the a**holes struck NY and DC, it was getting "play" ad
infinitum in the tabloid aisles, and I must admit that I was getting tired of seeing all this stuff. All the stories of death and destruction was getting pretty depressing. Then one day, while bringing my purchases to the register and avoiding all the tabloids predicting doom and gloom and quoting Nostradamus, I see TV Guide featuring NYPD Blue's Kim Delaney and Crossing Jordan's Jill Hennessy in really skimpy tank tops. Then I see Heather Graham on the cover of InStyle.

God Bless America!

Okay, time to stop rambling... Here's your combined September/October missive from the Equal Opportunity Gourmet. In this issue, you will find the usual features, such as the food reviews, test drives, and quick bites.

You'll also see a story regarding a local institution where I grew up that is not so much closing as it is changing location, but was such a distinctive location that you could argue that one fate was tantamount to the other. This place, and its food, were definitely a well-known part of my community, although business had dropped off in recent years. As a kind of a retro-bonding moment, a group of my best friends and I get together and there we would spend a few hours discussing the coming-of-age, the changes in life, and, most importantly (at least that night) the cutlet. And the story is inside.

Also, you've heard me bang on products because of the T.T.N.T., or "Two Things Nailed Together" Principle...now it's your turn! Read this special issue to see how you can vote for your favorite (and least favorite) food offshoot or new idea. The article is in this issue and will ask for your nominations for the EOG's very own TTiNTie Awards, recognizing the best, and the worst, in fun, festive, and fast foods.

Also, the usual assortment of bites, bits, and quips that are regular part of this online publication.

In other EOG happenings - as this month goes on the mag will be moving to a new site... www.equalopportunitygourmet.freeservers.com. To gear up for the new site, I am experimenting with the look of EOG a bit...freshening things up...I hope you enjoy it...

And...as always...any comments/suggestions.etc...just email me at eogourmet@email.com!

Read on ... enjoy ... and bon-bon appetit!

Sincerely yours.............