Mike Departs

I finally got rid of Mike. Sent him home with around 2 1/2 pounds of sweet, drippy, luscious strawberry cheesecake. I'm afraid he'll pull over and commit an unnatural act with it.

That kid can COOK. I can't remember ever having as much completely perfect food as I had tonight.

While we digested between rounds, we watched The Food Network. Fun programs. Impressive dishes. But like I said, and as Mike agreed, both of us preferred the stuff we had in front of us. Warm portabello mushroom tarts topped with cold salad? Cakes shaped like Popeye and Olive Oyl? Shove it up your ass. Impressive food is impressive, but good food is GOOD. There's a difference.

There is nothing like cooking and eating with someone who understands and appreciates food. He kept saying the same things I was about to say. Not trite foodie bullshit, but real impressions based on experience and knowledge won through hard work in messy kitchens.

I don't know what I'll do if he moves to Florida. I'll weigh 500 pounds.

He's going to return in 12 days. The plan is to divide things up. One of us cooks dinner, and the other cooks dessert. Man, that's some good Youtubin'.