# Good Eats! (or my close encounter with Alton Brown) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 5, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979 "2005-06-05T04:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/1 "2005-06-05T04:56:41Z")
Alton Brown of the Food Network show “Good Eats” was in Indianapolis today doing a book signing and live demos sponsored by “Simon Super Chefs Live.” As a huge Alton fan, I had to be there. I had 2 of his 3 books with me to be signed, as well as a printed copy of his “Turkey in Bowler Hat” that you can see in the background when you watch his shows. (You can download it as a desktop wallpaper off his website.) Anyway, I watched both of his demos (one from the front row) and waited in line, and waited in line, and got my books (and picture) signed, and… got my [picture](http://home.comcast.net/~indyellen1/Alton-Ellen_small.jpg) taken with him!!! I also have other pictures of the demos [here](http://pics.livejournal.com/indyellen/gallery/00004pze). The first demo I saw was on avacados, and the second one was on personal pies. I’ll answer what questions people have to the best of my ability, both about the demos and about other audience questions he answered. Anyway, 'twas a good day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/2 "2005-06-05T05:07:40Z")
Kewl. I’m a fan of his as well. I guess the obvious question is what was your impression of his personality in person? How did he treat the fans and assistants, etc? Also how were the demos? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/3 "2005-06-05T05:16:17Z")
Nifty. I don’t cook and have no real desire to learn anything more than the basics but I love his show and watch it every day at work right before going home for the day. Was he as urbane in person as he is on _Good Eats_? ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/4 "2005-06-05T05:39:47Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Kewl. > > I’m a fan of his as well. > > I guess the obvious question is what was your impression of his personality in person? How did he treat the fans and assistants, etc? > > Also how were the demos? He was very personable & outgoing. Engaged the fans well, especially during the demos, and was VERY complimentary toward the assistants. (They had provided students from the local culinary arts department at the state technical university, and he complimented them on their skills - as well as appreciating not having to do any of his own prep.) He was very friendly to everyone I saw in the book signing line (including myself) although by the time I got to him he looked tired. The demos were good. I wasn’t horribly interested in the first one, which was on avacados - specifically regarding uses OTHER than guacamole. 🙂 He made avacado ice cream, avacado-herb butter, and avacado icing (yes, cake icing.) The people who got to taste the ice cream & the icing seemed to think it was pretty tasty. The second demo was more my style - “personal” or “pocket” pies. He made a biscuit dough & rolled them out to make small pies, which he deep fried. (He did say you could also bake them or pan fry them.) He made a mango pie, a chocolate pie, and a Dinty Moore Beef Stew “pastie”. Someone in the audience got to eat the mango pie. The third demo (while I was waiting in line for the book signing) was a repeat of the avacado demo. > [@Aesiron](#): > > Was he as urbane in person as he is on Good Eats? Yes, he was. He did let it down a little bit when there were a couple of minor bobbles during the demos, but mostly in laughing at himself - which I think is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/5 "2005-06-05T06:18:51Z")
Very cool Indyellen, I am jealous. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/6 "2005-06-05T06:42:21Z")
I wish so much I could be there. Apparantly, he gave a speech at his Alma Mater, New England Culinary Instute in VT a several months ago and I missed it. ☹ If only I knew ahead if time, instead of AFTER when my brother told me. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/7 "2005-06-06T17:33:23Z")
Slight bump - but there’s something I forgot to mention in the OP. “W” (the kitchen equipment lady) is Alton’s wife’s chiropractor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/8 "2005-06-06T18:04:43Z")
I’m a recent convert to Alton, but I’m hooked. My TIVO is set to record Good Eats every time it’s on. I’d love to meet the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/9 "2005-06-06T18:37:33Z")
Last year I tried to attend an Alton Brown book signing at a Borders. Unfortunately it was full up. We couldn’t even get a number to stand in line in case anyone left the book signing early. Ah well. I’m glad to hear he was nice. I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that he might be a little bit of a jerk in person. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/10 "2005-06-06T19:54:51Z")
I’ll add another cite of him being nice in person. I saw him at a book signing and he was nice to everyone who came through the line. Of course I didn’t know what the hell to say so I don’t have any fun stories 🙂 He answered all the questions in the Q&A with the same spunk and attitude he has on the show. I saw him again at the Food TV food show thingy in Cleveland. He did a live show and the crowd was awesome, he was awesome and obviously having a great time. **Indyellen** - that is a GREAT pic of you and him! I hate when I get my pic taken with someone famous/special and I look like crap but you look great! wtg! ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/11 "2005-06-07T00:01:52Z")
> [@AugestWest](#): > > I’m a recent convert to Alton, but I’m hooked. My TIVO is set to record Good Eats every time it’s on. I’d love to meet the guy. Be sure to set it to record “Alton Brown” as well - otherwise it won’t pick up specials like “Eat This Rock”. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/12 "2005-06-07T00:04:12Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I’m glad to hear he was nice. I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that he might be a little bit of a jerk in person. You must not read the GEFP or belong to the Yahoo group. People there rave about how nice he is in person. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/13 "2005-06-07T00:19:44Z")
My husband was going to go on Saturday as well, but his plans fell through. I’m glad you had a good time and got to meet him! By the way, over in MPSIMS, I’ve got a thread going about a possible IndyDope. [Check it out](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=319790)! ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/14 "2005-06-07T00:33:25Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > **Indyellen** - that is a GREAT pic of you and him! I hate when I get my pic taken with someone famous/special and I look like crap but you look great! wtg! Thanks, **ZipperJJ**. I was pretty pleased with that one myself. > [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > You must not read the GEFP or belong to the Yahoo group. People there rave about how nice he is in person. I don’t either; I can probably find the Yahoo group, but if you could translate GEFP I’d appreciate it so I can go be a fangirl. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/15 "2005-06-07T16:11:45Z")
[GEFP = Good Eats Fan Page](http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/GEFP/) ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/16 "2005-06-07T23:11:50Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > [GEFP = Good Eats Fan Page](http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/GEFP/) Thanks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-eats-or-my-close-encounter-with-alton-brown/306979/17 "2005-06-08T03:41:07Z")
We met Alton at his stop in Baltimore; Dave also met him the previous day in Northern Virginiaopolis somewhere. He’s quoted in [this](http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=ALTONBROWN-FOOD-02-21-05) article about AB. I found him to be very personable and charming, and better looking than on tv.