This past weekend, I had a blast. I worked in the prep kitchen for the Smithsonian Folk Life festival, in the Food Culture section.
http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/...ood/index.html
OMG! I ate so much, just a fork full here and there all day long. They had famous chefs and cook book authors on both days doing cooking demos and we, the volunteers, got to eat all the food they demo'd. Stuff that at their restaraunts would cost way too much. This one chef demo'd a papaya, lobster and something other salad and he said that at his place, it would go for $25-for a 1/2 cup serving!
Food made with real cream, fatty things, rich things, vietnamese, thai, chinese, weeds(-that was a really cool demo), edible flowers, raw fish, deep fat fried things, ....I'm so sick now. I don't think my intestinal track has forgiven me unless it's a slight case of food poisoning.
I sort of feel like a small child after a day at the carnival after stuffing myself with all the bad junkfood. I didn't really think that I"d eaten that much but today I'm so incredibly gassy (TMI?) and visiting the little girls room (way TMI?) .
I think next year I'll be a little more selective. No matter how expensive it would be in a chef's place, if it's going to be give a tummy ache it's not worth it. But, hey on the plus side it's only once a year. Plus, when else will I get to eat a plate full of really pretty weeds in a vegen creamy risotto?
Sarah