BEER!

   

   It was pointed out to me the other day by a friend that all, (and really ALL), of my articles/posts/buzzes, regardless of topic, content or theme, have one common thread; they all mention beer, in one reference or another. I had never noticed this before nor was it a conscious effort to incorporate it into my writings. “Beer” just showed up naturally and silently in every one and in an appropriate place, as easily and naturally as tipping back the last half a pint of IPA, savoring the cool “Golden Throat Charmer” as it passes by my lips, across my tongue, and flowing effortlessly down my throat to comfortably warm the belly, and then signaling the bartender for another…

   This realization made me stop, think, and ponder…

    Is beer really that important? Are there not more pressing social/political/professional issues/topics that could be contemplated, written about and discussed?

   Hmmm… needless to say this has caused some introspection.

   Well I am Canadian, and I am a Cook; that’s 2 huge “strikes” against me right there, (now this next thought is really “baking my noodle”; are those 2 conditions prerequisites to love beer? Or is loving beer a prerequisite for fulfilling those 2 conditions? Maybe Paul "Pablo" Croubalian could help shed some light on this question). Am I obsessed? Do I have a problem? Should I seek help? Yes these are the thoughts that initially crossed my mind so now here I am on a fact finding, educating and enlightening journey to discover “Beer”, and how it fits into my life. But first, a little personal history that may help illuminate the influences that have brought me to this point.

   I am of the generation that our parents had no issues with drinking and smoking during pregnancy, although my mother was a staunch non-smoker and not a heavy drinker she, along with everyone else in her generation, did partake in social drinking whether pregnant or not. So for good or for bad I was exposed even before I was out of the womb. Breastfeeding? Didn’t stop them from drinking then either so when you hear someone refer to beer as “Mother’s milk” it could be a lot more accurate than you think; LMAO! Having said that however I believe that I am no “worse for the wear” because of it.

   While my parents were hard working scholars, (PhD’s in their 20’s), active athletes, and busy socially they were definitely in the “hippie mindset”. I grew up in the 60’s on “The West Coast”, we as a family were at “Rec Beach” every weekend, going to concerts in the park, etc. It was a fairly open and relaxed environment. When dining out I was always allowed a half glass of beer with my dinner, which at the time was accepted and legal because I was with my parents and they poured it for me out of their bottle, (I don’t know what the laws are like today but I have a feeling it’s probably frowned upon).

   

When I was 13 I got a Root Beer brewing kit as a home project, (I think it made 10 gal.). I used brewer’s yeast in it and it fermented, LMAO! My mother drank more of it than I did trying to get rid of it, (but she wouldn’t just throw it out). I never got that project again.

   

   Then I hit my real “teens”, puberty, GIRLS! Parties, High School, University, working… Beer seemed to fit in with all of this. Yes I probably drank too much on some occasions but at this stage of our lives how many of you out there reading this can honestly say that you didn’t? Again; LMAO!

It was a “normal” part of life.

   

As I entered my late teens my head began emerging out of my ass as I seemed to have found a “path” to follow, (Cooking), and my haphazard, carefree life started to head into a constructive direction. Along with this direction my “taste” was developing as it was, and still is, an integral aspect of my career. Suddenly “quantity” didn’t matter anymore; it was replaced with the priority of “quality”. I began exploring and learning about wines, liqueurs, spirits and BEER, (amongst the many other aspects of the vast culinary world). Through all of these experiences and growing beer was a fixture in our social fabric, (and still is today). You go to a friend’s house and the very first thing they’re going to say to you is, “Hey Buddy, You want a beer?” (Or if they’re really your buddy they’ll open the door with a beer already in their hand for you).

Just how much is beer a fixture in our social fabric?

I could go on with many examples, and I will touch on some of them when I talk about the long history of beer but here is one illustration that is quite poignant.

   When I left Canada in 1988 I did not speak a word of Spanish, I landed in the Caribbean where I quickly learned that Spanish is virtually the second language throughout and very handy to know. All of my kitchen staff in every establishment I worked, (including my own restaurants), were Latin, with many not speaking any English. Being in such close proximity allowed me to travel extensively and frequently throughout Central and South America as well; best way to learn the language is to travel in those countries. It was a necessity to learn it but it was, and is, a lot of fun. As with the people teaching me, (muy Bueno gente), Spanish is a romantic, funny and beautiful 

   language, (Este muy Bonita), Mucho Gusto! So what is the very first phrase that I learned in Spanish?

   “Uno mas Cerveca por favor”