Thomas Keller, his father, and his cooking

[A Y]

I really like this article about Thomas Keller, and how his cooking and life was affected by a reunion with his father:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/di...ller.html?_r=1

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He had only recently come to know Ed Keller, a towering former Marine drill sergeant who left his family when Thomas Keller, the youngest of five boys, was just 5 years old.

When they finally reunited decades later, father and son liked each other so much that in 2006 Ed Keller moved from Pennsylvania into a house next door to the French Laundry, the restaurant in Yountville, Calif., where his son had made his name as a chef.

He quickly became a fixture around town, a real character who would show up at 8 a.m. every day to tell stories to his son's staff and customers at the nearby Bouchon Bakery. In the afternoons, he would drink wine in the French Laundry garden. Catch him in the right mood and he would even help you get into the reservation book.

--Andre

 

[globetrotter]

I would love to die this close to my kids, and at that age (or older)

 

[thekunk07]

keller is more forgiving than I am I guess.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

keller is more forgiving than I am I guess.

+1

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

keller is more forgiving than I am I guess.

+2.

 

[thekunk07]

if i ran into my father, i'd make his a quadraplegic.

 

[GQgeek]

I always figured Keller for a really great guy. It comes through in his books. I really admire him.

 

[thekunk07]

^you can probably relate to the relative closeness between father and son, you being 10 feet from him and all.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

^you can probably relate to the relative closeness between father and son, you being 10 feet from him and all.

yeah but Geek's mom left him and his dad, I think she saw the writing on the wall.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

I always figured Keller for a really great guy. It comes through in his books. I really admire him.

He is apparently very high strung and unpleasant. I've never met him but I have seen him at the FL. He is so intensly concetrated on whatever he is doing that he radiates a vibe of "Don't you dare talk to me."

 

[thekunk07]

^the food shows that.

 

[globetrotter]

I know a bunch of people who know rick bayless, and they all talk about how nice he is. on tv he seems very nice. it takes all kinds.

 

[thekunk07]

^yes, he's so nice he almost seems crazy. his food kicks ass.

not a huge fan of emerille's food but he is a very nice guy.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by Manton

He is apparently very high strung and unpleasant. I've never met him but I have seen him at the FL. He is so intensly concetrated on whatever he is doing that he radiates a vibe of "Don't you dare talk to me."
Maybe that's how he is in a professional kitchen. In TFL cookbook he talks a bit about staff meal when he was apprenticing, and his interactions with suppliers, that made him seem like a good guy to me. I'm not claiming to be right or wrong. I'm just giving my impression of the man based on his writing. There's a lot of passion/love in his writing about food and I don't think an asshole would write like that. I always assumed it translated to other parts of his life as well but I could be mistaken.

 

[Manton]

I have the book and, to be honest, you sound rather naive. Who, in writing a book about himself, would not want to make himself sound like a great guy?

In any event, Ruhlman ghostwrote that book.