Sunday, June 12, 2011

About The Grif-Frigerator


I’m a downtown resident (about six years) and not a native Memphian (that always sounds like something with gills to me). Prior to living in the MidSouth (13 years a resident), I’ve lived in several places in the country and have been very lucky to have eaten in several of the world’s greatest restaurants.

I was kind of a professional cook/chef way back when. I learned to cook fast in an IHOP and then well in a French restaurant operating under the brigade system. I learned French cooking the "old, hard way" - no culinary school, but the guy who taught me was an old school French chef (and you think Gordon Ramsey is bad? I think my teacher was FAR worse)! I have also written and published a cookbook AND received a royalty check. Please notice that I said ‘a royalty check’. Just one and not much of one either ($4.04 - no kidding. It is framed along with a copy of the book with a plaque reading 'The "Rewards" of Writing a Book'. Its hanging on my living room wall). BUT I am a published author!

One of my biggest challenges is being diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic in 2002. Probably stress induced and the extra weight and bad lifestyle choices didn't help (drinking too much, smoking). I've fixed the smoking - 11 years now. Not once! Not even a cigar until I smoked a hookah about 4 years ago (see the story). I now drink mostly wine instead of a LOT of vodka - always have been a happy drunk - thank you Lord! The weight is being worked on and I've changed the stress levels dramatically. How? I finally learned that it is OK to turn things over to God. I will be eternally grateful to the person that finally broke thru my sometimes way too hard-headedness.

Bragging rights: Two kids who live elsewhere. One wonderful grand baby (Sept 2010)! I still cling to the notion that I am WAY too young to be a grandfather. A BA in Political Science. Half way to an MS in computer science. Happily divorced for a LONG time, but "looking". I have two professional sports championship rings which I never wear-too big and gaudy-but good for casinos every once in a while.

Occupation: I’m an agency owner in health insurance – employee benefits specifically. I've been very lucky in my short career in insurance and I’ve had a lot of success very quickly.


Employment:
Company Name                                                 Position                            When      
A National Insurance Company                                                          2003 - present
Arena Football league teams                           General Manager           1998 - 2003
A Professional Hockey team                           General Manager           1997 - 1997
A Consultant to Fortune 500 Companies                                              1994 - 1997
A Software Company                                     President and Founder   1981 - 1994
That's enough!

Education:
Westminster College, Missouri
Political Science plus computer science & a little comparative religion, 1972 - 1975
Bradley University
MS Computer Science-no degree, 1980 – 1981

Places I've lived:
Tulsa, OK; Pekin, IL; Fulton, MO; Peoria, IL; Southaven, MS; Memphis, TN. Unlike some in Memphis, I really both like and love this city. Often times Memphians don’t realize what great things their city has to offer.

Memphis Farmer's Market

Hi All,
This is the first of what may (or may not) be a series of entries on food and dining in downtown Memphis. I’ll try to write it until A) I run out of things to say, B) I’m tired of it, or C) you all are sick of me. So here goes…
I have gone to every edition of the Memphis Farmer’s Market and this morning was no exception. For those of you that haven’t yet made it downtown, this is either the best or one of the best Farmer’s Markets I’ve attended (being old, does not help my memory a lot). I’ve gotten to know several of the vendors (that’s what you call a farmer or a cook/chef at these things) and do maybe 30% of my weekly shopping here. Being a downtown resident with a trolley stop within 100’ of my front door makes this both fun and comfortable – and there is just nothing wrong when you can string those two words together!
 
I almost always buy a breakfast burrito from the Fuel Café food truck. Dee-licious! They roll up scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese and a little salsa in a flour tortilla wrap it in foil and you have a mobile breakfast! Or you can sit at one of the picnic tables scattered about for a little communal breakfast.
Try it!