My Battle with Food

As dawn broke and I cracked open my eyes, I mentally smiled seeing the fog enshrouding the city. Perhaps it would be a crappy day out, perfect for staying in under the covers and tending to things like my upset stomach, magazine and book reading, online shopping and blogging. But alas, the marine layer is burning off quickly and guilt is quickly setting in for still being in bed.

My tummy still hates me this morning. I only had a one day pass to SF Chefs Food Wine, I can't imagine how people with multi-day passes must be feeling. But I think it started the evening before with the Heirloom Tomato Dinner at Coffee Bar where every course featured tomato. Its tomato season and everywhere you look, tomatoes. Every menu or magazine you pick up tomatoes.

Under the big tent at Union Square the tasting bites, wine and cocktails were plenty. Every other vendor seemed to be serving some rendition of gazpacho. More tomato down the hatch, followed by wine and ginger liquer cocktails and backhanded comments (i.e., "If you want to go to Hollywood you have to watch what you eat" or "She's craking up, don't give her too much [booze]".) I guess thats what happens when I don't have the defense of companions. Nonetheless, Pizza Antica's Tuscan Kale bruschetta was my favorite. The brewers session was a lighthearted yet compassionate discussion about hops, malts, and local craft. All the beers were wonderful but the Smokey the Beer which tasted like bacon and a campfire was the most memorable. I heart our local brewmasters, they are truely chefs and artisans. I walked away inspired, and happily buzzed...we'll host our own Oktoberfest and I will attempt a pilsner.

With the event over, I convinced myself that I had not yet had enough food and strolled over to Katanaya for their spicey tofu ramen. As I slurped up the perfect al dente noodles, reading an article in the complimentary issue of Gourmet about a food experience steeped in tradition, red speckeled dropplets hitting the pages, I kept thinking to myself, "wow, I'm getting pretty full, but this is so enjoyable, I love the act of eating noodles". Eventually, I stopped myself, the bowl was just too big.

And while I had pushed the physical envelope, it seemed I could still handle the thought and sight of food so I went to see Julie & Julia and watched Meryl Streep do an impeccable personation of the great Julia Childs and cook through 2 hours worth of film. Part way through one of Julie Powell's meltdowns, my tummy began its own quiet meltdown. The pounds of butter in the movie, mixed with the array of bases and acids I consumed in the past 24 hours...I wished I could reach into the movie and grab some of those Tums.

On the MUNI ride home, as my friend flipped through my soup stained Gourmet, I could not look at the photos of baked tomato slices and other beautiful food. It was too much, I could not look, yet I could not turn away. I walked into the house, found the Rolaids and threw in the towel. I was done. Of course, only after having just ONE more bite of the leftover ramen. Oh why am I so weak against good food.