Anthony Bourdain is a bad ass.  He knows it.  Everyone knows it.  But, one thing I appreciate after meeting him is his humility.  He didn’t seem like an arrogant prick.  Instead, he was humble and quiet.  During the show, there was a slight hint of uneasiness while he was up on the stage.  He was fidgety and a little restless, unlike the bold and confident guy on TV.  And during the meet and greet, he didn’t say much except, ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you.’  Now, one could translate this into someone who doesn’t give a shit about meeting fans, but I am going to take it as someone who is talented and wants to make others think, speak, eat, and drink.  He doesn’t have to be flashy and ‘in your face’…that would be Guy Fieri.  Instead, he can be who he is, a pretty cool guy who took days to build up the courage to introduce himself to one of his icons, Iggy Pop.     

Eric Ripert is a delight.  This is a man who cares.  He cares about people, the Earth, and food.  During the show, he shared his feelings about the show Hell’s Kitchen and the importance of being a mentor rather than a tyrant in the kitchen.  As cheesy as it sounds, I loved his smile and sense of being.  And as I walked up to meet him and Tony, I was greeted by the warmth of his smile.  How awesome it that!  To have a smile that people can and will remember.  As I was walking away, I had the need to thank him for always smiling and his reaction was an even bigger smile.  Now, that is pretty bad ass.

Well, say what you will after reading this.  I might be a clueless, naive Mid-Western girl, but I was impressed.  I really don’t care to meet anyone else  at a ‘celebrity’ status in my life, but the two guys who I did meet and have adored for years are two great guys.  I can’t really say it is good vs. evil.  It is just good.  And they are good people. 

Heaven can’t be too far away…

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