Tell Simmer Navel-Gazing Edition: Josie Grills Mom
Feb 3rd, 2009 by Marilyn
Welcome to a special Tell Simmer Tuesday. If you’ve missed it the last few weeks, fear not – there are a few special interviews in deep hibernation, just waiting for the right sunny day. In the meantime, my daughter staged a coup, and declared that the next Tell Simmer would, in fact, feature me. The result, I’m afraid, is navel-gazing at its finest; you will not find more colorful self-interest in the blogosphere, I tell you…unless you count David Lebovitz’s meme supreme, 89 Things About Me. I let Josie pick the questions, but kept it down to 14. Because Simmer’s just not that into me.
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten on pizza?
You know I don’t get crazy with my pizza. I don’t do pineapple and jalapenos like some people. You think you’re being cute, but - is this the first of 14 questions designed to get a rise out of me?
What is your favorite song to cook to?
If I am chopping onions I put on Joni Mitchell’s “Blue,” because if I’m going to be crying, I might as well be miserable.
What is your biggest kitchen disaster (if a cook as perfect as you has any?)
Again with the cute. Just because I tell you how to hold a knife and not chop your fingers off doesn’t mean I can’t mess up. You’ve only seen my experienced phase, not the early doofus years.
I’ve scrambled pastry cream and saved a few tippy wedding cakes – but I’d say the most unpleasant wreck occurred in my apprentice days at an extra-famous shmancy Chicago restaurant that Dad says will absolutely not be named now or at any other time. I accidentally omitted sugar from two souffles that were then served, and as I’ve noted before, people who order high-priced desserts want perfect, and behave rather badly without it. May your disaster never happen in a well-heeled dining room.
Who is the TV celeb chef you hate the most, and why?
Now this is just silly. You’re not going to get me to tell them that – the Internets are forever! Besides, she’s wildly successful – er, every day – and I’m just blogging about dinner. Every other day, at best.
What is your most hated dish at family gatherings?
What’s with all the hate talk? Haven’t we always told you that hate is a big word? That we only hate hot weather and frizzy hair?
That said…get serious. I can’t answer that, because I want them to still welcome you at Passover long after I’m gone. Everything on the table is fantastic. Every dish that every single person brings is wonderful.
What celeb would you most like to cook you a meal?
Hmm. I’ll take Harrison Ford – circa Working Girl – carrying a breakfast tray of waffles and mimosas. In a nice white hotel robe. Don’t tell Dad.
We all know that you don’t eat your own pastries very much. What’s the one sweet thing that tempts you?
Okay, you know this, but fine – Lemon Meringue Pie, Pecan Pie (warm, of course) and Key Lime Pie. In that order. Also, fresh-baked rugelach occasionally call from the tray. I am their first responder.
Who is your cooking or baking idol?
Julia Child. When I was five, I’d sit in front of the TV and goggle at Julia, whacking cleavers and slapping giant fish. When she raised her wine glass at the end and said “Bon Appetit,” I’d raise an imaginary glass back. I achingly miss Julia Child.
If you let me and Dad cook all week, what do you think would happen?
There would be a few frozen burritos, one half-peeled orange and a dozen trips to Free State Brewery.
Who is your superhero alter ego?
Wonder Woman, of course. The outfit, the power…the bracelets. Hey! That’s not a food question.
Describe your ideal romantic meal.
Dad and I are clinking glasses in Paris, and you are at military school.
Okay, you ask everyone else, so…what drink would you be?
Irish Coffee: warm and cozy, with a stealthy knockout punch.
Who do you think is the cutest celeb chef?
You are watching way too much TV. Tomorrow, it’s after-school potato peeling.
Who is your perfect sous chef? Moi?
Yes, it’s vous.
I should hope.
Except when you pitch fits about telling you things. Like – how to do them right.
Whatever.
This sort of thing is just the sort of thing that makes me excited for my daughter to be a teenager. Very sweet. And entertaining.
Where did you get her Marilyn? Although she does sound just a tad like her mother… don’t tell her I said so.
Oh Josie tried to stir the pot, so to say, with a few of these questions. They were all handled well, looks like you will be invited to more gatherings after all.
I loved watching Julia as a child then find my grandmothers bracelets and play
Wonder Woman, complete with clothes pin attached towel for a cape.
BRAVO! I love the witty banter. I’m with you on the word hate. We really “dislike” that word in our household. However, when Mr. Crankypants gets out of his cage, it is sometimes heard.
I spy rugelach.
Keep simmering!
Josie: You’ve gotta get all Barbara Walters on her. Don’t let her dodge the questions. Demand answers. Get down to the soup at hand!
Me? Troublemaker? Whatever do you mean?
-Jean
PS. Loved this!!
Investigative journalism at its best! We should have had Josie interview Sarah Palin.
You two are so cute! Great post.
Loved it! I’m still laughing.
Nice job, Josie, but you’ve got to press your mom for some straight answers. She dodge too many of your questions!
oh, I do think we need an answer to question #13……do tell!
Very cute.
Good job Josie!
Great interview, Josie. My least favorite TV celebrity chef (?) is Rachel Ray. I can’t stand most of her made-up words, and I’ve been calling thick soup/stew “stoop” for 30+ years. My sister loves her.
PS – But I agree that you should not name your least favorite on your blog.
Barbara Walters move over! Nice to see Joni Mitchell got a mention.
You and Greg in Paris and poor Josie in Fulton, Missouri? Very troubling idea. I love the photo– Josie has her mom’s beauty and sparkly humor. Great post, ladies. xo
Josie, don’t worry! If your mom decides to send you to military school, call me. We’ll work something out!
Someday, when I allow my girls to come home from military school, I hope to have this relationship with them…. *sniff sniff* Beautiful, man!
Thanks for stopping the hate-centric discussion in its tracks.
Folks think “hate” is the opposite of “love.” Antipathy is the opposite of love. Hate is a virulent emotion of equal strength to love (potentially) but going in a different direction.
Have to say… have tried to watch some of these cooking shows, and I don’t get it. Seen “Chopped”? What’s the deal with voting folks off of virtual islands? It’s all about humiliating a loser. I don’t get it. Every one of those chopped circles could cook circles around me, so why should I watch three critics tear them to shreds?
Cheers and happy trails!
For celebrity chefs, I think the Swedish Chef from the Muppets is quite under-rated. The guy was cutting edge and did some amazing things with a rubber chicken.
Loved this post! Very witty and sparkling. However….you just HAVE to tell us who’s the cutest celeb chef! It’s not a bad thing, not a “hate” thing–just spill! Military school for Josie while you’re in Paris?! Perish the thought! But if you do it, Wentworth Military Academy’s just three blocks away from The Kelly House.
Oh, and that “other” school, MMA, is in Mexico, Mo.–close to Fulton but not in it. 
I knew it! A smart girl like you has to HATE gefilte fish. It takes a big word like “hate” to accommodate my feeling about that slimy inedible stuff we must eat at Passover. REally, it ought to be eaten at Yom Kippur. Isn’t THAT when we’re supposed to be doing penance?