Shocking News: Cook Dies Eating Hot Sauce

Good Morning Bloggers - For those who don't know me, I love hot and spicy foods. I'm a New Orleanian at the core who loves his Tabasco sauce. That's why I need to post this story from the London Times that describes a young cook who died - yes, died - after eating red hot chili sauce. I was shocked to say the least. Needless to say I won't be taking any more dares to see how hot I can go. I also recommend the same for my fellow heat seekers.

An aspiring chef died after eating a super-hot chili sauce as part of an endurance competition with a friend. Andrew Lee, 33, challenged his girlfriend’s brother to a contest to see who could eat the spiciest sauce that he could create. The fork-lift truck driver, who wanted to cook for a living, prepared a tomato sauce made with red chillies grown on his father’s allotment. After eating it, however, he suffered intense discomfort and itching. The following morning he was found dead, possibly after suffering a heart attack.

Toxicology tests are being conducted to try to establish if he suffered a reaction to the food. An inquest was told that Mr Lee, from Edlington, West Yorkshire, was in perfect health and had just passed a medical examination at work. He was a keen cook and would often prepare meals for his parents. It is believed that Mr Lee had never prepared a dish as hot as the one he made the night before his death.

(Read the whole story at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article4842531.ece)

Food for thought, to say the least.

Monday's Shocking News #1 - Michael

A Personal Eulogy: A Good Man, Paul Newman

Hello Bloggers - I just wanted to post a brief eulogy praising Paul Newman. I admired his acting, I admired his charitable work, and I admired the man. He was a great example of a decent human being.

I caught a glimpse of him during one of his visits to New Orleans where I grew up. He was dining quietly with a group of people in a restaurant in the French Quarter. He struck me as a very normal, happy guy. They supposedly visited my home city many times, enjoying the history and the art.

He filmed many movies in and about the South, and seemed to capture the rawness of it - the part I liked a lot. He always reminded me a little of Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire, except he was Newman. Many liked him as Butch Cassidy with Redford, but I will always appreciate him in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I also admit to being addicted to his wonderful Marinara sauce and his salsas - awesome and charitable. Wow, what a great guy.

I once walked into a bar in Munich in the eighties where they were playing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The bar patrons were all saying the lines, some Taylor's and some Newman's. I found myself playing Newman with them and watching the whole movie. The odd part occurred when I tried to talk to them about the movie, and I soon found out that none of them spoke English. It was surreal to say the least.

He made me appreciate New Orleans and the South more growing up and I will always consider him one of my role models. I'll even go so far as to say that Paul Newman reminded me of my dad in some ways. He died when I was eight (he was struck by a car being chased by police 39 years ago today), and in my memory, they were similar. Mr. Newman, thank you for showing me and many others a great example of how to live a great life. We will miss you. My condolences to your wonderful wife and family. I hope you find peace and happiness - again - wherever God leads you.

A Personal Eulogy - Michael