Lines and more lines at Le Fooding
What's the going rate for a handjob these days? What? That's no way to open a post for a food blog? Yea whatever. But before we get to all of this, in the interest of full-disclosure, I will say that I tried to get a press pass for this event called Le Fooding but was denied. I was however, able to score a ticket on the black market. So while all the other coverage out there might have glitzy pictures that's actually not-blurry, I can only offer some blurry pictures and talk about whether an event like this is worth $50 or $80, depending on your ticket. And whether you're betting off going to a street hooker or a sex shop to buy a toy. Basically you had the option to buy a VIP ticket for $80 and go an hour early before the throng of people mobbed the scene, or pay $50 and just go with the mob. I just figure that the really honest writeup should tell you folks what you should do with your money, and whether something like this is worth it for you in the future.
For those who are really curious and for some reason wanna drop $50 or even $80 for something like this. You probably am a foodie whether you like the sound of that word. You probably get off on the thought of eating stuff to which you normally don't have access. Although I think if you're ready to drop $80 for a food event, you're not far off from flying to S.F. and eating at these establishments in person. The other thing you get for your $50 is a couple of drink tickets. You get one champagne, one wine, and one vodka drink. It's an okay amount especially since the event really is only good for two hours because after that they run out of food. Don't expect to get sloshed though. The pours are quite Tea Party-ish.
For those of you who hate lines, like me... an event like this just makes you wonder why it's worth it to stand in line for forty minutes for one slice of pizza or a mini burger. It's really really odd. If you spend $50 or $80 for dinner, you can get some magnificent meals in this town. Maybe the drinks add some value but at the end of the day, how do you value your time? If you sat down at a restaurant... you're sitting down. Generally at a restaurant, after forty minutes you're well into your meal and have enough food to be full. But here, after the initial wait for your first tasting, you gotta go wait more! Which is why I was really happy to see Nate Appleman's stand. His Pulino's crew served up some crostini with beef. Grub Street thought it was flavorless. But you know what they say, hunger is the best sauce and waiting in line breeds hunger.
Look, maybe if you're reading this blog, you prefer $50 or $80 dollar food events instead of a handjob or a battery-powered self-satisfaction device. Le Fooding proved to be like such a self-satisfaction device, just without the batteries. Sure it looked good on paper, you get to try all these things, all these newfound pleasures. The intervals between the short periods of joy just leaves ya unsatisfied. So I'm not sure what could be more satisfying, a food event that's $50 or a handjob from a crackwhore. It's a tossup.
I think if you're at any food event with good company, you'll enjoy the experience. However, experiences come at a cost in real life and I just wanted to put things in a perspective and normal folks can understand if they're trying to decided what to do with their hard-earned dollars. So if you got it and you can spend it, more power to you. But if you've always been curious about food events and whether they're worth it... maybe it's dependent on whether you like lines.
(I invite you to follow me on Twitter so you can get more of my non-sense in another medium.)
I am glad that you feel the same way as I do. When a food event comes about, I always have to figure whether price and time are worth the effort. Usually, it's not. I find this especially true with food truck events. I'd rather spend the money going to the truck on an regular day and waiting on a shorter line.
hungry
September 29, 2010 1:06 pm
@hungry,
I feel that way about food trucks too. And actually about long lines for free food. If someone's doing some promo and the line is short, I'll line up for some free grub. But I've seen insane lines for Chipotle... that's just crazy
Danny
September 30, 2010 1:30 pm
@Jonathan,
You're right, it's always about how long the line is and what is at the end of the line. And if a crackwhore is at the end of the line, then it's not worth it. haha.
@Anonymous,
Thank you google translate. I think the one thing I forgot to mention was that the proceeds of the event go towards a very good cause. For that, the event organizers should be applauded.
@Nicholas,
haha, it wasn't a bad ending. I just think for the money and the lines... people should know what they're getting into.
@Tina,
It's probably a good idea to buy VIP tickets if people want to have a more pleasant experience at le fooding. I think for some folks, it's useful to know that beforehand and I hope after this year people can decide better whether going is a value and which ticket to get.
Danny
September 28, 2010 4:37 pm
lécher les couilles?
thank you google translate for the audio button. I can hear this phrase in French, then in English, over and over again.
Jonathan
September 27, 2010 5:44 pm
So no happy ending for Danny? After paying $50? Sounds like you got jipped ;)
Nicholas
September 27, 2010 8:25 pm
I remembered reading something at Village Voice a very similar complaint as you do, Danny.
Let's disclose this once and for all, I am Le Fooding's "official photographer" this year so I do have the privilege to cut everyone in line since all the restaurants and mixologists know I work for LF.
In general, Friday was a bigger shitshow. I was stressing out since the stupid list didn't work out since I did buy a VIP ticket before I knew I was hired, passed it to a friend and emailed the person who was in charge of the list. (I don't want to go beyond that for this particular episode.) As for the food, I didn't get a chance to eat or do much except kept myself barely satiated with three dishes.
As for Saturday, it was better, IMO. Except for the sandy room area that my heeled shoes and feet are still not forgiving me as I type this.
If you want to go back on the first year (last year) that I went and paid for a non-VIP ticket, the scenario has not changed that much from this year. The lines still circle within each other when I wanted food. I remembered waiting on line halfway down the block, if not more, waiting for 40 minutes or so to get in.
From what I learned from attending to Le Fooding for the past two years. Buy the darn VIP ticket and show up early if you're not patient or show up starving.
Tina
September 27, 2010 11:50 pm
hmmmm. I don't like lines. But I'm also not sure if I like handjobs from crackwhores either. I suppose it depends on how long the line is and what's at the end of the line. AND where is this crackwhore, how long she's been a crackwhore, how often does she wash her hands and how angry her pimp is. I know one thing for certain, I would not wait in line for a handjob from a crackwhore.
Jonathan
September 27, 2010 4:31 pm
I'm gonna write the com in French. I feel more comfortable kicking ass in French. (Hello Google Translate ;)
Une partie de la vente des billets est reversée à Action contre la Faim.
Lorsque que tu achètes les services d'une prostituée, le fais-tu pour aider une ONG qui lutte contre la faim dans les pays en voie de développement ? Si tu réponds oui à la question, tu peux arréter de lire ce commentaire dès maintenant. Si tu réponds non, tu peux poursuivre ta lecture.
Tout d'abord, le nombre de verres d'alcool n'est pas de 3 mais de 4. Une flute de Champagne, un verre de vin, deux vodka cocktails.
Ce qui fait une note moyenne d'environ $60 et cela rien que pour les boissons.
A partir de là, l'opération est rentable. Sachant que le systême de buffet offre la possibilté de retourner autant de fois que l'on veut, il est facile de faire la queue pour plusieurs assiettes. Rien n'interdit une personne de prendre plusieurs assiettes à la fois. J'ai moi-même testé la methode avec le stand tenu par Nate Appleman.
Tous les food events sont construits sur le même principe. On fait la queue, on recupère une assiette, on mange, on boit un verre, on retourne faire la queue, on mange... et ce jusqu'à épuisement des stocks ou de son estomac.
Si tu n'aimes pas faire la queue, il faut vraiment que tu penses à prendre de meilleures décisions dans l'organisation de tes weekends parce qu'un tel évènement requiert de la patience.
Une qualité que tu ne possèdes visiblement pas.
Enfin, Le Fooding n'est qu'à sa seconde édition et nul doute que dans le futur la queue sera la même, peut-être plus longue, victime de son succès et de bloggers comme toi qui promeuvent l'évènement comme étant à la hauteur d'un "hand job" pratiqué par une professionnelle. J'en connais certains qui seraient prêts à payer deux fois le prix juste pour se faire lécher les couilles.
Bonne fin de journée :)
Anonymous
September 27, 2010 5:00 pm