I stood in line.

I thought the entire time about what I wanted to say to him or ask him.

I got up there, and I was completely and totally star struck. I was standing next to Marcus Samuelsson.

I’m pretty sure I mumbled something about being a huge fan.

I handed him the two books I was going to get signed.

He looked at the sticky note on the first one – the stick note that one of his assistants came around and stuck on people’s books with their names so things would get spelled right.

“What’s a PLFF reader?”

I laughed, explained that it was my blog – Peace, Love and French Fries – and I was going to give away a copy of his book on my blog.

He laughed. “why french fries?”

“Because there is no greater thing than a perfect plate of french fries.  Well, to me at least.”

He laughed again. “No truer words have been spoken my dear.  I’m Marcus.” (like I didn’t know who he was!)

I introduced myself.  Then swooned, because Marcus Samuelsson likes french fries as much as I do (or pretended to, at least).

Since I was at the back of the line, I got a few extra minutes to talk to him while he signed a bunch of other books store employees.

I finally got my bearings, came back down to earth, and remember to ask him about the competitions he’s done – which was the hardest?

His answer was about what I expected – that Top Chef Masters and Next Iron Chef were like marathons – exhausting, never-ending, whoever can hold out the longest.  nonstop for three weeks.  Chopped was like the 100 meter dash, and “you had to be Usain Bolt to make it out alive.”  But what I really wanted to know – which was your favorite?

He grinned as wide as he could and said “oh, Chopped.  Definitely Chopped.”

And then I started swooning again.

He was everything I wanted him to be – kind, down-to-earth, and laid back.  It wouldn’t have mattered if 200 people or 20 people showed up to the book signing, he would have eagerly signed everyone’s books and humored their star-struck silly questions.  I’m totally envious of those who got to go to his demo/tasting up in Boulder.

But I had skipped my lunch to go to the signing, there was no way I could get out of work early enough to make it up to Boulder.

And now that I’ve finished the 3 books I had on request from the library (and couldn’t renew!), I’m finally digging into Yes, Chef.  And once again, it’s everything I hoped it would be.  Every page makes me like Marcus Samuelsson more and more.

 

And here’s your chance to have your own (SIGNED!) copy of Yes, Chef – a memoir by Marcus Samuelsson.

Each person can have up to 2 chances to win:
1. Leave a comment with the question that YOU would ask Marcus Samuelsson (if you weren’t too star-struck).
2. Go like PLFF on Facebook and leave a 2nd comment letting me know you did.

All entries must be received by 11pm MST on Friday, August 10th.  I will use a random number generator to decide the winner.  Winner to be announced Monday, August 13th.  Good luck!