I am a Trencherman

The name of this blog, "Trencherman", has been my secret favorite word for several years now. A bit of a word junkie and an addict to cuisine, trencherman, "a person who eats and drinks to excess", or "a dining companion", seemed like a natural fit for a forum in which I could write freely about the art of eating. For this will be not just an outlet for relaying my own adventures in all things food, but can serve as a companion for those wishing to expand their own culinary horizons.

One does not need credentials to be a trencherman but that being said, I have a few. But just because I am qualified to judge foie gras at Daniel or the grilled quail at Vincenti, does not mean that is where I prefer to spend my time. The truth is as much as I love the starchy glare of a white tablecloth, my heart will always lie in the trenches. I love the pomp and circumstance of the newest hottest restaurant, but nothing makes me happier than a steaming bowl of pho on a formica table under flourescent lights in a strip mall in Little Saigon. Heaven.

In the Trencherman Report we will cover restaurants of all hedonistic levels. There might be coverage on the bone marrow at Pizzeria Mozza. We might discuss how the exploding balls of fried ceasar salad soup at Komi in Washington DC were the highlight of a 20 course meal. Or I might send a love letter to my new favorite spot at the Farmer's Market, the pupusa stand.

Eaters tend to also cook so we will cover that end of the dining spectrum as well. I may regale you with the drama of the four hours it took for me to grind the meat, mix, and stuff three pounds of sausage. Or take you day by fermented day through the process of making your own kimchi. Or, I may layout the best way to stir up the best Sazerac cocktail.

This is a sounding board for my food obsession, a table companion to my love of eating. Any good sounding board needs another person to bounce things off of. As such, expect guest blogs from some of my real life trencherman friends such as my brother. Every good eater needs a good companion. Between myself and my friends, you will have a trencherman in your own home whereever this blog finds you.