Interesting in 2009: Daniel B
One of the best things about working on AOA is that we've get the chance to meet a lot of interesting people. We'll be highlighting a handful of them between now and the start of 2010.
We always thought of ourselves as being particular -- you know, detail people.
Then we met Daniel B.
We (half) joked back in May that Daniel didn't just want to start his FussylittleBlog -- he had to do it. He just couldn't keep all those opinions about food bottled up inside him any longer.
Thankfully -- both for him and for us -- he found an outlet. Throughout the past year we've enjoyed reading about Daniel's meticulous (almost obsessive) approach to food. He seems to revel in specificity: the batch number for a spirit; the best location for a donut; the exact way to order a cappuccino.
It made us smile to see Daniel's fussiness in action as a judge for this year's Tournament of Pizza. He was a great addition to an already-strong panel of judges. And here's something we learned about him during all that pizza tasting: Daniel's a nice guy. A lot of fun, too.
We recently emailed him a few questions and he bounced back answers:
Do you feel better now that you have an outlet for all your fussiness?
If only it were that easy. I do feel good about how the blog is going. But what I really want to do is change people's minds about food. Albany restaurants should be both better and less expensive than they are today. And even with the blog, I still have additional fussiness on non-food-related topics that needs to find an outlet.
Do you ever worry that maybe you go a little overboard in being so, you know... discerning.
Luckily I have a lovely, patient and supportive wife who gets very uncomfortable if I get too persnickety. She is also very good about knowing where to put commas in long run-on sentences. Before my posts go up, she makes sure all the grammar and usage are correct, and reels me in if my rants go too far over the line. Otherwise I think a lot more people would have nastier things to say about me. And she reminds me that jerks aren't terribly effective at changing people's minds.
What's up for 2010?
There is a lot about the Capital Region that I have found and love. I recognize that Albany is on an upward culinary trajectory, and I'm glad to be here for it. So I'm looking forward to more good things. With luck I'll finally make it out to some local farms in the spring. I also plan to keep beating the drum about food quality, both in restaurants and at the market. My expectation is that humanely raised meat and poultry will play a bigger role next year, as well as an increased awareness of food additives. And hopefully along the way I can change some perceptions of what good food should be.
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
Interesting in 2009? More like Pedantic in 2009. Daniel B alternately bored and irritated me this year. But if it's any consolation, his wife is right re: jerks.
... said R on Dec 29, 2009 at 11:57 AM | link
It's hard to believe there was a time without the FussyLittleBlog, but indeed there was. It's been a pleasure to have known Daniel B. The blog is just the icing on the cake (and yes, he really is a nice guy!).
... said Albany Jane on Dec 29, 2009 at 1:46 PM | link
The funny thing about a word like "pedantic" is you can't say it without sounding, well...
... said Jackers on Dec 30, 2009 at 1:02 AM | link
@jackers: In a world where people can't define "ironic" or even understand the concept, I'm not surprised you feel that way. Care to try again?
... said R on Dec 30, 2009 at 11:02 AM | link
I have to say that when I first discovered Daniel B.'s blog, I'd have been inclined to agree with fellow poster R. Who did this guy think he was? Why didn't he like anything? Is fussy really the right descriptor?
And yet, I kept reading, because Daniel B. is a good, articulate writer and I wanted to see where he was going with his "fussiness". Over time I really grew to enjoy Daniel's Fussy Little Blog and look forward to his reviews on Yelp. (Though I haven't commented on his blog yet, so, um, Hi Daniel B.!) By reading more of his thoughts on food, spirits, etc., the initial boredom and irritation I may have felt wore off and I was charmed by his passion about these topics and his certainty about what he likes and dislikes.
... said beck on Dec 30, 2009 at 2:40 PM | link
I nominate R for Insecure in 2009.
It was great to see DB make the leap from King of Yelp to Emperor of the Albany Blogosphere this year. The diligence he brings to eating (and thinking about eating) is also evident in how he packs every entry with so much information and so many thoughts. (Not every one my cup of tea, but the guy's just so goddamn consistent.)
... said Sarah M. on Dec 30, 2009 at 8:14 PM | link
I was also Man-hating in 2009, Anti-Semitic in 2009 and Discriminating Against the Balding in 2009. As long as we're ascribing fictional motives. God forbid I should think someone's an ass. I mean, people do that about me and I don't wonder if they have daddy issues.
One list I won't be on: Sycophantic in 2010. Happy New Year everyone!
... said R on Dec 31, 2009 at 10:55 AM | link
OK. Everyone needs to take a deep breath, drink some egg nog and relax.
... said Greg on Dec 31, 2009 at 10:58 AM | link
Interested indeed when I saw Daniel B was to be interviewed...although I have visited his blog occasionally, I am more familiar with him via his constant fussing with ALL of us, especially Steve, over @ Tablehopping. He gave my eyeballs workouts with all the sky-high eye-rolling I did...but then, for many of us, food is a passion and leads to , uh, in his case strong opinion statements and heated discussions. Nice to read the interview and see the more laidback (?) side of Daniel B.
... said kimberlychica on Jan 4, 2010 at 12:10 AM | link