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mia-cooper · 4 years

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Fanfiction Questions

from here

Fandom Questions

1. What was the first fandom you got involved in?

Involved as in ‘frantically read every book I could get my hands on, daydreamed about being part of that universe and wrote stories/made art inspired by the books, if not actual fanfiction’? Mm, probably The Chronicles of Narnia when I was six or seven. The next great obsession was The Silver Brumby when I went through my horse stage around age 12, and then Sweet Valley High when I was 15. Hahaha.

2. What is your latest fandom?

Marvel! I’m not into comics and I’m definitely not interested in consuming every last bit of canon material or memorising the variations of every universe, but I love (most of) the movies and Agents of SHIELD is pretty cool.

3. What is the best fandom you’ve ever been involved in?

Star Trek Voyager. No contest. I venture to suggest that the older fandoms, the ones that are all about defunct shows, are a hell of a lot more chilled. Maybe because we’ve come to terms with our shitty canon endings and learned that liking the ship you hate doesn’t make someone problematic, unlike some newer fandoms I could name (Yes I’m talking about you, Game of Thrones fans. What the fuck.)

4. Do you regret getting involved in any fandoms?

I’ve dipped a toe into one or two fandoms for shows or books I’ve really enjoyed and backed the fuck out when the vibe gets weird (oh hey, it’s GoT again), but nope. No regrets.

5. Which fandoms have you written fanfiction for?

All the Star Treks except TOS, and a Trek/MCU crossover. I’d like to write more for MCU someday. Plus I’ve written longhand entire notebooks full of teen romance shit that bore an uncanny similarity to SVH, and my first short story was a fantasy fic that featured a girl whose guardian was a wise talking lion who led her into mystical secret worlds, which is kind of familiar.

6. List your OTP from each fandom you’ve been involved in.

Wow. I’m going to define ‘involved in’ as ‘cared enough about to have an OTP’, but I’m guaranteed to forget a ton. In no particular order:

Voyager: Janeway x anyone who can get her off

Discovery: Lorca x Cornwell or Pike x Tyler x Burnham (or any combination of)

DS9: Kira x Jadzia Dax

TNG: Picard x Vash, I guess? I don’t really have any TNG ships

ENT: T’Pol x Trip x Hoshi (or any variation therein)

MCU: Cap x Widow

AoS: Coulson x Skye... no May... no Skye... I don’t know

CAOS: Madam Satan x Zelda

Timeless: Garcy

The Good Place: Eleanor x Tahani

The 100 (shut up): toss up between Clarke x Bellamy and Kane x Abby

Veronica Mars: Veronica x Leo (first run), Veronica x Logan (s4)

Orphan Black: Cosima x Delphine

BSG: Apollo x Starbuck

SG1: Sam x Jack

Arrow: Olicity (so over the show now though)

This Life: Milly x Egg

Yeah you know what... I’m drawing a blank. I can’t think of any other shows where I’ve been invested in The Romance that much.

7. List your NoTPs from each fandom you’ve been in.

I’m too tired to do every fandom, and besides, I can come around to almost any ship if the headcanons (or fics) are convincing enough. I do have a few hard no-gos, but they might be someone else’s OTP so I’ll shut up about them.

8. How did you get involved in your latest fandom?

Reluctantly. The MCU movies are not something I ever thought I’d enjoy beyond a dull evening’s entertainment. I never expected to get attached to the characters. And yet.

9. What are the best things about your current fandom?

Voyager is my forever fandom and the only one where I’ve really interacted with other fans. The best things about it? In general, everyone is just cool, accepting, open and basically awesome. And talented. I love my Party Bus people.

10. Is there a fandom you read fic from but don’t write in?

Sure. The 100, Veronica Mars and Agents of SHIELD are the ones I’d dip into more frequently. I really enjoy crossovers between Trek and BSG or the Stargate variants, too.

Ship Questions for your Current Fandom

11. Who is your current OTP?

Janeway x Chakotay.

12. Who is your current OT3?

Janeway x Chakotay x Paris.

13. Any NoTPs?

A few.

14. Go on, who are your BroTPs?

Janeway & Tuvok! Also Torres & Chakotay, and I’d have killed for more Janeway & Torres in canon. (If they kissed sometimes that would be okay too)

15. Is there an obscure ship which you love?

Yeah. Paris x Seven. There are like two fics in existence, and yet ... the potential! (Sorry, B’Elanna)

16. Are there any popular ships in your fandom which you dislike?

Nope.

17. Who was your first OTP and are they still your favourite?

Janeway x Paris. And they’re still way up there, but not quite at the top.

18. What ship have you written the most about?

84% of my fics feature Janeway x Chakotay as either the primary or secondary pairing... holy shit.

19. Is there a ship which you wished you could get behind, but you just don’t feel them?

Paris x Torres. I mean, I feel them. I just don’t generally feel the need to write about them.

20. Any ships which you surprised yourself by liking?

Chakotay x Seven. In another universe, it could’ve been beautiful.

Author Questions

21. What was the first fanfic you ever wrote?

Actual story that was clearly fanfic? A farcical drunken romp told in the 24th century equivalent of email format called PADDemonium (see what I did there?)

22. Is there anything you regret writing?

Lol, a few things that should probably have never seen the light of day for various reasons, some of them leola related. But I’ve only deleted two fics that I can recall.

23. Name a fic you’ve written that you’re especially fond of & explain why you like it.

Relieved. It’s a 30k AU Chakotay moral dilemma backstory that brings in DS9 characters, Section 31 and his longstanding history with AU Janeway. I did so much research for it (way back in the days before memory alpha and chakoteya.net) and I’m really proud of how I wound in canon stuff across series but changed a few key bits and pieces. Only problem is, it’s a sequel to ...

24. What fic do you desperately need to rewrite or edit?

... Pressure, which I can’t even read without cringing. My characterisation of Janeway, even Angry Maquis AU Janeway, is way over the top and there are moments that verge on Mills and Boon and give me first, second and third hand embarrassment. God, I’d love to rewrite it. Actually, that’s a lie. I want someone else to rewrite it so I can read it without covering my eyes and moaning.

25. What’s your most popular fanfic?

Desperate Measures, by about 70,000 light years, lol. Although Fragile Things beats it on bookmarks.

26. How do you come up with your fanfic titles?

You know what? A fair percentage of the time, I think of the title first and come up with a plot second. Aside from that, I prefer shorter, punchier titles that clearly tie into the story (Flight Risk, Speechless), though sometimes it’s song lyrics (Burn Our Horizons, your body like a searchlight) or a literary quote (Required to Bear, All the Devils are Here) or a turn of phrase from the story itself (The Prisons You Inhabit). Hey that was fun. Thanks for letting me pimp the shit out of my stories.

27. What do you hate more: Coming up with titles or writing summaries?

Ugh, it depends on the day. Summaries are harder, I think. I never want to give away too much of the plot, but there has to be enough there for people to know whether they’ll bother clicking. Funny story: I actually ran the stats on this a few months back. Here they are for your edification:

Fics with a one line plot summary = 54%

With two or three line plot summary = 18%

With a short snippet directly from the fic = 16%

With a snippet + a one line explanation = 3%

With a one line plot summary plus a line to date the fic (eg "set in season 3", “episode tag to Worst Case Scenario") or the fic prompt = 7%

And finally, a quote from something other than the fic = 2% (that's only 3 fics).

28. If someone were to draw a piece of fanart for your story, which story would it be and what would the picture be of?

Ooh. I’ll say the final scene in Explosive.

29. Do you have a beta reader? Why/Why not?

I used to regularly ask @jhelenoftrek and @littleobsessions90 to beta for me, and both of them are brilliant at it. Lately I’ve been posting without sending my stuff off for editing. This is partly because I’m impatient to get stuff out there, partly because I don’t have as much time to write/edit, and partly because I’m a little less focused on improving my writing and more on enjoying it for its own sake.

30. What inspires you to write?

Little bits of episode dialogue I haven’t noticed before, other people’s fanfiction, stray conversations, fic prompts, song lyrics, random headcanons, fever dreams, dares ...

31. What’s the nicest thing someone has ever said about your writing?

I’ve been really lucky with comments on my fic. The least helpful comment I’ve ever received was on one of my early 30k fics and all it said was “Did you have to take the name of the lord in vain?” Which is kind of funny. The nicest thing anyone’s ever said? I’m very partial to the feedback that starts “I don’t even like this pairing/genre/trope/show but you made me love it”, and particularly “I’ll read anything you write, I don’t care what it’s about.” But all comments are gold. The little heart button is cool too.

32. Do you listen to music when you write or does music inspire you? If so, which band or genre of music does it for you?

I’m not someone who can tune out music I love, or leave it in the background to inspire me. If it’s on, I’m fully invested in it. I’m that annoying person in the car who flips radio stations every three seconds until I find something I like and then it’s on 11 and I’m singing along to it. I’m also really picky but extremely eclectic, although there are genres I can’t stand (anything with autotune makes me stabby). That said, sometimes I find a song that I can’t stop listening to for weeks and often that perfect combination of music and lyrics will inspire me to write a fic. For example, I just plotted out an entire J/C story because of this song.

33. Do you write oneshots, multi-chapter fics or huuuuuge epics?

All of the above. Although I’m not sure if my longest epic is huuuuuge or just huuuge.

34. What’s the word count on your longest fic?

101,467.

35. Do you write drabbles? If so, what do you normally write them about?

I have two drabble collections. One is all J/C, full of responses to random prompts and I add to it sporadically. The other is episode additions set on Kathryn Janeway’s birthday (May 20) and added to annually.

36. What’s your favourite genre to write?

Angst, definitely. Sometimes it’s smutty angst or fluffy angst or hurt/comfort angst, but often it’s just fucking unrelenting angst. And I’m okay with that.

37. First person or third person - what do you write in and why?

I did the stats on this once, too, haha. Pretty sure I came out fairly even on first and third person with a smattering of second person in there. I’m probably even-ish on present vs past tense, too. I make it a point to mix it up to avoid my writing getting stale or same-y. And sometimes a fic doesn’t really click for me until I try it in a different POV or tense or from a different character’s perspective.

38. Do you use established canon characters or do you create OCs?

I mostly write for canon characters - the fun is in all the different ways you can interpret and imagine them - but I’ve been known to throw in the odd OC, or focus on a character who only got a brief cameo appearance, or write about someone who only appears in beta canon, or who only rates a mention on screen.

39. What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Oh, wow. I’m not sure. I guess the thing I value most about my own writing is my willingness to try different styles, characters, pairings and so on. The thing I strive for most is characterisation that feels true, and I really love it when I get comments on that. Exploring a character in a way that rings true with a reader is the best thing ever.

40. What do you struggle the most with in your writing?

Overly long sentences and adverb abuse, haha. No, truthfully, there comes a point in most of my fics, particularly the longer ones, when I really just want to scrap it because in my heart I know it’s dreadful. Usually that passes once I slog through the ‘I don’t wanna’ stage because I’m a bloody-minded bitch, but sometimes fics do get left in the dust half-written. Honestly, though, they’re the ones that probably should stay there.

Fanfiction Questions

41. List and link to 5 fanfics you are currently reading:

This is hilarious because I was just talking on discord about my problematic ‘to read’ pile. My unread AO3 subscription emails currently number 29 and my phone browser has 71 tabs open. So here are 5 random picks from that list of exactly 100 fics I should be reading:

Sex on the Beach (E, Janeway/Chakotay) by @traccigaryn

The Ruby Ring (T, Janeway/Chakotay, Janeway/Tighe) by @trinfinity2001

Earth is But an Idea (T, Janeway/Chakotay, Carter/O’Neill) by @caladeniablue

Home (E, Janeway/Chakotay) by Cassatt

Wise Up (E, Janeway/Chakotay) by KimJ

42. List and link to 5 fanfiction authors who are amazing:

Only five? Shit. Okay. In no particular order, these are five of the writers I keep coming back to:

quantumsilver (also here)

northernexposure

LittleObsessions

Helen8462

Cheshire

But there are so many others. My chosen fandom is chock full of amazing talent.

43. Is there anyone in your fandom who really inspires you?

All of the authors above for various reasons, but also august because her writing is so spare and delicate and devastating, and runawaymetaphor because she writes the most delicious Janeway/Paris, and @seperis because I read In the Space of Seven Days literally 20 years ago and I still haven’t recovered, and I could be here all night raving on this topic but there are still many questions to get through.

44. What ship do you feel needs more attention?

Janeway x Paris. I’m so happy there’s been a little bit of a resurgence in J/P fics lately. Thanks, @curator-on-ao3, you’re doing the lord’s work.

I’ll also take Janeway x Johnson content any day of the week.

45. What is your all time favourite fanfic?

What the hell? I can’t pick just one! Ugh!

... but okay, here’s the first one that came to mind when I tried to think about this: if you came this way by tree. I’m not sure I’d call it my favourite, but it’s one I revisit often. Ugh, there are so many other fics I’m thinking of now that I really want to list.

46. If someone was to read one of your fanfics, which fic would you recommend to them and why?

Oh, that’s hard. I should probably pick an angsty smutty J/C because that’s a fair proportion of what I write and it’s good to let a new reader know what they can expect. But honestly, I think the best fic I’ve written is The Uncharted Sea. (It’s safe for work. Maybe not for makeup.)

47. Archive Of Our Own, Fanfiction.net or Tumblr - where do you prefer to post and why?

The Archive, of course. Where else can I find ad-free hosting on a stunningly user-friendly interface with absolutely no moralising content restrictions and the world’s best tagging system? That Hugo award is well deserved.

Tumblr is good for headcanons and meta and gifsets and a few other formats that I’m less likely to post on AO3 because I’d feel like I was pissing off people who subscribe to me by giving them some random garbage.

I also have my own website, but I’m not really sure why. Sometimes I post fic there that doesn’t make it to tumblr or AO3.

48. Do you leave reviews when you read fanfiction? Why/Why not?

I try to. Honestly I do. I love it when I get reviews, so I figure paying it forward is the least I can do. I’m less scrupulous about leaving comments when I’m busy or reading on my phone.

49. Do you care if people comment/reblog your writing? Why/why not?

I mean, I love it when people reblog, but I certainly don’t expect it. @arcadia1995 is amazing for reblogging stuff *blows kisses*

Nobody owes fanfic writers shit, but I feel like there’s a tacit agreement that if you like what you just read for free and you’re on a platform that makes it easy to do so, you leave a review or at least a kudos, because I’m not gonna lie, posting a fic you’ve worked super hard on and seeing it get very few kudos or comments is a bit deflating. I’m sure a lot of us have been there.

50. How did you get into reading and/or writing fanfiction?

During Voyager’s original run I was trawling the internet for Endgame spoilers (I don’t know why; I usually love surprises) and I guess I googled (or whatever the 2001 equivalent of googling was) something like “how does voyager get home” and somehow I stumbled across Revisionist History. At first I had no idea what I was reading - was this a lost story pitch that somehow got leaked? A professional novella commissioned by the showrunners?

Then I started following links and discovered yahoo groups and webrings and Trekiverse and fanfiction.net and all sorts of incredible things I’d never guessed at, including the now defunct ‘archipelago of angst’, a collection of Voyager writers who focused mainly on a darker Janeway than most of the other fic writers I was encountering, and I was hooked. So I wrote a few of my own pieces, and then I lost interest for 15 years. I’m still not sure how I got dragged back in.

51. Rant or Gush about one thing you love or hate in the world of fanfiction! Go!

Honestly, in what other way can I indulge my obsessions, hone my skills and talk about it endlessly with like-minded people? Where else can I instantly find a plethora of fiction about the exact topic I feel like reading about on my mobile device and for free? Fanfiction is fucking amazing and I’m so glad it exists in my life.

#miamemes #fanfiction #fanfic asks

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megatraven · 7 years

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Apple Pies and Butterflies Ch. 2

Wowow a second chapter within 24 hours!! Anyways Nino and Mari love each other sm. Also this chapter came out more serious than intended woops

Summary: Marinette wakes up to an empty bed after having a nightmare and looks for Nino to calm her down.

AO3 | Ch 1, 2, 3

It wasn't every night Marinette woke up by herself, the impression of Nino no longer warm. No, it wasn't every night, but when it did happen, her heart would seize in her chest and her mind would start running through the worst scenarios it could conjure up. After all, both had been heroes once upon a time, and they had accrued many enemies over the years, super and non. All of her former teammates always assured her that nobody had ever found out their identities, but they never kept her from worrying if they had. When she first received her miraculous, there were times she had hidden behind park benches or trees- any number of people could have watched her transformation and kept their knowledge of it secret.

So, it went without saying that Marinette panicked anytime she woke up and Nino wasn't near.

From experience, she knew she should look around their apartment first, making sure he was inside- and he always was, i the past. Sliding out from the covers, her feet fell on the cold ground. She had slippers to wear, but in cases like this, she always went barefoot, as it allowed her to move with quiet ease.

Grabbing the flashlight she kept on her nightstand, she tiptoed from the room and into the hall. The bathroom door was open and the lights were off, which meant he wouldn't be in there. There was no light illuminating the kitchen or living room, so she quickly passed them by. After that, she checked the spare room, and felt just a tiny bit of relief that he wasn't in there, considering she was still making a gift for him. That left the room the music room, and she felt the tension slide from her at the sound of soft music creeping out from the door.

Knocking on the door so she wouldn't scare him walking in, she twisted the handle and opened. Nino looked up at her entrance, and shot her an apologetic smile.

"Sorry I wasn't there, Mar," he told her in a tired tone. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd try to finish a song, but it's... not going too well." He gestured to the crumpled pieces of paper scattered around the room. "You okay?"

"Mhm." She moved over to him, and leaned into his back, arms reaching around him to embrace his warmth and softness. Her head found a place to rest on his left shoulder.

"Was it a nightmare?"

She considered the question, and thought back to when she'd woken up. Her heart had been racing, and she'd immediately reached out to latch onto Nino before she found he wasn't in bed. "Yeah. It's silly, though," she sighed, breathing in his familiar scent and feeling herself calm.

He kissed the arm closest to his lips and gently caressed the hand she rested on his chest. Rubbing soothing circles on her palm with his thumb, he said, "It's never silly, Marinette. What you feel and how these things affect you are serious."

"But-"

"Mari," he interrupted sternly, turning his head so that he could be somewhat facing her. "We've been over this a thousand times. Making light of these things doesn't work for you like they do Adrien. You're an overthinker, and when you brush your nightmares and trauma off as silly, they just start eating you up inside."

"I know." Her head shifted so that she wasn't looking at him, and she could feel tears building up and threatening to fall. Her lip began to quiver, and her hold on Nino tightened. "I- I don't want you to worry, though. And I can't even remember them half the time so I guess it's j-just easier to ignore them sometimes."

At the shake of her voice, Nino turned himself around fully, standing up and pushing the chair away. He held her in his arms and rested his forehead against hers. "I'm always gonna worry, whether you tell me or not. I'm a worrier, it's what I do," he whispered, trying to lighten the mood. "You can always talk to me, about anything. And if that doesn't help, we can go back to counselling. But whatever happens-" he leaned back and cupped her face with his hands- "I'm always going to be by your side."

Marinette's eyes grew watery, and soon enough she was crying into Nino's shirt, one that he'd kept over at her parents' bakery when she still lived there. She only knew because the faint smell of sugar intermingled with a smell that was distinctly Nino's. Both of them combined made her feel better, even as she cried.

The fabric of his shirt was grasped tightly in each of her hands, as if he would leave her at any moment, despite the fact that she knew he never would. One of Nino's hands patted her gently on the back while his other combed through her hair as he whispered sweet nothings.

When sniffles were all that was left of her crying, the two were falling asleep on their feet. They rocked back and forth, eyelids growing heavy. Nino yawned into Marinette's hair, and she nuzzled into his neck. Her fingers had relaxed and now linked together to help keep her arms around him.

"Mar."

"Hmm?"

"We should go t' bed," he murmured.

"Mm... 'kay. Don' let go," she said, asking for a promise that he wouldn't.

He nodded against her, and they started to shuffle in a painfully slow manner to their room. They bumped against walls, their couch, and the doorways, just barely awake enough to keep from falling. Even with their difficulties, they made it back to bed and plopped down next to each other, not even bothering to cover themselves up.

Marinette nestled into Nino, and he encompassed her in a protective fashion. The comfort of his embrace was the last thing she thought of before she drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up in the morning, it was to Nino's smiling face as he held out a mug of hot chocolate, made just the way he knew she loved it. Her favorite blanket that was usually stored away in their closet was draped over her, and she could smell something savory being made out in the kitchen.

Taking the mug from him, she asked, "What's all this for?"

"I wanted to do something a little nicer than usual for you after last night." He smiled softly at her, and she was mesmerized by the kindness in his amber eyes. "I meant what I said about being able to tell me things, you know."

"I know. Thank you."

"Of course," he said, and leaned forward to kiss both of her cheeks. "Now, drink your hot chocolate, while I go finish making us breakfast."

"Do you need any help?" she questioned before taking a sip, sighing at the beverage's taste.

"Nah, it's okay! I should be done in about seven minutes. I'll bring it in here so we can cuddle and enjoy some breakfast in bed."

That made Marinette grin. "Breakfast in bed? You really wanna do that after last time?"

"Hey, that wasn't my fault! You know I'm super ticklish!"

"Yeah, but you started it! We ended up with omelette all over the sheets," she giggled.

"Okay, fair. But at least I didn't eat the sheet omelette."

Marinette grabbed a pillow from behind her and whacked at him a few times, until he dissolved into bright, bubbly laughter.

"Okay, okay, okay!" he gasped out, "You win, you win!" The pillow assault stopped, and as he caught his breath, he adjusted his glasses that had been knocked askew. Holding out his hand, he said, "So, how about a no-tickling truce? I'll go finish cooking and we'll eat without seeing hide nor hair of evil tickle fingers."

Seeming to consider the deal, Marinette tapped her finger on her chin. "Hmm... bring a bowl of strawberries with you, and you've got yourself a deal." She held out her own hand.

"It's a deal." He grabbed her hand and shook it. Before he could pull away, Marinette placed a kiss on his knuckles. His face heated up just a bit, and he knew he didn't have to say anything for her to understand that he loved her back. Their hands parted from one another, and Nino left to attend to the meal he was preparing.

Settling back against her pillows, Marinette took another sip of the hot chocolate, which thankfully hadn't spilled during her barrage of pillow attacks. The warmth that radiated from the drink reminded her of Nino's, and while he wasn't in the room with her just then, she knew what he'd said was true: he was always by her side.

She took a longer sip, content.

#miraculous ladybug #ml #marinette dupain-chenge #nino lahiffe #ninette #nino #mari #marinette #my fic #hurt and comfort

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jmuo-blog · 6 years

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New Post has been published on https://jmuo.com/special-sauce-rodney-scott-on-bourdain-and-lettin/

Special Sauce: Rodney Scott on Bourdain and Lettin...

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[Rodney Scott photograph: Andrew Cebulka. Burger photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

In part two of my terrific conversation with James Beard Award-winning pit master Rodney Scott, we discuss the fact that barbecue, like jazz, was developed by African-Americans, and yet most well-known pitmasters are white.

“I respect any human being, man or woman, that takes the approach to be a pitmaster…Black, white, tall, short, it don’t matter,” Rodney said. “I see dedicated people who stuck to what they believed in. Kept trying at it, kept going, and they finally got something recognized, the same way I got recognized…So my whole thing is whether that person is white or black, it doesn’t matter. If you’re working hard and producing a product that you’re proud of that’s good, that’s gonna speak for itself regardless of who you are.”

As we were talking, Rodney confessed to a few guilty pleasures, one of which might surprise some people. “McDonald’s. I go to the window, pretend I’m on the phone, and I cover up my brand. Keep my head turned away from the window. And I order happy meals so that they think I’m picking it up for my nine year old.”

Rodney was featured on the late Anthony Bourdain’s show No Reservations, and Rodney talked a bit about some of the advice Bourdain gave him. “He basically said, ‘Rodney, don’t eat the shit sandwich…Don’t ever let the producers and the fame of people tell you how to do your thing.’ He says, ‘You do what you want. If they start telling you what to do, don’t accept it. Stand behind what you believe in.'”

To find out what else Rodney believes in, check out this week’s Special Sauce.

Special Sauce is available on iTunes, Google Play Music, Soundcloud, Player FM, and Stitcher. You can also find the archive of all our episodes here on Serious Eats and on this RSS feed.

You Could Be on Special Sauce

Want to chat with me and our unbelievably talented recipe developers? We’re accepting questions for Special Sauce call-in episodes now. Do you have a recurring argument with your spouse over the best way to maintain a cast iron skillet? Have you been working on your mac and cheese recipe for the past five years, but can’t quite get it right? Does your brother-in-law make the worst lasagna, and you want to figure out how to give him tips? We want to get to know you and solve all your food-related problems. Send us the whole story at [email protected].

Transcript

Ed Levine: Welcome to Special Sauce, Serious Eats’ podcast about food and life. Every week on Special Sauce we talk to some of the leading lights of American culture, food folks, and non-food folks alike.

Rodney Scott: One thing I do believe in is don’t ever let your race determine your destiny. You know, if you want something, you go for it.

EL: Pitmaster supreme Rodney Scott, a James Beard award winner for Best Chef Southeast, is still in the house.

RS: Yes, yes.

EL: This whole issue of BBQ and race is a really interesting one, because BBQ is in many ways, like many other American art forms like jazz, it is … Most people would say it’s an African American invention.

RS: Yeah.

EL: And yet, you know, the standard narrative arc of BBQ, like jazz, was that African Americans developed the craft. Or the art, whatever you think it is, and then white people popularized it. And now, even when you go to a Big Apple BBQ block party, most of the pit masters are white. How do you sort of make sense of all of that?

RS: Well here’s my thing. I respect any human being, man or woman, that takes the approach to be a pitmaster. Who takes the time to donate towards cooking. Black, white, tall, short, it don’t matter. I really appreciate that and I don’t see that as discrimination, if you will, versus the white pitmaster or the black. I see dedicated people who stuck to what they believed in. Kept trying at it, kept going, and they finally got something recognized, the same way I got recognized.

EL: Right.

RS: I never gave up. I never let people’s opinions stop from what I wanted to try or where I wanted to go.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: I never gave up and I’m still not giving up. People ask me, “You’re expanding, why?” And I said “Why not?”

EL: Right.

RS: You know, so my whole thing is whether that person is white or black, it doesn’t matter. If your working hard and producing a product that your proud of that’s good, that’s gonna speak for itself regardless to who you are.

EL: So you’re a content of your character kind of dud?

RS: Exactly.

EL: Although you might be surrounded by white pitmasters, most people have come to it from the same point of view that you do. You know, which is they’ve put in the time, they’re not wealthy Wall Street traders who have decided-

RS: Exactly.

EL: They’re gonna become BBQ guys. They’re, you know … Mike Mills, I think, sold dental supplies, you know. I mean …

RS: Yeah, he put in that work.

EL: You know, it’s like they’re not coming from a different socio-economic class.

RS: Exactly. You know, one thing I do believe in is don’t ever let your race determine your destiny. You know, if you want something, you go for it. If you don’t want it and you lag back, or you don’t put that approach towards getting it done, your not gonna get good results.

EL: Right.

RS: It’s not gonna happen. So regardless to who you are, where you are, if you’re putting that work in, your gonna get it.

EL: Cause it seems to me that you all share a fondness for storytelling.

RS: Oh, yeah.

EL: In your food. And is that because you’re all staying up all night to mind the pit?

RS: That and whiskey, yeah.

EL: So that also is a way to bring people together, right.

RS: Oh yeah, oh yeah. You bond. You got 12 hours with whoever’s helping you. You bond. You know, according to how you cooking it all, you may have 20 to 24 hours.

EL: Right.

RS: On who you’re bonding with.

EL: Wow.

RS: So you get to know that person very well.

EL: Yeah. But who gets to choose the music?

RS: Oh man, that’s the guy who brought the fire. You know, you brought the fire, you bring the tunes. Personally, I like to put on a list that I just have set. That makes me feel good.

EL: Right.

RS: But all the same time, I don’t wanna violate everybody that’s helping me. I want them to be entertained as well.

EL: Right.

RS: So I will share the music. Sometimes.

EL: Right. And you have very Catholic tastes, right. Because you obviously like hip hop, you like old school R&B.

RS: Yes.

EL: I think one one interview, I saw that you like even old-fashioned Chitlin’ Circuit.

RS: Yes.

EL: Soul.

RS: Yes, yes. Love it.

EL: For people who don’t know, the Chitlin’ Circuit was a circuit of clubs in African American neighborhoods.

RS: Yeah.

EL: That R&B singers and groups played at. And they were almost exclusively catering to the African American population.

RS: Known as juke joints.

EL: Right.

RS: Yeah.

EL: They predated the Chitlin’ Circuit, right. The juke joints were in rural places.

RS: Yes.

EL: They were … To call them buildings would be a stretch, right?

RS: Yeah, that’s stretching it. They were shacks, man.

EL: They were shacks. That people would gather at really late. Usually bring their own whiskey, right.

RS: Yes.

EL: And there would be music.

RS: And people would party their asses off. They would party. And those were some of the best joints I’ve hung out of.

EL: There are still juke joints in Mississippi.

RS: Oh yeah, you gotta find them. They’re there.

EL: Are their juke joints in South Carolina.

RS: There are one or two hidden here and there, yes. Definitely.

EL: Wow.

RS: Definitely.

EL: So you have very strong opinions about sauce, as does everybody who’s involved in BBQ. You say that your sauce has pepper, lemon.

RS: Yes.

EL: A little bit of sweetness.

RS: A little bit of sweetness.

EL: Right. Vinegar.

RS: Vinegar.

EL: No tomato.

RS: No tomato.

EL: And probably no molasses? Or do you sweeten with molasses?

RS: No molasses.

EL: Got it, okay. And that’s it. And as far as you’re concerned, that’s sauce.

RS: For me that’s sauce, yes.

EL: Do you think less of others who think differently?

RS: I sure don’t. To each his own. Stand behind what you believe in. Produce the product, be proud of what you have.

EL: Right.

RS: And different regions, where you’ve grown up makes a difference. Different areas of what you like makes a difference.

EL: Yeah.

RS: So if you like what you like, you do that and go with it.

EL: Yeah, you know what’s interesting is you’re from South Carolina.

RS: Yes.

EL: When I first tasted your BBQ I was like, “Where’s the mustard sauce, Rodney?” And then I was like, oh there must be more than one sauce culture in South Carolina.

RS: There’s technically three, from what I’ve seen.

EL: Really?

RS: Tomato, mustard, and vinegar.

EL: Wow, that’s fascinating. And, you know, that’s the interesting thing. Also, I remember at a Southern Foodways conference, tasting the white sauce on Big Bob Gibson’s chicken.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Which is a mayonnaise based sauce.

RS: Definitely.

EL: It’s almost … It’s like a sauce, basically, that you find on a souvlaki in Manhattan on a street cart.

RS: Yes.

EL: Or a gyro.

RS: Tastes pretty good, though.

EL: Oh, it’s awesome.

RS: Chris Lilly’s good.

EL: Yeah, he’s really good, man.

RS: Chris Lilly’s great.

EL: Chris Lilly is a great, great … He’s a great pitmaster.

RS: Good food is good food.

EL: It’s true. You’ve also talked about love as an ingredient. Not just in your sauce. That’s where you keep the secret ingredient, right.

RS: Yes.

EL: But as being a very important part of what you do and why you do it.

RS: Man, when I say putting love into what you do, it’s taking that special time and attention. Paying that respect to the sauce itself. We’ll use the sauce as an example. You know, if you’re cooking and you’re in a bad mood, you tend to throw things around. But if you’re in a good mood, you carefully place stuff. You take your time and put it there. And I feel like that’s that love. To carefully do the procedures, paying very, very close attention to it, instead of just throwing it together.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: Because if you’re throwing it together, how much did you throw?

EL: Right. And cause real love’s hard work.

RS: Yeah, it is. It is. Love is for real. And to put in that dedication, that time and procedure, carefully, that’s that love.

EL: Right.

RS: But if I just say, “Hey, dump this in that pot, stir it” and you just throw it in there and don’t taste it or check it, that’s no love.

EL: Yeah.

RS: You know, that’s a one night stand. That ain’t good. But I prefer to take my time and pay attention, and have someone else taste. In my restaurant, every morning 30 minutes before we open, everybody in the restaurant has to taste what we’re about to serve.

EL: Yeah.

RS: And for me, that’s that extra love. To double check that we won’t give our consumers something …

EL: Right.

RS: That’s not right.

EL: And you have to make sure that your staff shares the love.

RS: Exactly, exactly.

EL: With each other and with the customer, you know.

RS: Always.

EL: With your customers.

RS: We preach respect all the time in there. And I tell them, we are a family when we’re in here. We’re a family when we’re out there. We need to always respect each other, help each other, and most of all, respect our consumers.

EL: What do you do … Cause every time I’ve ever hung out with you, you always seem to be in a good mood. What do you do, given how arduous a process BBQ is, when you’re not in a good mood and you don’t feel like doing it.

RS: Man what do I do?

EL: Yeah?

RS: I pick up my iPod and I put on Anthony Hamilton, Giving You the Best of Me. I do. And a lot of times, I feel like if you spend too much time stirring, there’s gonna be more frustrating. Okay, you make a mistake, you saw what was wrong, try to get past it. Move forward.

EL: Yeah.

RS: So if it’s a moment that’s not right, you try to move forward.

EL: Yeah.

RS: You know, not dwell on anything too long. So, you hear me say Giving You the Best of Me all the time. That song is pretty much about how the guy is expressing how much he wants to give this girl the best of him.

EL: Right.

RS: But just the whole layout and the tone of his voice in that sound, is calming to me.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: And if I start to get frustrated, I try to either step away from everybody, or I play that song or put it in my head to calm down and move forward.

EL: Yeah.

RS: A smile is much easier to pass along than a frown.

EL: For sure. So, what’s next? Are there gonna be more?

RS: Yes.

EL: Wow.

RS: Yes, yes, we’re going to Birmingham, Alabama next.

EL: Which is the home of Jimenez.

RS: Home of Jimenez. And we’re going there.

EL: That’s awesome.

RS: I’ve done events down there. Well that city showed me the same love and appreciation that Charleston did. And I’ve had friends from my area to perform down there, the band, and they love the city as well.

EL: Wow.

RS: So that pretty much told me that this place is not just my opinion, but is absolutely a beautiful city.

EL: Yeah, and Frank Stitt has helped make that a really great food city. And I bet he loves your BBQ.

RS: Yes.

EL: Frank Stitt is the owner of the Highlands Bar & Grill, and is sort of the first … He’s the founding member of the Birmingham food scene.

RS: Yes.

EL: So all right. Now it’s time for the Special Sauce All You Can Ask Buffet. No pressure on you, man. I’m not saying that you …

RS: Okay.

EL: You know, we don’t have a clock ticking or anything. So, first of all, who’s at your last supper? No family allowed. Could be artists, musicians, painters, politicians. Could be anybody. I’d like three, minimum of three guests.

RS: No family allowed?

EL: Yeah.

RS: Minimum three guests?

EL: Yeah.

RS: My very last supper?

EL: Yeah.

RS: Anthony Bourdain. Another Anthony, Anthony Hamilton, and the final person that I don’t know, President Obama. Not for his political history, but his drive to never … He never gave up.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: He kept going.

EL: Yeah.

RS: He did the impossible.

EL: He sort of did in politics what you do in BBQ.

RS: Exactly, and that was an inspiration to me. And Kyrie Irving.

EL: I love this table. I have to come. I’ll wait the tables.

RS: Kyrie Irving. He was an inspiration. I’ve always been a Sixers fan.

EL: Right.

RS: And when he played ball, his calmness, his coolness.

EL: Yeah.

RS: But still, he performed like a maniac.

EL: And you know, when I tell the staff, and Kyrie, he toured much younger than me about Dr. Jay. For like, what are you talking about.

RS: They don’t know the doctor.

EL: They don’t know the doctor. You know, Michael Jordan, yes.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Obviously, LeBron.

RS: Yeah, but you don’t know the doctor.

EL:I love this table. And what are you eating?

RS: Oh, man. We’re gonna eat some seafood.

EL: Okay.

RS: Some oak shrimp. We’re gonna eat, definitely some beef. And of course, a little pulled pork.

EL: Yeah.

RS: And if there’s dessert.

EL: Yeah.

RS: We’re gonna do some soft serve ice cream.

EL: I love this. Like some frozen custard. Like Shake Shack style.

RS: Yeah, there you go. There you go, exactly. You know –

EL: I love this.

RS: Notice I didn’t say a lot of vegetables there.

EL: No, you did not mention five salads.

RS: But, when you do bring that salad and that vegetable, you make sure that it’s a Caesar salad.

EL: Okay.

RS: Definitely with the cheesy croutons.

EL: Right.

RS: Gotta have it.

EL: The anchovies, the whole thing?

RS: The works.

EL: Right.

RS: Rich flavor.

EL: Right.

RS: And then you wanna bring sweet peas.

EL: Wow. I like that, I like that.

RS: Those sweet peas with a touch too much of sugar.

EL: Right. I like it.

RS: Just to get oh yeah.

EL: And then what are you listening to? I know you’re listening to Anthony Hamilton, but what else are you listening to?

RS: We’re listening to the Gap Band. We’re listening to the Whispers. We’re listening to the O’Jays.

EL: Love Train!

RS: We’ve gotta put a little bit of Marvin Gaye in there.

EL: Yes! Sexual Healing.

RS: Yes.

EL: All right.

RS: Gotta let it flow, gotta have the good tunes in there.

EL: I’m gonna let you program your own last supper man.

RS: Oh man, it’s gonna be off the chain.

EL: That’s awesome. So, do you have guilty pleasures?

RS: I do.

EL: Food wise?

RS: I do have guilty pleasures food wise.

EL: Lay them on me.

RS: McDonald’s. I go to the window, pretend I’m on the phone, and I cover up my brand. Keep my head turned away from the window. And I order happy meals so that they think I’m picking it up for my nine year old.

EL: I just told one of the editors at Serious Eats, Sho Spaeth, that I tried the now made-to-order quarter pounder.

RS: Yeah.

EL: And it actually was pretty good.

RS: Yeah, it was nice and greasy and it-

EL: Yeah.

RS: Went back. It’s a retro burger from McDonald’s.

EL: Right, it’s like … And they really did tell me, “Okay, you’re gonna have to wait a few minutes.” And I was happy.

RS: Yeah. Because you get a hot juicy burger.

EL: Right, yeah.

RS: Next guilty pleasure, pizza.

EL: Well you know, son, it’s very close to my heart having written a whole book on pizza.

RS: Pizza? I go get it all the time. And the last thing that … I know these guys gotta know who I am, because I’m always sneaking in there. Hot dogs.

EL: Hot dogs.

RS: There’s a hot dog joint in Mount Pleasant that I always go to. I get two hot dogs. I get an order of fries. I go to the gas station and get me an A&W root beer.

EL: Right.

RS: And I go home and I eat it. And as soon as I eat all of that, I’m like why did I do that?

EL: Exactly. I have similar habits. My wife says that I can’t eat hot dogs every day.

RS: She don’t have to know everything.

EL: So, give me three books that have influenced your life.

RS: Here’s one book that influenced me.

EL: Yeah.

RS: And I never made it past the first page. Finish Well.

EL: Finish Well?

RS: I can’t remember, it’s a small book that …

EL: Like a business book?

RS: Like a small paperback.

EL: Uh-huh.

RS: That was given to me. Nick gave me that book. And I never made it past the first page because I kept flipping it back over saying finish well.

EL: Wow.

RS: Finish well.

EL: Uh-huh.

RS: And I would just keep repeating it over and over and over and over. And I’m not a big, big book reader.

EL: Right.

RS: Sean Brock’s book was an inspiration.

EL: Mm-hmm. Sean Brock.

RS: They way that he took his love for-

EL: Sean Brock is a great chef.

RS: Great chef.

EL: That most people know. Started in Charleston, now there’s … He’s got a restaurant in Nashville. And I’m dying, by the way, for him to open a restaurant here. And I’m also dying for you to open a BBQ join here. So after Birmingham comes New York, Rod.

RS: Hey, that’s … Hey, watch out New York.

EL: So what are three things in your kitchen that you can’t do without?

RS: Sugar.

EL: Okay.

RS: Ingredients or just things that are-

EL: Could be implements. Could be ingredients or whatever.

RS: Skillet.

EL: A skillet. Cast iron?

RS: Cast iron.

EL: Okay.

RS: Cast iron. Sugar.

EL: Okay.

RS: And tongs.

EL: Tongs. Spring loaded?

RS: Spring loaded. I’m a tell you a secret about me. It’s not even a secret if you watch me flipping or pulling anything. But I have tongs in my hand. I click them before I grab what I’m picking up, and I click them again, maybe once or twice when I put that meat down. And all weekend long, out of all the ribs that we planned to cook and have done, there’s a click and a double click almost on every single rib. Every time.

EL: And you probably live for those clicks?

RS: I do. I have four tongs just for me. Not my help, not my guys.

EL: They’re like Rodney Scott autograph model tongs?

RS: Not yet, but I don’t want anybody else touching these tongs because I may go through two of them by the weekend.

EL: Got it, I love it. What do you cook when there’s nothing in the house to eat?

RS: There goes McDonald’s again.

EL: No, you can’t go out.

RS: Okay, I can’t go out.

EL: No.

RS: Nothing in the house to eat?

EL: Yes, you know, there’ obviously some basics but … Like there’s really … You haven’t had time to do any shopping. There must be your go to meal. Could be an omelet.

RS: Oh yeah, fried bologna.

EL: Fried bologna?

RS: I will burn it on the edges, take the bread. If it’s sliced thin, I get two slices. If it’s a little thicker I just get one. And mayo.

EL: Do you fry the baloney in the cast iron pan?

RS: Fry the baloney in the cast iron, give it a nice char on each side.

EL: White bread?

RS: White bread.

EL: Toasted?

RS: No toast.

EL: No toast.

RS: Soft, white bread and mayo.

EL: So it’s just been declared Rodney Scott Day all over the world.

RS: Really?

EL: Yeah. What’s happening on that day?

RS: Oh man, smoking fires everywhere. Everybody’s BBQing. Music’s cranked, and nobody’s complaining about the loud, nice tunes that are coming out of their speakers.

EL: We did talk a little bit about the fact that we are recording on the day that Tony Bourdain passed away.

RS: Yes.

EL: And I know that you did Tony’s show.

RS: I did.

EL: And so, if you could talk a little bit about what Tony meant to you, that would be really great.

RS: Tony was an inspiration to me because his laid back nonchalant attitude … Like nothing seemed to have bothered him. And I love that. And he was straight forward with saying whatever he had to say. And I love that too. So I said, “I would love to cook for this guy. To see where I stand in his opinion. And how I would rank amongst all of the foods and all of the travel that he’s done.” So upon wishing that, less than two years later, I meet him.

EL: Wow.

RS: And a mutual friend of … No, he didn’t know that lady but this lady said, “You need to know who this is. You need to meet this guy.” And he says, “No introduction needed, I know who Rodney Scott is.”

EL: Really?

RS: And I was floored. And we spoke and we drank a beer together. And he said to me, “Let’s do something.” And I said, “Go have your people call mine and we’ll do it.” And he sent the message a year later. And we taped. But upon drinking that beer that night, he gave me some advice. He says … I’m gonna paraphrase because we all know how he was.

EL: That’s okay, you don’t have to paraphrase. It’s a podcast, you know.

RS: Oh good. He basically said, “Rodney, don’t eat the shit sandwich.” And I said, “Huh?” He says, “Don’t ever let the producers and the fame of people tell you how to do your thing.” He says, “You do what you want. If they start telling you what to do, don’t accept it. Stand behind what you believe in.” And that was his advice to me.

EL: Wow.

RS: And I appreciated that because lo and behold, I got calls out of everywhere. People wanted me to sponsor their knives. People wanted me to sponsor their parties.

EL: Aprons, BBQ sauce.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Whatever.

RS: Contracts are coming in, wanting me to sign to do events that basically benefited the people who were sending the contracts. And because of that advice that he gave me, it stuck with me. And it gave me the opportunity to protect myself from getting into uncomfortable financial situations. With somebody else pimping me out.

EL: Right.

RS: To get paid.

EL: He was just telling you to be true to who you are.

RS: He did, and I appreciated that. That’s the best advice that I’ve got from him.

EL: Yeah, that’s great. Well Rodney, thank you so much for sharing-

RS: Thank you.

EL: Your Special Sauce with us. This has been awesome. All Serious Eaters should make a pilgrimage to Charleston, South Carolina, and eat some Q at Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ. Or go see his parent’s BBQ joint in Hemingway. Which is just called Scott’s, right?

RS: Scott’s BBQ, yeah.

EL: So anyway, so long Serious Eaters, and Rodney, thank you again.

RS: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

EL: And we’ll see you next time, Serious Eaters.

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Special Sauce: Rodney Scott on Bourdain and Lettin...

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[Rodney Scott photograph: Andrew Cebulka. Burger photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

To find out what else Rodney believes in, check out this week’s Special Sauce.

Special Sauce is available on iTunes, Google Play Music, Soundcloud, Player FM, and Stitcher. You can also find the archive of all our episodes here on Serious Eats and on this RSS feed.

You Could Be on Special Sauce

Transcript

Rodney Scott: One thing I do believe in is don’t ever let your race determine your destiny. You know, if you want something, you go for it.

EL: Pitmaster supreme Rodney Scott, a James Beard award winner for Best Chef Southeast, is still in the house.

RS: Yes, yes.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Right.

RS: I never gave up. I never let people’s opinions stop from what I wanted to try or where I wanted to go.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: I never gave up and I’m still not giving up. People ask me, “You’re expanding, why?” And I said “Why not?”

EL: Right.

EL: So you’re a content of your character kind of dud?

RS: Exactly.

EL: They’re gonna become BBQ guys. They’re, you know … Mike Mills, I think, sold dental supplies, you know. I mean …

RS: Yeah, he put in that work.

EL: You know, it’s like they’re not coming from a different socio-economic class.

EL: Right.

RS: It’s not gonna happen. So regardless to who you are, where you are, if you’re putting that work in, your gonna get it.

EL: Cause it seems to me that you all share a fondness for storytelling.

RS: Oh, yeah.

EL: In your food. And is that because you’re all staying up all night to mind the pit?

RS: That and whiskey, yeah.

EL: So that also is a way to bring people together, right.

RS: Oh yeah, oh yeah. You bond. You got 12 hours with whoever’s helping you. You bond. You know, according to how you cooking it all, you may have 20 to 24 hours.

EL: Right.

RS: On who you’re bonding with.

EL: Wow.

RS: So you get to know that person very well.

EL: Yeah. But who gets to choose the music?

RS: Oh man, that’s the guy who brought the fire. You know, you brought the fire, you bring the tunes. Personally, I like to put on a list that I just have set. That makes me feel good.

EL: Right.

RS: But all the same time, I don’t wanna violate everybody that’s helping me. I want them to be entertained as well.

EL: Right.

RS: So I will share the music. Sometimes.

EL: Right. And you have very Catholic tastes, right. Because you obviously like hip hop, you like old school R&B.

RS: Yes.

EL: I think one one interview, I saw that you like even old-fashioned Chitlin’ Circuit.

RS: Yes.

EL: Soul.

RS: Yes, yes. Love it.

EL: For people who don’t know, the Chitlin’ Circuit was a circuit of clubs in African American neighborhoods.

RS: Yeah.

EL: That R&B singers and groups played at. And they were almost exclusively catering to the African American population.

RS: Known as juke joints.

EL: Right.

RS: Yeah.

EL: They predated the Chitlin’ Circuit, right. The juke joints were in rural places.

RS: Yes.

EL: They were … To call them buildings would be a stretch, right?

RS: Yeah, that’s stretching it. They were shacks, man.

EL: They were shacks. That people would gather at really late. Usually bring their own whiskey, right.

RS: Yes.

EL: And there would be music.

RS: And people would party their asses off. They would party. And those were some of the best joints I’ve hung out of.

EL: There are still juke joints in Mississippi.

RS: Oh yeah, you gotta find them. They’re there.

EL: Are their juke joints in South Carolina.

RS: There are one or two hidden here and there, yes. Definitely.

EL: Wow.

RS: Definitely.

EL: So you have very strong opinions about sauce, as does everybody who’s involved in BBQ. You say that your sauce has pepper, lemon.

RS: Yes.

EL: A little bit of sweetness.

RS: A little bit of sweetness.

EL: Right. Vinegar.

RS: Vinegar.

EL: No tomato.

RS: No tomato.

EL: And probably no molasses? Or do you sweeten with molasses?

RS: No molasses.

EL: Got it, okay. And that’s it. And as far as you’re concerned, that’s sauce.

RS: For me that’s sauce, yes.

EL: Do you think less of others who think differently?

RS: I sure don’t. To each his own. Stand behind what you believe in. Produce the product, be proud of what you have.

EL: Right.

RS: And different regions, where you’ve grown up makes a difference. Different areas of what you like makes a difference.

EL: Yeah.

RS: So if you like what you like, you do that and go with it.

EL: Yeah, you know what’s interesting is you’re from South Carolina.

RS: Yes.

EL: When I first tasted your BBQ I was like, “Where’s the mustard sauce, Rodney?” And then I was like, oh there must be more than one sauce culture in South Carolina.

RS: There’s technically three, from what I’ve seen.

EL: Really?

RS: Tomato, mustard, and vinegar.

EL: Wow, that’s fascinating. And, you know, that’s the interesting thing. Also, I remember at a Southern Foodways conference, tasting the white sauce on Big Bob Gibson’s chicken.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Which is a mayonnaise based sauce.

RS: Definitely.

EL: It’s almost … It’s like a sauce, basically, that you find on a souvlaki in Manhattan on a street cart.

RS: Yes.

EL: Or a gyro.

RS: Tastes pretty good, though.

EL: Oh, it’s awesome.

RS: Chris Lilly’s good.

EL: Yeah, he’s really good, man.

RS: Chris Lilly’s great.

EL: Chris Lilly is a great, great … He’s a great pitmaster.

RS: Good food is good food.

EL: It’s true. You’ve also talked about love as an ingredient. Not just in your sauce. That’s where you keep the secret ingredient, right.

RS: Yes.

EL: But as being a very important part of what you do and why you do it.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: Because if you’re throwing it together, how much did you throw?

EL: Right. And cause real love’s hard work.

RS: Yeah, it is. It is. Love is for real. And to put in that dedication, that time and procedure, carefully, that’s that love.

EL: Right.

RS: But if I just say, “Hey, dump this in that pot, stir it” and you just throw it in there and don’t taste it or check it, that’s no love.

EL: Yeah.

RS: And for me, that’s that extra love. To double check that we won’t give our consumers something …

EL: Right.

RS: That’s not right.

EL: And you have to make sure that your staff shares the love.

RS: Exactly, exactly.

EL: With each other and with the customer, you know.

RS: Always.

EL: With your customers.

RS: Man what do I do?

EL: Yeah?

EL: Yeah.

RS: So if it’s a moment that’s not right, you try to move forward.

EL: Yeah.

EL: Right.

RS: But just the whole layout and the tone of his voice in that sound, is calming to me.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: And if I start to get frustrated, I try to either step away from everybody, or I play that song or put it in my head to calm down and move forward.

EL: Yeah.

RS: A smile is much easier to pass along than a frown.

EL: For sure. So, what’s next? Are there gonna be more?

RS: Yes.

EL: Wow.

RS: Yes, yes, we’re going to Birmingham, Alabama next.

EL: Which is the home of Jimenez.

RS: Home of Jimenez. And we’re going there.

EL: That’s awesome.

EL: Wow.

RS: So that pretty much told me that this place is not just my opinion, but is absolutely a beautiful city.

EL: Yeah, and Frank Stitt has helped make that a really great food city. And I bet he loves your BBQ.

RS: Yes.

EL: Frank Stitt is the owner of the Highlands Bar & Grill, and is sort of the first … He’s the founding member of the Birmingham food scene.

RS: Yes.

EL: So all right. Now it’s time for the Special Sauce All You Can Ask Buffet. No pressure on you, man. I’m not saying that you …

RS: Okay.

RS: No family allowed?

EL: Yeah.

RS: Minimum three guests?

EL: Yeah.

RS: My very last supper?

EL: Yeah.

RS: Anthony Bourdain. Another Anthony, Anthony Hamilton, and the final person that I don’t know, President Obama. Not for his political history, but his drive to never … He never gave up.

EL: Mm-hmm.

RS: He kept going.

EL: Yeah.

RS: He did the impossible.

EL: He sort of did in politics what you do in BBQ.

RS: Exactly, and that was an inspiration to me. And Kyrie Irving.

EL: I love this table. I have to come. I’ll wait the tables.

RS: Kyrie Irving. He was an inspiration. I’ve always been a Sixers fan.

EL: Right.

RS: And when he played ball, his calmness, his coolness.

EL: Yeah.

RS: But still, he performed like a maniac.

EL: And you know, when I tell the staff, and Kyrie, he toured much younger than me about Dr. Jay. For like, what are you talking about.

RS: They don’t know the doctor.

EL: They don’t know the doctor. You know, Michael Jordan, yes.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Obviously, LeBron.

RS: Yeah, but you don’t know the doctor.

EL:I love this table. And what are you eating?

RS: Oh, man. We’re gonna eat some seafood.

EL: Okay.

RS: Some oak shrimp. We’re gonna eat, definitely some beef. And of course, a little pulled pork.

EL: Yeah.

RS: And if there’s dessert.

EL: Yeah.

RS: We’re gonna do some soft serve ice cream.

EL: I love this. Like some frozen custard. Like Shake Shack style.

RS: Yeah, there you go. There you go, exactly. You know –

EL: I love this.

RS: Notice I didn’t say a lot of vegetables there.

EL: No, you did not mention five salads.

RS: But, when you do bring that salad and that vegetable, you make sure that it’s a Caesar salad.

EL: Okay.

RS: Definitely with the cheesy croutons.

EL: Right.

RS: Gotta have it.

EL: The anchovies, the whole thing?

RS: The works.

EL: Right.

RS: Rich flavor.

EL: Right.

RS: And then you wanna bring sweet peas.

EL: Wow. I like that, I like that.

RS: Those sweet peas with a touch too much of sugar.

EL: Right. I like it.

RS: Just to get oh yeah.

EL: And then what are you listening to? I know you’re listening to Anthony Hamilton, but what else are you listening to?

RS: We’re listening to the Gap Band. We’re listening to the Whispers. We’re listening to the O’Jays.

EL: Love Train!

RS: We’ve gotta put a little bit of Marvin Gaye in there.

EL: Yes! Sexual Healing.

RS: Yes.

EL: All right.

RS: Gotta let it flow, gotta have the good tunes in there.

EL: I’m gonna let you program your own last supper man.

RS: Oh man, it’s gonna be off the chain.

EL: That’s awesome. So, do you have guilty pleasures?

RS: I do.

EL: Food wise?

RS: I do have guilty pleasures food wise.

EL: Lay them on me.

EL: I just told one of the editors at Serious Eats, Sho Spaeth, that I tried the now made-to-order quarter pounder.

RS: Yeah.

EL: And it actually was pretty good.

RS: Yeah, it was nice and greasy and it-

EL: Yeah.

RS: Went back. It’s a retro burger from McDonald’s.

EL: Right, it’s like … And they really did tell me, “Okay, you’re gonna have to wait a few minutes.” And I was happy.

RS: Yeah. Because you get a hot juicy burger.

EL: Right, yeah.

RS: Next guilty pleasure, pizza.

EL: Well you know, son, it’s very close to my heart having written a whole book on pizza.

RS: Pizza? I go get it all the time. And the last thing that … I know these guys gotta know who I am, because I’m always sneaking in there. Hot dogs.

EL: Hot dogs.

RS: There’s a hot dog joint in Mount Pleasant that I always go to. I get two hot dogs. I get an order of fries. I go to the gas station and get me an A&W root beer.

EL: Right.

RS: And I go home and I eat it. And as soon as I eat all of that, I’m like why did I do that?

EL: Exactly. I have similar habits. My wife says that I can’t eat hot dogs every day.

RS: She don’t have to know everything.

EL: So, give me three books that have influenced your life.

RS: Here’s one book that influenced me.

EL: Yeah.

RS: And I never made it past the first page. Finish Well.

EL: Finish Well?

RS: I can’t remember, it’s a small book that …

EL: Like a business book?

RS: Like a small paperback.

EL: Uh-huh.

RS: That was given to me. Nick gave me that book. And I never made it past the first page because I kept flipping it back over saying finish well.

EL: Wow.

RS: Finish well.

EL: Uh-huh.

RS: And I would just keep repeating it over and over and over and over. And I’m not a big, big book reader.

EL: Right.

RS: Sean Brock’s book was an inspiration.

EL: Mm-hmm. Sean Brock.

RS: They way that he took his love for-

EL: Sean Brock is a great chef.

RS: Great chef.

RS: Hey, that’s … Hey, watch out New York.

EL: So what are three things in your kitchen that you can’t do without?

RS: Sugar.

EL: Okay.

RS: Ingredients or just things that are-

EL: Could be implements. Could be ingredients or whatever.

RS: Skillet.

EL: A skillet. Cast iron?

RS: Cast iron.

EL: Okay.

RS: Cast iron. Sugar.

EL: Okay.

RS: And tongs.

EL: Tongs. Spring loaded?

EL: And you probably live for those clicks?

RS: I do. I have four tongs just for me. Not my help, not my guys.

EL: They’re like Rodney Scott autograph model tongs?

RS: Not yet, but I don’t want anybody else touching these tongs because I may go through two of them by the weekend.

EL: Got it, I love it. What do you cook when there’s nothing in the house to eat?

RS: There goes McDonald’s again.

EL: No, you can’t go out.

RS: Okay, I can’t go out.

EL: No.

RS: Nothing in the house to eat?

EL: Yes, you know, there’ obviously some basics but … Like there’s really … You haven’t had time to do any shopping. There must be your go to meal. Could be an omelet.

RS: Oh yeah, fried bologna.

EL: Fried bologna?

RS: I will burn it on the edges, take the bread. If it’s sliced thin, I get two slices. If it’s a little thicker I just get one. And mayo.

EL: Do you fry the baloney in the cast iron pan?

RS: Fry the baloney in the cast iron, give it a nice char on each side.

EL: White bread?

RS: White bread.

EL: Toasted?

RS: No toast.

EL: No toast.

RS: Soft, white bread and mayo.

EL: So it’s just been declared Rodney Scott Day all over the world.

RS: Really?

EL: Yeah. What’s happening on that day?

RS: Oh man, smoking fires everywhere. Everybody’s BBQing. Music’s cranked, and nobody’s complaining about the loud, nice tunes that are coming out of their speakers.

EL: We did talk a little bit about the fact that we are recording on the day that Tony Bourdain passed away.

RS: Yes.

EL: And I know that you did Tony’s show.

RS: I did.

EL: And so, if you could talk a little bit about what Tony meant to you, that would be really great.

RS: Tony was an inspiration to me because his laid back nonchalant attitude … Like nothing seemed to have bothered him. And I love that. And he was straight forward with saying whatever he had to say. And I love that too. So I said, “I would love to cook for this guy. To see where I stand in his opinion. And how I would rank amongst all of the foods and all of the travel that he��s done.” So upon wishing that, less than two years later, I meet him.

EL: Wow.

EL: Really?

EL: That’s okay, you don’t have to paraphrase. It’s a podcast, you know.

EL: Wow.

RS: And I appreciated that because lo and behold, I got calls out of everywhere. People wanted me to sponsor their knives. People wanted me to sponsor their parties.

EL: Aprons, BBQ sauce.

RS: Yeah.

EL: Whatever.

EL: Right.

RS: To get paid.

EL: He was just telling you to be true to who you are.

RS: He did, and I appreciated that. That’s the best advice that I’ve got from him.

EL: Yeah, that’s great. Well Rodney, thank you so much for sharing-

RS: Thank you.

RS: Scott’s BBQ, yeah.

EL: So anyway, so long Serious Eaters, and Rodney, thank you again.

RS: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

EL: And we’ll see you next time, Serious Eaters.

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thedramafilesblog-blog · 7 years

Text

Appearing before the Dramacourt: Man to Man Eps 11 and 12.

***If this is your first time browsing The Drama Files, please read The Rules section first for our reviewing and rating system***

Issues:

Whether the Lovers Tactic was pretty cute.

Whether the Obvious Spy NIS Agent has the worst job ever.

Whether getting shot is what you need to move away from “fake” romance to “real” romance.

Whether slush funds are usually massive mountains of cash hidden in secret underground lairs with priceless art.

The Rule(s):

Yea it was pretty cute. *cue Park Hae Jin in a cute monkey suit*

Absolutely. This guy is asking to be a “I Hate My Job” meme.

Possibly. At least in the case of Sul Woo and Do Ha, it totally makes sense.

Not really. Aren’t they usually in the form of some secret code to a Swiss Bank account?

Analysis:

RedRosette J: I’ve decided to switch to the combo episodes format going forward because a) real life is catching up to me and I don’t have the time to write two posts and b) nothing really happens in one episode to warrant a single post. The things that really stood out to me in episode 11 was how Sul Woo and Do Ha were using the Lovers Tactic as a excuse to “date” and I’m not going to lie, even though I am not the biggest fan of their romance, it was pretty cute. There were also some revelations and escalations in episode 11 that moved the plot forward. There was the Father who shed some light on Agent Y’s situation and it comes to light the Spy Boss Jang is perhaps not the most honest and perfectly upstanding NIS agent. Donghyun becomes the subject of suspicion as the story progresses, although I find that hard to believe. In episode 11, the Russian mogul makes a comeback making a deal for Sul Woo’s head. While I believe that Spy Boss Jang is not the perfect individual we thought him to be, there is a bigger agenda at play and him shooting Sul Woo had something to do with that.

Making deals with the Devil like…

When your friend continues to do stupid stuff

When you know stuff is going your way

Retired Ghost Agents be like…

Dun dun dun

When your boss literally shoots you…

Tryna be casual like…

Episode 12 brings us more of Sul Woo and Do Ha being all lovey dovey (nothing like an illness/getting shot to bring lovers together). My favourite part was Sul Woo scrambling to explain to Donghyun why Do Ha was at his secret spy lair and Donghyun’s priceless “you ain’t selling this story brah” expression. These two are absolutely hilarious. There was also a lot of the political stuff happening in episode 12. They found the slush fund, which then in a weird turn of events, got “donated” to society. There were also incriminating tapes of public officials accepting bribes from the former Songsan CEO that Donghyun and Spy Boss Jang were busy discovering and arresting people over. It also turns out that Spy Boss Jang wasn’t a total evil meanie and that he was merely making a deal with the devil as Plan B because they were all caught in a tight spot. What was really surprising was Mi Eun stepping up to get Seung Jae out of his pickle and quickly proving to everyone that she is easily the smartest person in the room. Prosecutors included. I really really want to know what her agenda is!

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

When you can’t believe your friend betrays you

Spying on your friend like…

“I’m arresting you!”

Seriously cool aesthetics

When you’re in trouble but you know you’re going to get out of it…

The real brains of the outfit

Wtf man?

Oh shit….

Guys you’re being so obvious….

Riiiighhtt……

Congratulating yourself on the perfect plan!

Do bad shit and then hold a press conference. It’s all good.

Tbh, I found it really hard to get through these episodes and it took me the whole weekend to watch them. It might have had to do with the fact that the plot is predictable and extremely draggy. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like most of the episode is the same stuff repeating over and over again?

Shmexy shmexy

Chilling on the throne like…

Issue 1: Whether the Lovers Tactic was pretty cute.

RedRosette J: Okay so I have to admit, the Lovers Tactic was pretty cute. Sure it may have been “fake” half the time but they were super cringey and adorable like most couples in the honeymoon phase. I did enjoy how they were both so happy to partake in this Tactic and even though they were desperately trying to convince everyone and themselves that it was just part of the mission, it was so so obvious that they were doing it because they just wanted to be with each other. It was kinda cute. I could even look past Do Ha’s cringey lines and attitude. Here’s a bunch of screenshots of them being cute:

Going on a “non-date” like…

When your crush does cute stuff like…

Getting the wrong idea like…

Being cringey like…

Those late night phone calls like…

Working an undercover mission like…

*swag*

When he gives you a ring like…

Issue 2: Whether the Obvious Spy NIS Agent has the worst job ever.

RedRosette J: Okay how great was this guy? Honestly this was the best part of the episode for me. He was absolutely hilarious as the guy being forced to tail Sul Woo and having to deal with their cringey PDA and having to stand outside in the cold. His “I Hate My Job” face is the best thing ever. He made me laugh so much. He definitely had the worst job ever. Check out his worst job ever faces:

Issue 3: Whether getting shot is what you need to move away from “fake” romance to “real” romance.

RedRosette J: For Sul Woo and Do Ha, this was the best situation to really force them to accept their “real romance”. After having been faking it, a real life or death situation puts a lot of things into context and makes it easier for them to accept that they’re in love and that there’s no point in kidding anyone anymore. Plus, I think everyone knows except them! So for these two, getting shot is definitely what they needed!

“It’s all good, I just got shot honey”

When you can’t believe the shit that’s been happening lately…

When you’ve been shot and everyone is fussing

Ooohh la la

This actually seemed like a real kiss

Watching dramas together like…

Angling for a kiss like…

Issue 4: Whether slush funds are usually massive mountains of cash hidden in secret underground lairs with priceless art.

RedRosette J: This is not usually how slush funds work. At least not in most spy movies I’ve seen. Slush funds are usually in random Swiss Bank accounts with complicated passwords and such and are not generally huge mountains of cash sitting in temperature controlled underground rooms. I feel like that’s more of a convenience issue rather than anything else. Just imagine, its so much harder to move your slush fund if it is actually taking up physical space! You’d need people to move it and that’s a bad idea. I guess it totally makes sense why slush funds would not be so concrete so to speak. It was interesting however, to see what a trillion won looked like and its about the size of a giant shipping pallet. Interesting.

This just seems pointlessly costly

A Swiss Bank account probably would have been cheaper

RedRosette J Aside: And today I give you….Donghyun the Janitor!

Dopest janitor ever!

Conclusion: Appeal Allowed.

Rating: 3 = MM. Okay. Fine (Mostly because I tolerated the cute stuff in episode 10)

File No: Man-to-Man-EPs-11-and-12 Appearing before the Dramacourt: Man to Man Eps 11 and 12. ***If this is your first time browsing The Drama Files, please read The Rules section first for our reviewing and rating system***

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