I’ll Die Happier Because Prince Was Here.
Prince died today. I’m shaken up, literally shaking as I type. I grew up with his music in college in the 80s and well into my young adulthood, when he burst on the scene with songs like Little Red Corvette, You Got The Look, Lady Cab Driver … on and on and on and on.
I’m re-posting a piece I did – “This Food Blogger Says No To Phones In Restaurants (Sometimes)” – because it pays tribute to the serious musician and artist that Prince was, as evidenced when he admonished someone in his concert audience:
Put your phone down. You can’t get down with technology in your hand!
Prince had one goal for his music: to inspire. That he did.
I get it. That’s what this blog and the concept of DeathbedFood is all about. Though I’ve defined it as “so good, you could die happy at first bite,” it’s really much bigger than food. It’s about being so inspired about something that you could die happy the next day for having experienced it, whatever that “it” may be: devouring a Dominique Ansel Cronut, catching a once-in-a-lifetime wave, hitting a hole-in-one at Pebble Beach or listening to Prince’s Purple Rain album.
I know I’ll die happier because of Prince’s music. I know countless others will, too. RIP, Prince.
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This Food Blogger Says No To Phones In Restaurants (Sometimes)
Original Publishing Date: March 11, 2014
Photo: laist; Prince & NPG
I missed a blowout on Saturday. According to laist.com, Prince played a secret 4-hour show at the Hollywood Palladium. With five encores, it must have been fierce. Besides picking up guitar shredding tips, there may be another lead restaurants can take from the funk master.
What rocked me in the article was Prince reportedly trying to sing out:
Put your phone down. You can’t get down with technology in your hand!
With signs reading “NO PHOTOS. PATRONS TAKING PHOTOS ARE SUBJECT TO EJECTION” and security guards removing violators, Prince meant business.
I’m writing about this on DeathbedFood® because I’m with Prince.
This anti-phone stance may seem funny coming from a food blogger. I live to snap shots of great food like the DeathbedFood® chocolate banana croissants at Rustic Bakery. I wouldn’t have a food blog if I didn’t love sharing those treats. At the same time, I believe special fine dining restaurants should be off limits to allow all diners to savor the experience.
In 2006, I had a 4-hour lunch at The French Laundry. I wasn’t wedded to my cell in those days. It didn’t occur to me or anyone else to line up their “Oysters and Pearls” to get good lighting. Free of the photo snapping and social media distraction, I was immersed in the ambiance, the ballet-like servers and the masterful food art in every course. The lunch may have been once-in-a-lifetime but the experience will be seared in my memory forever.
Some restaurants get it. The new LA restaurant Bucato is “No Mobile.” Who knows, maybe Prince will get wind of it and drop by the Culver City hot spot next time he’s in town – without his phone.