Let's Eat!

<p>Everyone eats and most people can learn to cook even if only the basics. And then there are people like Lamar Richardson. People who eat and cook</p><p>and experience food on a whole different level. People who take the time to savor and celebrate every bite. And we're not even talking</p><p>about feasts or fancy restaurants. We're talking about a plate of scrambled eggs. A perfectly made grilled cheese. A burger hand-patted</p><p>seasoned and grilled and in Lamar's case dressed up with a heaping dollop of Duke's Mayonnaise.</p><p></p><p>To take this kind of pleasure in cooking and sharing a meal is to live in the moment. To be present and grateful. It's the generosity of spirit</p><p>spilling onto the plate.</p><p></p><p>Lamar learned how to cook the way the best home cooks do: by being underfoot in the kitchen from the time he was a kid. He's a talker so</p><p>you can imagine him chatting away as his mom the legendary Doris Richardson moved from sink to stove simmering vegetables pulled</p><p>from her garden dredging chicken in flour - fixing what she would call simple meals. But simple can be the most challenging. Ask anyone</p><p>who's struggled to master fried chicken.</p><p></p><p>That little boy grew up knowing two things for certain: one the minute he turned 18 he was never weeding another garden. And two</p><p>there's not one thing in this world that can't be improved by adding bacon. The way Lamar cooks it giving it all the time it needs to be</p><p>both crispy and chewy the fat perfectly rendered - you could just about eat the plate its sitting on.</p><p></p><p>I've seen this man close his eyes with pleasure over a handful of peanut M&M's washed down with a splash of bourbon. Watched him sit</p><p>by the water at a lobster pound in Maine plastic bib strapped on tight reverently dipping a chunk of claw meat into a cup of melted butter.</p><p>(You don't have to ask Lamar how he feels about butter 'cause he'll tell you. It's the best stuff in the world and however much you're</p><p>using you'd be even happier with a little bit more.) But I've also seen him find something yummy about a piece of lukewarm pizza served</p><p>up straight from the box at a staff meeting.</p><p></p><p>Food is one of life's great pleasures - and one that's always best shared. That's what this book is all about. Welcome to Lamar's kitchen</p><p>where there's plenty of bacon butter and bourbon and always room at the table for you.</p>