Variations on a Theme

One thing my wife and I agree on about Bobby Flay is this: He’s no Alton Brown. No, instead of showing a deep knowledge of any given food he works with, down to the chemistry involved, our self obsessed chef friend is more or less a one trick pony. That’s not to say his culinary skills are lacking. By no means are they, but they’re very focused on one thing: South Western Style. The easy way to predict how any given episode of Iron Chef or Throw Down is going to work unless it’s a dessert: Take the most basic recipe, mix vigorously with chipotle and other south western style additives, stir in a half cup of experience and ta da! You have something bobby flay would make. Not Alton Brown, who is my favorite TV Chef ever. He shows a deep understanding of not just one style, but a deep understanding of the basics of culinary chemistry and craft. He’s not concerned with what style or what have you he’s working with. He’s concerned that the proteins of the egg need to be opened up and combined with an emulsifier so that the broth he’s adding with combine properly. He’s worried about mechnics, whereas bobby flay always seems like he’s pitching new ideas to Chili’s.

In my mind, I like to think I am more like Alton Brown than bobby flay in deck construction. Both are excellent chefs, and deserve respect. Alton, though, has a zen view of cooking: It’s mechanically influenced art. As such, by manipulating the mechanics you create new art. Bobby Flay’s great contribution to Culinary philosophy, namely the question of ‘How do I add more peppers?’ just seems lacking in comparison despite his skill and accomplishment.

This relates to Vs like this: I <3 Hush, Silent and Deadly. You’ve seen, if you’re one of the loyal 13 who still read post MUN preview, the Wall of Silence. Then the Illuminati started dropping and I resisted the urge to go “OMFG HUSH!’ to any large degree(I think I mentioned it with Iron Man). Then Clandestine Operation dropped. Need I say it? You run attack pumps, and hidden Illuminati members. Turn 3 releases the hounds. Turn 4 brings in Hush. Mixing SRA and a second Team-Up makes everyone F4, making Pier 4 viable for everyone. Turn 5 drops two mandroid prototypes on Hush, ensuring his ability to attack anyone they drop with impunity. You simply kill any curve they drop while you keep rocking your curve.

Example:

Turn 4: Hush and his opponent drop, both exhausted. No one attacks you because Hush is the only visible character.

Turn 5: The Mandroid Prototypes go on Hush and you bring in a third lowbie Illuminati member. Hush swings into their exhausted 5 drop as a 13/13. They die. Their 4 drop doesn’t dare attack a 13/13 Hush and a team attack is useless. Lock established. Rinse and repeat, killing their curve drop every turn with your buffed up Hush and maybe a savage beatdown or two.

I must build this deck. All I need is one of any number of late game finishers available now, and we’ve got nasty on a stick.

Still, despite the obvious power of this deck type, I still feel like Bobby Flay. One day though, I’ll be Alton Brown.