A Nice Tofu Steak and Bordeaux

Last week I dined with a friend who loves old wine. So, obviously, atop the fact that the conversation is great, I love going out with him. My friend power-packed the Chateau L'Evangile 1989 It was then I began to wonder if I had a price. I believe everyone has a price, whether money or some other intangible, one always has a price. But when it comes to eating meat,( something I haven't done in almost forty years, and not because I think it's wrong, not at all, I think we need to eat meat, I just can't do it), do I? Is there a wine, let's say, a 1947 Petrus or 1961 Romanee that would tempt me to sharpen the steak knives? Or steel myself for a blubbery chunk of foie? And would I insist it was kosher? I really thought. I thought. For a few seconds, I was going over my brain what they had on the Balthzar list, was there anything there I'd eat for? Decades of smelling as I drank was enough. But now, I'd have to cut, chew and swallow. I don't know if Jupiter was causing trouble but the next day, I got a fan letter in the mail. A man from Healdsburg, as a matter of fact. He said a slew of nice things about me and the book, and then went in for the kill. Pay attention to item #2 A few comments on the book: 1. As a secular Jew from Richmond, Va myself, I found the book's occasional New York Jewish references a distraction. As a "wine girl" you're certainly no Jewish stereotype so defaulting to the good jewish girl shtick wasn't credible or I suppose "really you". 2. Wine Girl, how can you be a wine writer and be a vegatarian. Get over it! Are you some NYC kvetch with a delicate constitution? Just as one of your beau's 'just didn't get it' about wine, your lack of feel for wine & food is a deficiency. A cursory comment in one passage about how nice your Montrachet was with lentils just don't cut it, gurl. You may deny it but your credibility is dicey until you dig fois gras, duck confit, carnitas and at least, dear girl, roast chicken. ++