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| This was supposed to be a fairly straightforward piece about kitchens. |
| And then, somehow, I found myself backstage at the Journey concert. |
| Invited to see the layout at The Backyard and the resident chef in action feeding the band and crew, who were hanging out at a nearby table when we arrived, I was within feet of Neal Schon. |
| I was a little impressed. |
| I ended up staying for the whole show and, I must say, I relived junior high. |
| I had a backstage pass, a date. We ran into friends. A fantastic time. |
| I guess that's how stories like this take turns. |
| Luke Bibby, the chef who got me backstage, must have the coolest job in town. |
| Out There Cooking, owned by Luke Bibby, feeds the musicians, their families and crew at all the shows, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Backyard expanded the dressing rooms last summer into five fittle cabins set around a tree covered, hammock-ridden grassy knoll. And they included a larger kitchen where Bibby cooks and serves whatever the artist wants. |
| In addition to the layout of fresh noodles, exotic salads and other Chinese doodads, Bibby offered Journey and its entourage handmade (by his wife Tracy) "fighting" chocolate squares in which the caffeine and chocolate duke it out, fresh sesame-grapefruit salad dressing (to be poured from his cherished commemorative Roger Stauback Diet Dr. Pepper bottle), and Hershey's Portable Pudding (a chocolate pudding in a tube). |
| It is was something to see five producer-type fellas draped in i.d. tags and walkie- talkies, all crowded over the cooler while Bibby explained the best way to open the portable pudding. Like kids. And that, I gathered, was the point. |
The kitchen at Bibby's home is as relaxed
with virtually the same elements. Utensils
organized and within reach. A long picnic table
for dining. And again, entrances on two sides,
one leading out back where a wood burning
grill sits. It's a comfortable place to be. Much like
his work space. |
| Musicians sign the walls when they leave. Melissa Etheridge to The Disco Biscuits. It is filling up with memorabilia fast. Play lists on the ceilings, a football in the corner gathering signatures. |
| He also kept it scaled down, which is an important point. A chef can disappear behind too much equipment. |
| Bibby's space is open with a simple pot rack hanging overhead, cutting board counters and a magnetic knife rack on the wall. Other stuff is stored, out of sight, under the counter. All his heat is outside on one of the porches, propane and butane and the identical wood burning grill that sits in his yard at home. A bubble machine churns happily next to the little three-tub dishwashing area. |
| His staff is him plus two. Simple. This is not a crowded space with the chef kvetching around, blaring his robocoup. This is backstage. And it's cool. |
| Bibby told me, somewhat off the cuff "... this is the only thing I've gotten because I did something right." |
| It could mean lots of things, I suppose. Maybe it means he's been waiting. But I know he's glad he did. Because he's got one of the best gigs around. |
| GS ~ TRIBEZA |
