Mean Chef????

[Bonnie G #2]

I've got a question that I should know the answer to I suppose, but I'm embarresed to admit I don't!

I've seen so many wonderful recipes on this site that refer to "Mean Chef" mostly adopted recipes, who is that, is it a celebrity chef that I don't know or an old member of this site that doesn't post anymore. Just so curious, hope someone that's been around this site longer than me can tell me

[Zurie]

Mean Chef existed before I joined RecipeZaar.

I don't know the story so cannot give you more than the briefest explanation.

The founders of the site (you might know this) were Troy Hakala and the girl who is now his wife, Gay Gilmore.

As far as legend goes, Mean Chef was one of the first members -- yes, a great cook -- and he became friends with Troy and Gay/Gaye (not sure of spelling).

But at some stage things went very sour between them. There's old gossip, but honestly, I was not around and do not know it. So eventually Mean Chef was (I think) kicked off the site, and his recipes were adopted by other members.

He might have been a great cook, but apparently he was not that nice as a person.

[Bonnie G #2]

Thanks Zurie, I didn't know any of that and have always been so curious. I even tried to look him up by search on chef's but nothing.

Guess that story explains the name "MEAN Chef"

[Zurie]

[Marie Nixon]

I was around when Mean Chef was a member of Recipezaar. I think he was some sort of professional cook. His recipes were always considered outstanding. He was generous with helping anyone who had cooking questions on the forums. I remember he met a woman on Recipezaar and she moved 1/2 way across the country to live with him. Not sure if they got married or not.

[Bonnie G #2]

Wow; so glad that I am able to get on today - I haven't been able to sign on for 2-3 days and don't kno what the trouble was, even changed my password hoping it'd work with no luck. Oh well, fixed now!!

So glad I finally got up the courage to ask about this - sounds like Mean Chef was a really interesting person, sorry I was to late to get to know him.

[Zurie]

Marie Nixon wrote:
I was around when Mean Chef was a member of Recipezaar. I think he was some sort of professional cook. His recipes were always considered outstanding. He was generous with helping anyone who had cooking questions on the forums. I remember he met a woman on Recipezaar and she moved 1/2 way across the country to live with him. Not sure if they got married or not.

Marie is quite right, Bonnie.

But he did turn nasty at some stage, turned against Troy and Gay. I do not want to repeat the gossip here, but he really -- for reasons I know nothing about -- started spoiling things for the 2 founders of RZ. There are people around who know the full story, but it's not really for public discussion, as you can understand!

Yes, an interesting chapter from our beloved RZ history! He really was a brilliant cook, I'll give him that!

[Bonnie G #2]

Sounds like a really interesting guy; what ever happened to the founders, did they just stop visiting once they sold it?

As you can tell, history fasinates me.

[Zurie]

Bonnie, I also wonder where Troy and Gay are. I think they have 2 kids now. They used to live on an island off Seattle.

If anyone passes by here who knows where they are and what they're doing now, we'd love to know!

Whether they still peek in here ... that's anyone's guess.

[Bonnie G #2]

I'm always wondering what and how the site developed prior to my finding it. LOVE this site and so it's fun to learn more about the history.

[Dib's]

Bonnie G #2 wrote:
I'm always wondering what and how the site developed prior to my finding it. LOVE this site and so it's fun to learn more about the history.

A little history:

http://www.centernetworks.com/recipezaar-acquired-by-scripps

http://blog.seattlepi.com/venture/2007/07/17/recipezaar-selling-out/

http://www.crunchbase.com/company/recipezaar

[Bonnie G #2]

Thanks so much

[Molly53]

The founders of the site are enjoying their life with their now THREE children. You can catch up with them at their public blog: www.troyandgay.com

This is their newest munchkin:



Meanie (and his recipes) can be found at http://www.recipecircus.com/recipes/MEANCHEF/

He's been gone from Recipezaar for some time and the feeling is that those recipes he contributed are better served if there's an active chef available to handle any questions about them. Thus, they've all been adopted out to other chefs.

Love those recipes!

[Bonnie G #2]

What a cutie, amazing how much history comes with this site - a shame they don't all still visit sometimes

[Ann Marie F]

I liked Mean Chef and miss him on the forums. If someone wrote that her husband was always drunk, beat her, couldn't hold a job, gambled away her earnings, and was cheating on her, gee what should she do - everyone else would pussy-foot around saying go to counseling, try to understand him, etc etc etc. Not Mean Chef. He'd say clean out your bank accounts, pack the car and leave the bum. He's no good. I thought his replies were always spot on.

He was very helpful on cooking issues and at times he held Zaar cooking classes. I believe he catered Gay & Troy's wedding too. Pictures were posted of some happy events. I don't know what went wrong, but part of it may have had something to do with the fact that he met a woman at a Zaar function, left his wife for her, and people criticized him for that. No ones business, but people can be judgmental and have no trouble expressing their disapproval.

You can google mean chef and see what turns up.