For Reals Meals (Dude Edition) Hosted By Max Wastler

Do you remember that old cartoon Chester & Spike? The one with the little dog (Chester) that kept pestering the big dog (Spike) with questions – “you wanna play ball, Spike, huh? huh? huh? Spike?”. He’d jump over him, around him, and just wouldn’t let up. He meant well but was sorta annoying. Leading up to For Reals Meals with Max Wastler, I went full-on Chester. A month before the event, I asked Max a million questions…did you secure the venue yet, huh? huh? huh? How’s the guest list coming along, huh? huh? huh? Max? Max? Max played it cool and didn’t really give me much feedback. And that made me even go more Chester-like.

It’s not that I didn’t trust him – it’s just that the dude has a lot on his plate. He just put out a new magazine, has a popular website, co-hosts an upcoming web series, runs an online store, AND heads up Basil Hayden’s blog. So how could he possibly fit in a For Reals Meals? Well he did. And totally nailed it. He couldn’t have been a better host.

Max hosted the event with Michael Ciapciak of Bang Bang Pie Shop. It was sort of a big deal to me for Michael to participate in this event. He’s known for his meaty biscuits and pie at Bang Bang. Plants aren’t really his thing, but he took on the challenge. He let us use his space and made us some beautiful food to go with Max’s Basil Hayden’s cocktails.

Max’s guests were all blazingly handsome and super talented: Greg Hall (of Virtue Cider), Grant Legan (photographer and brand strategist), Peter Klein (of Seedling), Michael Ader aka Mustache Mike (of Midnorth Mercantile), and Alex Maier (musician and the awesome photographer that shot this story). As I started to hear their stories, I was more and more in awe of them all. All so open, kind, and total bad asses in their fields. It was such an incredible group of people. I learned something new from each of them and made some solid new friends. 

Sorry, Max, for my Chester-like-ways. You made the night super special for everyone. Here’s to more dudes eating plants (and drinking bourbon while doing it).

Check out Max’s take on the night on his site All Plaid Out. I love his descriptions of why he invited each guest.

Wait! There’s more.
Check out this video Alex Maier made of the night.