Finding opportunities to meet any chef is one that I am always on the prowl. The meeting I had with Alex Guarnaschelli and Jeff Mauro was brought to me by Food Network. I jumped at the chance for me and my plus one (being my mother on this trip) to head to downtown Chicago to RMP Italian on one Tuesday evening in May. Even though I had only one of their signature drinks, the Raspberry Pomegranate Splash, and my mother had a glass of Merlot from FN’s brand Entwine, and we did manage to grab a few of the appetizers they were serving. The entire purpose of my attendance was to meet with the Iron Chef and the Sandwich King, which I did. Alex is a genuine person who deeply cares about sharing the food she loves with people who are interested in providing a wholesome meal for their loved ones. I did bring my copy of her cookbook, Old-School Comfort Food, with hopes that she would sign it, and she came through with a smile and could not be more willing to even personalize it for me. Jeff is so silly, like he was throughout season seven of Food Network Star, that one cannot love this guy. His wittiness screams Chicagoan that I was very proud that he won and finally someone represented the Midwest.