"One thing about chefs, we're all full of s---."

We'll start things off with a feature from Ben Montgomery of the St. Petersburg Times. Ben is an insanely talented writer, and he is also one of the creators of Gangrey.com, which is also a blog that posts the best in narrative writing from around the country. You should all check out Gangrey at some time, because there is always good stuff there.

Anyway, here is how this story kicks off:

The old man looks uncomfortable.

Tell the one about the dead baby, everyone is saying. Tell the one about stealing three cabs in one night.

It's late afternoon at MJ's Martini Jazz Lounge in St. Petersburg, and Chef Tom Pritchard is holding court on the patio. The 50 or so guests here to plan his upcoming charity roast have adjourned their meeting and some are now mingling around the guest of honor, wine glasses in hand, prodding him.

Pritchard sits quietly, but he wants to please.

Tell the one about snorting Tabasco.

Pritchard looks up.

"Anyone can drink Tabasco," he mumbles.