Former Denver TV guy Phil Keating is house-hunting in Boston after covering Katrina’s opening week for Fox News Channel. He’s been transferred to the Boston bureau, which he plans to enjoy more than his Dallas post. But he’s still reeling from New Orleans.
“I was there before it hit, then in the wind and rain, and then the aftermath,” he says. “It just got worse and worse. It was emotionally draining. Nothing has impacted me like that since Columbine. No help, day after day, people coming to us for answers and food and water.”
He will return to New Orleans for a few days this week, but his base is now Beantown.
Keating’s been getting good reviews on his hurricane coverage at rateitall.com, which Keating heard about last week when Westword reprinted some letters from the site. Most are raves, like “HOTTIE!!!!!!!” And comments like “I guarantee he spends at least 20 minutes on his hair.”
What he ate
It wasn’t a well-kept secret, but now it’s official. New York writer Tucker Shaw will become The Denver Post’s dining critic next month. Shaw is perhaps best known for his book “Everything I Ate,” a collection of photographs and commentary on everything he ate in 2004. He has an upcoming book, “Gentlemen, Start Your Ovens,” a cookbook for young urban-dwellers.
He touches on his food philosophy in the book’s intro: “This book is for men (and women), like me, who eat without prejudice. We dig fast food, but we love high dinners, too. We savor a diner cheeseburger just as much as Iranian caviar. We believe that junk food and haute cuisine belong in the same belly. We like classic, familiar dishes with strong flavors, but we’re not afraid to reach out and try something new. Most of all, we know what we want, and we’re willing to put forth a little effort to get it.”
Shaw is a Denver native, South High ’87, so welcome home.
Access
“Access Hollywood” rides into Denver this morning with stars Billy Bush and Nancy O’Dell. The pair will tape tonight’s broadcast (airing 12:30 a.m. on KMGH-Ch. 7) at 11 a.m. at City Park. They plan to explore our Hollywood connection – with a look at “Mork & Mindy,” tonight’s Dave Matthews Band Hurricane Katrina benefit concert at Red Rocks and Sunday’s “American Idol” auditions.
City spirit
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday brunch started at Elway’s this weekend. And look for some nostalgic cocktails at the bar like Harvey Wallbanger and Ramos Gin Fizz (a New Orleans drink to remember) … Vail slipped from No.1 in Ski magazine’s readers’ poll to No.2. Dear Valley in Utah wins the top spot … George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic have canceled their Thursday Red Rocks concert … Trinity Grille had 5 tons of leftover uncooked turkey legs after Taste of Colorado (bad location killed sales). Owner Tom Walls wanted to donate it to Katrina survivors, but 5 tons of turkey ain’t easy to handle. Every charity outlet turned them down – until finally the Denver Rescue Mission was able to take the legs and get them to the needy … Sez who: “Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life.” George Bernard Shaw
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
