If you could have dinner and an evening with any living celebrity, who would it be, and why?

Sun, 2010-01-03 11:18

#2

G. Muffin

Duncan Bannatyne 'cause he's a hottie.

Sun, 2010-01-03 11:28

#3

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

Steve Nash, the guy seems to really care.

Sun, 2010-01-03 11:41

#4

clersal

Fred Pellerin.

Sun, 2010-01-03 11:47

#5

Stargazer

I'd love to st down with Alejandro Jodorowsky. I am fascinated by film, I guess a bit of a film snob (although by no means a complete film snob, as I love good chick flicks and funny comedy)

Jodorowsky made some absolutely weird and wonderful movies full of allegories, mystical people and care for the downtrodden. Yes, I know people may find some of work a little too fantasy/new age (at the time) but to me he is one of the best directors out there and incredibly intelligent.

Santa Sangre is one of my favourite movies by Jodorowsky. The man is simply brilliant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Jodorowsky

Jodorowsky was heavily involved in feminism and refused to do a film on the Story of O. He is an allie to women all over the world. I encourage anyone interested in film to explore the wiki link above.

I would also love to sit down with the incredibly articulate Fidel Castro. I'd love to ask him how he felt during the Bay of Pigs incident and how he feels Cuba will be after he dies.

Sun, 2010-01-03 13:03

#6

Boom Boom

I think I'd like an evening with Chef Gordon Ramsey, even knowing that he is a bit of a screaming ninny of a prima donna, and actually I'd like him to cook the dnner! I've met a few celebrities in my time - I spoke to Canadian filmaker David Cronenberg (and he agreed to my taking a few photos of him and his cars) while attending an antique sportscar race at Mosport, and I met and got British sports car legend Stirling Moss to sign my copy of his autobiography - and Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke at a gathering I attended, and Canadian filmaker Atom Egoyan was a fellow student at U of T before he became internationally famous

and I met Canadian Nobel Prize winner John Polanyi many years ago (he gave Trent U's commencement address in 1977), had an oportunity to sit down with him during appetizers in fact, and he's a fascinating character. We spoke about the anti-war movement during a time when he was involved in advocating for nuclear disarment

- and there's been a few others - but I really love food and would like to pick Gordon Ramsey's brain especially to get tips for cooking, and maybe also hit him up for a small grant and suggestions to redo my kitchen (or at least ask him for a gift of Gordon Ramsey cookware) - the man is a billionaire; I think he started in English football, got injured, moved to Paris to attend cooking school, and his life took off from there.

Thu, 2010-07-22 18:27

#7

Boom Boom

Didn't know where else to put this, so: Archbishop Desmond Tutu retires from public life

Thu, 2010-07-22 19:00

#8

Catchfire

Maysie, Michelle and oldgoat. But they never invite me to their parties.

Thu, 2010-07-22 20:02

#9

skdadl

Gore Vidal can come to supper at my place any time. He can sleep over. He can move in. I don't really have room for anyone, but for Vidal, I'd renovate the basement. (I wonder whether Vidal has ever been in a basement?)

And [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNOnvp5t7Do]Julian Assange.[/URL] Kid Assange, consider this a safe house. Any time. The RCMP barely know I'm here. They think I'm just a nice li'l ole lady sitting on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Sorry about the crappy sympatico connections, but hey, with a bit of duct tape and a wing and a prayer, you actually can make a computer work on the north shore of Lake Ontario.

Thu, 2010-07-22 22:48

#10

Papal Bull

I usually just cook up a really nice meal of sugar braised porkchops and homemade applesauce, light a few candles and set up a mirror on the other side of the table.

Thu, 2010-07-22 23:14

#11

Boom Boom

I'll cook several main dishes for my guest to choose from - pasta, fish, meat, and a nice salad. Of course, if Chef Ramsey is my guest, I'll make him cook me a meal!

Thu, 2010-07-22 23:41

#12

absentia

Richard Dawkins. He sounded charming on a radio interview the other day.

If he can't make it, is Thomas King a celebrity?

Either way, i'll cook and wash the dishes, but i'm not doing a thing to the basement.

Fri, 2010-07-23 00:02

#13

Cueball

skdadl wrote:

And [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNOnvp5t7Do]Julian Assange.[/URL] Kid Assange, consider this a safe house. Any time. The RCMP barely know I'm here. They think I'm just a nice li'l ole lady sitting on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Sorry about the crappy sympatico connections, but hey, with a bit of duct tape and a wing and a prayer, you actually can make a computer work on the north shore of Lake Ontario.

Nice choice. I take Henry Rollins because I know that there would be no obligation for me to start a conversation or even talk.

Fri, 2010-07-23 00:08

#14

Ryan1812

I agree with Henry Rollins. I've met a few of my own celebrities in the political arena. I'd like to have dinner with Jack Layton and discuss the NDP, specifically market economics. I'd like to extend the meeting I had with Romeo Dallaire to a dinner and discuss the end of the humanitarian era (or rather the non-existance of one) and I'd also like to have dinner with Harper, believe it or not. I would be civil and courteous, but would really probe him for his reasons for governing the way he does. Of course, I would promise to keep everything off the record.

Fri, 2010-07-23 07:18

#15

Caissa

Nelson Mandela.

Fri, 2010-07-23 07:36

#16

skdadl

Once again, we have a glaring failure on this thread.

No one has yet invited a gril to supper. Tsk tsk. Even I failed in that regard.

I think it would be pure fun to have Kady O'Malley over for supper. She could even liveblog the evening.

Quote:
skdadl says it's constitutionally correct to move the tenderloin to the oven in the same cast iron pan she used to sear it on the stovetop. Yeah, but no, actually, it's not. No chance to correct her because Minnie is filibustering, and besides, does it matter? Now she's washing the pan under running water and explaining why we never use detergent or abrasives on seasoned cast iron. Yeah, but no, actually, since hers is obviously not very well seasoned at all. Ewww -- look at the icky crusty spot in the middle. She probably used oil instead of lard. Nice tagine on the shelf -- wonder whether she's ever cooked anything in it.

Or it might be interesting to have the queen. I understand she has fairly earthy tastes, which makes the cooking easy, and we could talk a lot about Scotland. Mainly, though, I'd just like to hear her cut loose on all the silly politicians she's known over the last sixty years -- she must have at least one vengeful tantrum in her.

Or Rachel Maddow. That would be a good evening of talk and real civilization.

Fri, 2010-07-23 10:32

#17

absentia

What if she [the queen] insisted on bringing a brace of Corgies? How would the c*ts like that?

I was thinking of Barbara Kingsolver earlier, but my old man is far too enamoured of her. Same problem with Linda McQuaig - or, in fact, any smart, progressive woman whose company i might enjoy. Perhaps they have smart, progressive male counterparts to bring along?

Fri, 2010-07-23 10:38

#18

Boom Boom

I'd love to have Madonna over for dinner and conversation, but I suspect she'd be bored with my company inside of five minutes. Another choice: Anna McGarrigle.

Fri, 2010-07-23 10:51

#19

Star Spangled C...

Roger Federer. But for a tennis match, not dinner.

Fri, 2010-07-23 12:54

#20

Catchfire

Boom Boom, from what I've heard tell of your biography here on babble and elsewhere, if Madonna got bored with your company in five minutes, she'd be the boring one, not you.

I have a whole list of celebrities and I wouldn't know where to start. I'm very easily impressed, you know. Some that come to mind:

Janelle Monae
Lady Gaga
Judith Butler
Eve Kosofsky-Sedgwick (RIP)
Fredric Jameson
Franco Moretti
Slavoj Zizek
Clara Hughes
Jose Mourinho
Thomas King

Fri, 2010-07-23 12:57

#21

Boom Boom

Catchfire wrote:
Boom Boom, from what I've heard tell of your biography here on babble and elsewhere, if Madonna got bored with your company in five minutes, she'd be the boring one, not you.

You just made my day! Thank you.

Fri, 2010-07-23 13:01

#22

al-Qa'bong

The Angry Arab, As'ad AbuKhalil.

Maybe he could tell me how his mom makes fried aubergines. Mine are always too oily.

Fri, 2010-07-23 13:39

#23

N.Beltov

i'd make a vindaloo for Arundhati Roy, talk a bit of poetry and literature, discuss Indian politics and social life. Then maybe have some figs, fresh mangos, peaches and papaya, ... :)

Sat, 2010-07-24 23:08

#24

laine lowe laine lowe's picture

I think I would enjoy Margaret Atwood's company. I think any of the cast of the Kids in the Hall would be a hoot.

I would also like to sit down to dinner with Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, and her partner.

Sun, 2010-07-25 14:40

#25

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

I would like to have dinner with Philip Pullman. Or Richard Dawkins. Or both! Terry Pratchett is another I'd like to meet.

The blond guy recently interviewed Jody Williams, Nobel peace prize laureate, and I wouldn't mind dining with her. She's tough, prickly, and very smart. I think she'd be a hoot to hang out with. I like a lot of the other suggestions, too, like Rachel Maddow and Elizabeth II. Actually, I'd like to have a scotch with Liz. I'd be surprised if she didn't like the odd belt - gosh knows, if I had her family I would.

Sun, 2010-07-25 14:46

#26

laine lowe laine lowe's picture

Speaking of Liz, I would love to have a drink or two with Helen Mirren.

Sun, 2010-07-25 14:51

#27

Unionist

Hey, laine, great to see you around these parts again! And yes, if I had to have dinner with a celebrity, Helen Mirren would be on my list of prime suspects.

Sun, 2010-07-25 15:31

#28

Boom Boom

Unionist wrote:
...Helen Mirren would be on my list of prime suspects.

Sun, 2010-07-25 17:20

#29

al-Qa'bong

Unionist wrote:

Hey, laine, great to see you around these parts again! And yes, if I had to have dinner with a celebrity, Helen Mirren would be on my list of prime suspects.

Not Me!

Sun, 2010-07-25 17:20

#30

Refuge

I would have to say the Dalai Lama, though I suspect it would not be a very meaningful meal. But none the less I would still pick the Dalai Lama. (Sorry Unionist - I would pass on your regard for him I promise )