I was trying to write my new blog post on Zack Engel‘s “Night in Nola” class we had last week at COOK and encountered photos from when he was here helping out his good friend Erin O’Shea for her Percy Street BBQ night.  As I flipped through the pictures I was reminded of how entertained I was! It goes without saying the food was amazing, but there was something special about that night, and that something can be summed up in two words: Rick Nichols.

Rick joined the Inquirer in 1978, and has since made quite a name for himself in the Philadelphia food scene.  Recently he left to concentrate on his own writing but can usually be found at various food activities around town.  We asked him to host a class for us here at COOK and he immediately picked Erin O’Shea’s class.

He arrived that night with one goal in mind.  To eat, drink, and be merry!  Before we could say “Campari” everyone in the room had a Negroni in their hand.  A Negroni is equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, and also happens to be Nichols’ favorite cocktail.

We bonded over my confession that I used to go by the nickname “Yoni Negroni.”  That was years before I even knew what the cocktail was. At the very least now you know what Rick looks like so if you do see him, buy him a Negroni  — you’re guaranteed a good time.