T.S.D.O.B.: Day 13 - I Like Killing Flies

Thanks for showing up to day 13 of Thirty Straight Days Of Blogging. What I have for you today is a movie review. While the name "I Like Killing Flies" may sound a little odd, this movie shows you a side of the food industry that few people see and even fewer truly understand. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Kenny Shopsin.

The film is centered around restaurant owner and chef Kenny Shopsin. For 30 years, he ran his restaurant in Greenwich Village, NY before his lease ran out and had to move to a different location. The premise of this documentary is straight forward, but what you see and hear from Shopsin, his family and his customers, will paint a picture larger than you would ever expect.

When you first meet Kenny, you see a man getting ready to open his restaurant. When he gets to the kitchen, you quickly realize this isn't what you normally see in the movies. You see a tiny, hole-in-the-wall kitchen that is held together with duct tape and bubble gum.

As the movie goes on, you see the kind of colorful character that Kenny Shopsin is. He's sarcastic, funny, foul-mouthed, blunt, and sometimes, just a cranky old bastard. He knows it, too. He never shies away from anything that might be considered a fault.

During the film, you meet his family that pretty much confirms everything Kenny said about himself, good and bad.

Along the way, we learn about the "Rules" of his restaurant. We hear from customers who say that you aren't a true regular until Kenny has kicked you out of the restaurant. All the while, you see how much everyone in Kenny's life loves and adores all that he has done.

You might be asking yourself why you would want to watch a movie about some cranky old man in New York. Well, you want to see this movie because he's a lot more than a foul mouthed cook.

When you get past the attitude and curse words, what you see is really quite simple: A hard working man. You see a man cooking in a tiny kitchen who makes no excuses and doesn't let anything stop him. You see a man, who by his own children's accounts, doesn't take any time off.

From a chefs standpoint, it's amazing seeing this guy crank out that level of food in such tight quarters. I watched him use a technique that really threw me for a loop. I don't want to spoil it, but it's really cool, and a bit dangerous!

If you cook for a living, or are thinking about getting into the biz, this movie is a must watch. If you just enjoy good movies and foul language, this is worth a watch.

I was able to stream this movie on Netflix.

See you tomorrow!

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