G Wiv--Congratulations and Thank YOU!

Today's Chicago Tribune honors Gary with a Good Eating Award for founding LTH Forum.

Gary Wiviott de-scribes himself as a "barbecue life coach," but he also has a day job in financial leasing. Many food enthusiasts, though, only know the Chicago resident for his fervent role championing the city's dining and cooking scene online and in person. Wiviott founded lthforum.com, a popular Chicago Internet forum, 31 /2 years ago. At last count the group he describes as Chicago's "Chamber of Culinary Commerce" has signed on 4,500 registered members and averages 9 million hits per month.

For myself, and certainly more than 4500 others, THANK YOU! Well deserved, indeed.

I would also like to thank Gary Wiviott.

Not just for founding LTH Forum, but also for informing us of the best deal on a WSM smoker---Russo Ace Hardware on Montrose, where I ultimately purchased mine.

Also, Thanks for all the helpful tips associated with its use. My family and friends have dubbed me the "BBQ Maven"----Flattering, but not well deserved.

Best Wishes--

Bravo!! I quickly scanned the article at first, my eye was drawn to Alpana's picture and I immediately thought, "Damn, Gary and LTH should have been here!" Then I noticed you on the second glance. It wasn't the greatest photo placement out of the 10 in the article, but definitely the most well deserved!
>>Brent

Congrat to the man in black. Well deserved. But who are those other people in the story?

Congratulations, Gary!!! My stomach and I thank you.

I'm sure some people knew about this award. While not actually knowing it, when I saw that today was award day at Good Eating, I pretty much knew. Since our community first got whirling around 2001, someone's deserved one of the Trib awards. Us eaters and talking/chatting about eating eaters have been hugely influential on Chicago's food scene (the Savuer issue being the final proof). An award has been long overdue.

Gary's recognition today was thus not cutting edge but still well deserved. Gary's not just someone, but someone who put a lot of energy and resources (in many ways) to this specific eating community. Our tummies AND minds have benefited. A hell of a lot of eaters, here in Chicago and all around the world have benefited. Congratulations.

Congrats. Anybody else want to join me in a grass-roots campaign for next year's Nobel Peace Prize? "Make BBQ, Not War!"

Only if Gary promises to react in the same manner that Doris Lessing did when informed of winning the Nobel for Literature this year.

(congrats Gary!)

LTH,

Thank you for the kind words, I am honored, and a wee bit flabbergasted, to be the recipient of a Good Eating Award. LTHForum is an effort by many, moderators and members, and it is my great good fortune to be part of the community.

Enjoy,
Gary

Don't have anything to add, but wanted to put my $.02 of congratulations in! About time!

All the great meals, all the congratulations for the great barbecue I make, all the gracious appreciation for my second-rate barbecue from Gary himself (I know it is second-rate because he shared the good stuff), all the effort and support put into making LTHForum the success it has become, all the (gracious) time spent getting the word out, all the chili oil, all the rub - Gary has made my life and the food world of Chicago a much richer place, and most impressively it has been a labor of love.

Thank you, and congratulations Gary. You deserve it.

Congratulations, and thanks, plus--did anyone besides me also get a little thrill as if it were you who'd been recognized? I had my own little personal Sally Field Moment this morning, irrational as that might be.

Bravo!

riddlemay wrote:Congratulations, and thanks, plus--did anyone besides me also get a little thrill as if it were you who'd been recognized? I had my own little personal Sally Field Moment this morning, irrational as that might be.

I don't think it's irrational at all. We are liked.

Congratulations are in order for GWiv and every member of this communitity.

Recognition that is well-deserved and earned. Congratulations Gary.

Congrats, Gary, on this well-deserved honor. And thanks for the labor of love known as LTHForum.com -- it has greatly enriched my life.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Congrats, Gary, on this well-deserved honor. And thanks for the labor of love known as LTHForum.com -- it has greatly enriched my life.

=R=

Ditto that. Congrats!

Gary, you rule! What I want to know is what you're having for dinner tonight.

Wow. Attaboys for G Wiv. Gary made the video segment also, right behind Alpana. Only they forgot to mention he is "cute as a button". [I was going to provide a supporting link here, but the pertinent thread seems to have been truncated].

Vital Information wrote:Gary's not just someone, but someone who put a lot of energy and resources (in many ways) to this specific eating community. Our tummies AND minds have benefited. A hell of a lot of eaters, here in Chicago and all around the world have benefited.

Well said.

Congratulations, Gary!

Congratulations. Well deserved indeed.

And thank you -- I'm truly grateful for this community and all you've done to build it.

Congratulations - that's awesome.

Well ain't this a bitch.
My whole carefully constructed, rigorously maintained misanthropic weltaanschauung is knocked into a cocked hat, just like that.
What am I supposed to do and believe now that somewhere in the cosmos goodness has gone unpunished, civility been rewarded, selflessness appreciated, and integrity celebrated?
Obviously, no one involved was thinking of me. As usual.
Fine. Congratulations, I guess. Break's over. Gotta finish up my Lunchables and get back to work. Oh, and, uh...thanks for making a place for the likes of me.

Congratulations!

Contrats, Gary!

Does this mean we can't hate on the Good Eating section anymore?

JoelF wrote:Contrats, Gary!

Does this mean we can't hate on the Good Eating section anymore?

Wha...?

Think less hate than younger sibling who gets irritated when the big brother gets all the praise for something#2 son did months earlier.

Gary,

Congratulations. LTH has enhanced my life in many, many ways. A big thanks!

Jyoti

Congratulations, Gary. The ball is rolling now. No doubt we'll soon be reading breathless accounts of "The LTH Effect."

HI,

This award is quite meaningful when one considers all those who have been awarded before. Lofty company with Rick Bayless, Charlie Trotter, Grant Achatz, Marilyn Pocius, Don Newcomb, Bruce Kraig and quite a few others we have discussed about in this forum and perhaps met. I was also pleased to see Edna of Edna's Soulfood included in this year's roster.

Certainly the award to Gary is a tribute to the LTHforum community. Gary certainly represents us well, though I guess a mosaic of the 4000+ participants who make this site tick wouldn't fit in the small slot budgeted for an image. We are the community behind the man pictured there.

It is terribly exciting every day to read the interesting material brought to the table by so many. Learned and witty conversation that tickles the brain. A delight to participate in such a great community.

Congratulations Gary!

Congratulations LTHforum.com!

Best wishes,