Some artists perfectly fit the definition of ‘bon vivant’ and, almost fortuitously, they are also among the artists we appreciate the most. In April, we mentioned Pete Fowler in our post about cheese: French Cheese: Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, Chevre… We even published two of his drawings about cheese he did after he experienced French cheese ‘bad boy’ Bleu des Causses.

Today, as we try a new recipe: Beer Can chicken from Simply Recipes (we are reckless people at the Sama Gazette!), we were very much inspired by a 24 x30″ acrylic and cel-vinyl on wood painting Joe Ledbetter created for the Magnus Maximus Show at Corey Helford Gallery in June. “A Bit of the Good Life” has been sold $3000; we may not be the buyer but we are an admirer (nice rhyme).

Anyway. Here is what we will intend to cook: Beer Can chicken!

Is it just me, or is beer can chicken a boy thing? Look, I grew up with four younger brothers, and if you told them you were going to insert a half-drunk beer into the butt of a chicken and grill it, I think they would actually get interested in cooking. Joking aside, this is a brilliant way to roast a chicken, on the grill or in the oven. Yes the chicken looks rather ridiculous on its beer can perch, covered with an herb rub and half-ready to salute you. But hear me out. While the chicken is dry roasting on the outside, the inside is being bathed with steamy beer, keeping the chicken meat wonderfully moist…

If you want to challenge us, you can read the full recipe on this page. When done, please send us a pic of what you cooked. Just so we know we are not good cooks, but we always try to reach for the stars 😉

Below is Joe Ledbetter‘s painting. We think it’s great and it perfectly illustrates this post: we will definitely eat the chicken this way, with our hands as an homage to the artist’s inspirational work (yes, we are reckless people at the Sama Gazette and also a bit weird…). If you missed the Magnus Maximus Show in Culver City, you can visit the Past Shows section on Corey Helford Gallery website. The Magnus Maximus Metamorphosis Edition Collectors set are available on the Loyal Subjects website. Don’t miss them!