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| Ron Alonzo |
Ron Alonzo
De Gustibus non est disputandum
To us at The PJ, he was "Don Merlot," our resident epicure. For several years, Don sliced and diced — and uncorked — the best of dining for the blog. He reminisced. He mused. He longed for other times. And, from his base in New Orleans, he also unraveled the international intrigue of cuisine, bringing personal experience and erudition to his critique. (He was a member of Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin). Readers admired Don's ability to link a palate, developed over more than fifty years in Europe and in North and South America, to modern tastes.
Don/Ron was also friend.
We will sorely miss him!
By Rod Alonzo
We lost my father, Ronald Thomas Alonzo Ratcliff, earlier this week after a very brief illness. All who knew him are reflecting on the joy he brought to their lives. He grew up in Mexico City whose rich mosaic of culture infused his sense of music, food, and history and whetted his appetite for further adventures.
Both of his parents (Alice Ratcliff and Rosendo Alonzo) grew up in Topeka, Kansas and, as a result, he grew up with a cosmopolitan sense of the city along with a breadbasket vibe of the Midwest. Having an Anglo mother and a Mexican father created a lifelong dialogue about identity.
Our houses were always decorated with Aztec calendars and sarapes (even though he was half Scottish). When he was fourteen, his parents sent him to Staunton Military School in Virginia. His history teachers captured his imagination and inspired him to learn more about the wider world.
While attending Staunton he met Pierre Rufin who eventually introduced him to his sister, Denise Rufin Alonzo, and fireworks ensued. Ron went on to attend Tulane and Thunderbird. He began working at Humble and then moved on to Whirlpool, Kohler, and Jet Spray. His work enabled him to realize his persistent dream of traveling the world. His great mentor, Ralph Carreno, encouraged him to learn about French cuisine and wine in order to facilitate their business ventures. Over the years he visited many places and met many people. Wherever he went, the pattern was the same, he would immerse himself in the food, music, and history of his latest destination. Upon his return, he took great pleasure in sharing all of his discoveries with friends and family. A classic example of this occurred after his early visits to China.
Henceforward we were frequently treated to a dish called Ants Climbing a Tree which consisted on spicy pork and ginger clinging to cellophane rice noodles. My dad had many dishes that he made over and over. We were always having people over and he loved nothing better than cooking a meal and discussing current events with his guests.
He provided his family with rich experiences as well. Traveling and experiencing international culture was the norm. Looking back on it, cooking and photography were my father's enduring means of expression. It was all part of his epic adventure. Although my father didn't play an instrument, music was a deep passion. As I grew up there was always music playing at full volume. The selections ranged from Alfredo Jimenez to Dixieland to Jaques Brel to Ravel's Bolero to Beethoven. Perhaps his deepest passion was for classical guitar. Segovia, Christopher Parkening, and John Williams were on heavy rotation.
He was a provider, a charmer, a scholar, and very loyal to his family. It is stunning to think that his travels on this plain have ended. His ever-present drive to have that next great meal or listen to that moving song definitely inspired those who spent any time with him. Fuerte abrazo, Papa
Rod Alonzo, a musician and writer, Ron's son, lives in New York.