Food Network Addict - 2008 Year In Review, Part II

And now... the exciting conclusion to my 2008 Year in Review

In July, I reclaimed my love for Mary Alice, the first Food Network star I ever interviewed...


...and subsequently started a fan club in her honor... I caught the MAJOR screwup on Food Network's website when it accidentally revealed the winner of The Next Food Network Star four days before it was to be announced...


... we learned of Aaron McCargo Jr's win (although many of us knew beforehand)... I interviewed the great Ted Allen... and I found the WORST article about Food Network ever.

In August, I interviewed Ask Aida herself, Aida Mollenkamp... we learned that Adam Gertler was getting his own show too... I was the first to post about Tyler Florence's new baby being born at 8:08 a.m. on 8/8/08...


... Rachael Ray was named the top-earning celebrity chef ($18 million last year)... the Duff Goldman minimate action figure was released, while I wondered when the Giada PEZ head would be coming out...

... and we saw Sunny Anderson eat a bite of the world's hottest pepper...


In September, I posted one of my most commented-on posts when I questioned Gordon Elliott's motives with his shows...


... we learned about Food Network partnering with Hearst to release a magazine... we saw Isaac Mizrahi be a big douche on Bruce Seidel's first episode of the FN Dish... Rachael Ray turned 40 and got a strange birthday message from her owner friend and business partner, Oprah Winfrey...


... we saw that Alex Guarnaschelli's The Cooking Loft was a great show... I revealed a big secret... and I had a chat with Giada De Laurentiis.


In October, we learned that Hillary Clinton turned down a request to appear on Paula Deen's show Paula's Party... I attended a very fun party at the New York City Wine & Food Festival and got to meet Anne Burrell, Giada, Susie Fogelson, and even got to see Bobby Flay bust some dance moves (by himself) on the dancefloor...



... I had an amazing birthday dinner at Alex Guarnachelli's Butter restaurant... I found Giada's new show to be very "nice"... and we saw Sandra Lee doing what she does best: dressing up in crazy costumes.


In November, the election was the big story, so I posted about which Food Network stars donated to campaigns... we learned that Kelsey Nixon is getting a Food Network show, too... when confronted by the paps, Guy Fieri said he "just does commercials for Friday's"...


... Ina Garten's Thanksgiving Special (I was a special guest) aired...


... we learned that Robert Irvine is coming back to Dinner: Impossible... we got a peek inside Giada's new home... and I found Rachael to be looking pretty good lately.


And finally, in December, we learned that Nigella is over being called the "domestic goddess"... I hoped I was NOT that "Guy" back in the day... Food Network offered tours of its studios... and I wished you all Happy Holidays!

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What a fun year 2008 turned out to be. It's hard to believe some of the things I had the chance to do this past year (party at the Versace mansion in Miami, talking to Sunny and Giada in New York, flying to Ina's house and getting a helicopter tour of the Hamptons, etc.), and can't really imagine how 2009 could be much better. We shall see, though.

I hope everyone has a great New Year's and awesome 2009. I really appreciate all the comments, emails, suggestions, and alerts (a lot of posts come about thanks to very perceptive readers). I hope to have manymore interviews, giveaways, and other fun stuff to keep you entertained throughout the entire coming year. Be safe tonight!

Food Network Addict - 2008 Year In Review, Part I

What a year it's been here at Food Network Addict!

In January, we finally got a look at Ina Garten's new barn & kitchen that's seen in her new episodes. Although I kinda miss the old kitchen (with the mysteriously empty room behind it) at times, this new one is so beautiful to just sit and gaze at, wishing I had two hidden Sub Zero fridges, three ovens, and an 18-foot kitchen island.


Giada De Laurentiis was barely showing her pregnancy back in January, as seen here in her appearance at the Mad Money premiere.


February was a BIG month at FNA.

We wondered who Paula Deen was hiding in the blurry photo behind her...


... we shared our opinions on the just-premiered show Down Home with the Neelys... I gave my review of Ultimate Recipe Showdown... we learned about Robert Irvine's resume embellishments... and I hit up a million fun events at the 2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.




In March, I posted an awesome interview I was able to do with Ace of Cakes' Duff Goldman, Mary Alice Yeskey, and Geof Manthorne and another with Tyler Florence.




...my girl Sandra Lee gave a great interview filled with fancy PowerPoint transitions...


March closed on a happy note with Giada giving birth to her first child, a girl named Jade.


I got in a good April Fool's joke this year with my announcement that Dave Lieberman would be taking over Emeril Live.


...I also did my first interview with Sunny Anderson... we learned of Paula Deen's intention to start a daytime talk show... Cindy McCain's "family recipes" were discovered to be stolen verbatim from Food Network's Rachael Ray and Giada De Laurentiis...


...when asked what she liked best about attending charity events, Sandra Lee told OK! Magazine "Open bar... am I allowed to say that?"


...Michael Symon was announced as Robert Irvine's replacement on Dinner: Impossible... and Food Network nabbed 8 Emmy nominations, including one for "Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling" for Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee (she lost).

In May, I posted about Amy Finley not coming back for a 2nd season of The Gourmet Next Door... I asked many times "Who Bobs It Better?"...


...Emeril made a quiet exit from Food Network (save for repeats and some eps of Essence of Emeril)... I scored an interview with Bob Tuschman... Rachael Ray drew some fire for sporting a scarf in a Dunkin Donuts ad that somehow deemed her a "terrorist sympathizer"... and I gave my review of the first episode of The Next Food Network Star, season 4.

In June, Lisa Garza (remember her?) reached out to this blog and tried to explain those illusive "three Cs"... we saw a Rachael Ray fan taking her love a bit too far...


...I scarfed down a cupcake with Sunny Anderson while in NYC... Rachael Ray closed on her home in the Hamptons, effectively locking Ina Garten up even tighter in her own Hamptons home...


...I railed on the trainwreck that was Mary Nolan... I gave Anne Burrell's new show an A+ rating... and we learned that Ellie Krieger is just like us...



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Stay tuned for Part II of my year in review. It's been fun looking back on all of the exciting happenings of 2008. What was your favorite memory?

Girl Who Mary Alice Visited For "Bucket List" Wish Dies

Very sad news to report...

Liz Evett, the 18-year-old Washington state girl diagnosed with Leukemia who was visited in the hospital by Mary Alice of Ace of Cakes, died on Monday.

After Liz stopped responding to chemotherapy in June, she got inspired by the 2007 movie The Bucket List and set out to create her own list of things she hoped to do before she died. Meeting someone from Charm City Cakes was on that list.

In a twist of fate, Mary Alice just happened to be in Seattle when a story ran in the local paper about Liz. Included in that story was one of Liz's bucket list wishes to meet someone from the show.

After learning of her death, Mary Alice wrote on Liz's website:
"Meeting her was one of the most meaningful days of my life. She has touched so many people, and I will be forever in her debt for making (my) life a more grateful and peaceful life." [Source]

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Remember to hug the people you love this New Year's Eve!

Blind Item: A Contestant on NFNS Season 5 Has Been on Food Network Before

My first blind item! How exciting.

Sources reveal that one of the contestants set to appear on Season 5 of The Next Food Network Star has previously been on Food Network.

Hmm... that could mean a lot of things. A former host? A guest on a show? A former contestant?

Is Lisa Garza coming back for attempt #2? I must know!

Tyler Florence To Release Line of Organic Baby Food

I don't remember anything wrong with Gerber.
Although I don't remember much from those days.

ANYhow, Tyler Florence will be releasing his own line of organic baby food, set to hit store shelves early next year.


"Florence’s baby food line eliminates glass jars and incorporates some wonderful age-appropriate, allergy-tested flavors that aren’t found in any other baby foods. In addition to selections such as roasted apples and roasted bananas, other options include gourmet stage 1 and 2 varieties — such as pasta with lentil bolognese, peach rice pudding, sweet baby carrots, and apples and mango."

I don't have kids, so parents: is this something you'd be interested in serving your baby, or would have served your baby?

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I'm back in DC now. Hope the holidays were fun-filled for everyone.

Happy Holidays from Food Network Addict

It's Christmas Eve and I'm stuffed, the presents are wrapped, and I've got my wine to tide me over until bedtime and Santa's arrival. I hope he's good to all of you, dear readers. (If you believe in that stuff. If not, I hope you have a great Wednesday night!)




It's been another fun year on this crazy blog. I really do appreciate all the comments and suggestions, and am glad such a lively discussion takes place nearly every day. That was my goal when I started FNA back in 2006. Hard to believe 2009 is right around the corner.

Luckily the temps around here have risen to a balmy 16 degrees or so (before the windchill). It's practically flip flop weather, now!

Ina's A Name-Signing Machine

I wonder if Ina gets a hand massage during these book tours? Think I'd need one.

BRB

Sorry about the lack of posting. I'm in Illinois for the week and have been busy finishing up last minute Christmas stuff, as I'm sure many of you are too. So who's really bothering with the Internet anyway?

Stay tuned, though. I'll have some fun "best of 2008" posts up soon. Until then, stay warm! It was 1 degree (-24 windchill) here yesterday for most of the day!

Paula Deen Donates Food, Gets No Christmas Love in Return

Paula Deen's involvement with Smithfield Foods (and subsequent refusal to give up the endorsement deal) has definitely tarnished her image a bit. Thankfully, no one can say anything bad about the great work Paula and Smithfield have been doing to feed hungry families.

For the second time in less than a year, Smithfield Foods and celebrity cook Paula Deen came to the assistance of America's Second Harvest in Deen's hometown of Savannah with a delivery of 25,000 pounds of meat as part of their Helping Hungry Homes(TM) initiative. The donation equates to 100,000 servings of much-needed protein for hungry families

Paula spoke to Fox News' Hannity & Colmes about the donation. Sadly, when asked if they were "ready for Christmas," Paula got no response!


DEEN: Are you guys ready for Christmas?

HANNITY: Thank you for helping all these great people out. We love you. You know that. God bless you.

DEEN: Sean, it just gives me the warmest feeling to be able to do like — like we did today.

HANNITY: Yes. You're a great American.

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Oh well, Paula. I'm ready for Christmas, in case she was wondering. I'm not ready for the snow and ice storms that await in ILL-inois, though:-(

Rachael and Isaboo on Cover of Modern Dog

I had some trouble titling this post. "Rachael does modern dog" just sounds wrong.


Rachael's an outspoken dog-lover and even released her own line of dog food this year, so I guess this magazine fits the bill.

There's been what appears to be a small controvery in the comments section. Evidently the since-pulled recipe Rachael provided had onions in it, which can be bad for dogs. From what I've read, onions are not always entirely toxic. I'd like to think the editors of a magazine called "Modern Dog" would know enough about food safety to choose whether to print the recipe or not.

[Thanks Daniel for sending!]

A Relatively Tame Ina Garten Cooking Demo on TODAY

Maybe it was the frigid East Hampton winter that got Ina off of Long Island and into her NYC digs lately, where I'm sure she's been shacking up. Today she appeared on NBC's Today show.

They were smart to have Meredith run the segment, but unfortunately nothing really happened in it!

Not really sure how the roast chicken was "dressed up for the holidays," but maybe she ran out of time. Mostly same old, same old. Roast chicken from her first book and pasta with white truffle butter from her new book Back to Basics. I still love her, though.

Ann Curry managed to sneak in at the last second and still run her mouth. Tricky tricky!

Happy Birthday Duff Goldman!

Food Network Addict wants to wish Duff Goldman a very happy 34th birthday!



Thanks to This Day In Jewish History for letting me know!

Nigella's BBC Xmas Special Watched by 3 Million

WE WANT MORE NIGELLA LAWSON ON FOOD NETWORK USA!

I don't care that everything she makes has garlic oil and sausage, I just love her!

Luckily, ratings (which = money) talk. And Nigella's looking great on the ratings front. The first ep of her three part BBC2 Christmas special was watched by 3.6 million viewers! The only show on Food Network (US) that came close to that was the season 4 finale of The Next Food Network Star, which got about 4 million viewers.


UK's The Guardian points out that Nigella had a million more viewers than the BBC1 special "Panorama," which highlighted terror groups on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Hmm... Christmas cooking with Nigella or terror groups. Decisions, decisions!

Amuse-Bouche: Surgery, Bears and Chocolate

• A Weston, Connecticut home with an all-white kitchen served as the set for last night's Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Holiday Special.
  
• No peace and quiet this holiday season! Rachael Ray's vocal chord surgery called off.
  
• Nigella Lawson criticized by animal rights groups for saying she'd kill a bear and wear it.
  
• Alton Brown tells The Miami Herald: "I'm a very private person. I'm kept protected, and I am painfully shy in public."
• Ted Allen on his favorite Iron Chef dish.
  
• Alex Guarnaschelli (love her!) shows us how to make chocolate shortbread cookies.
  

Gift Idea: Food Network Studios Tour

Bob Tuschman's trying to make a quick $2,400 me thinks.

Just kidding.

Read on:

For the first time ever, Food Network will allow members of the general public to purchase tickets for exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of the Food Network Studios. Tour attendees will see the studio where stars like Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri film 30 Minute Meals and Guy’s Big Bite. Fans of Iron Chef America will learn the secrets of hallowed Kitchen Stadium. And the doors to the Food Network Kitchens will be opened to allow fans to see where the network’s recipes are developed and tested. Along the way, veteran tour guide and network employee Joe Moseley will provide attendees with the history of Food Network and the Chelsea Market building.

Tours will last approximately 45 minutes and will be limited to a maximum of 15 attendees. Tickets are $20 each and will be held on the following days and times:

Wednesday, December 17th @ 10am

Thursday, December 18th @ 10am

Tuesday, January 6th @ 12pm

Wednesday, January 7th @ 12pm

Thursday, January 8th @ 2pm

Tuesday January 13th @ 2pm

Wednesday, January 14th @ 10am

Thursday, January 15th @ 12pm


To purchase tickets, interested parties are encouraged to call the Food Network Tour Ticket Hotline at (646-336-3736) or visit the Food Network Shop at Chelsea Market Baskets. Chelsea Market Baskets is located inside Chelsea Market at 75 Ninth Avenue, between 15th and 16th Streets, in Manhattan.

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I'd like to go. I've been to the building and in some of the offices, but never to the studios or test kitchens. Don't know if I'll be in NYC on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, though. Hmm...

TV Alert: Ina Garten on Today show Dec. 18

Ina Garten will not stop making these morning show rounds until her new book Back to Basics is the #1 bestselling cookbook ever! At least that's how it appears.

She's already apppeared on Good Morning America twice to promote it, and this Thursday the East Hampton's Barefoot Contessa will be on NBC's Today show. Let's just hope Ann Curry and/or Natalie Morales doesn't try to take over the segment or say that they "love her show on HGTV" like they did a few years back:




I swear, it's like on every morning show cooking segment the host feels like s/he needs to talk nonstop to move things along.

****

Happy Monday. Can't believe xmas is next week!

The Important Question: Mary Alice

Subject: Mary Alice
Question: Bangs up or down?


Personally, I'm partial to the early seasons' Mary Alice with red hair... but that's probably just cuz I don't like change in general. Keep it stagnant and keep me happy!

Ask Aida to Get a Better Editor

Was this uploaded by mistake? Aida Mollenkamp stutters, starts over a few times, and generally seems unsettled in this new video on Food Network's YouTube page:



"And, yes, Michelle there is. So margarine is actually a, you know, a ehhh vegetable product. So, yes, Michelle there is..."

Sandra Makes Another Crazy Cake

This thing almost rivals her Kwanzaa Cake.



Don't let those garlands line up. Remember to offset your licorice garlands, just like on a real Christmas tree!

Ina Garten Does Good Morning America

Ina Garten hit up ABC's Good Morning America for the second time to promote her new book, Back to Basics,which you should all have by now!

The segment was off to a sour start before it even began, though, when GMA host Chris Cuomo, younger brother of New York State Attorney General (who in other news is the confirmed boyfriend of Semi-Homemade's Sandra Lee), went to commercial saying they'd be right back with "EEE-na Garten." You don't see it in the video above.

Ina was great, though. She demonstrated the recipe for her easy sticky buns (from the new book), among others. Plus, she even donated a coat to the GMA coat tree.

I want to make them xmas morning!

And, as I'm typing this, I'm watching Ina's friend T.R. in a Macy's commercial, so this must be a good day.

Stuff I Wrote: Celebrity Chef Restaurants on Delish.com

Watching celebrity chefs/personalities on TV is one thing, but eating in their restaurants quite another. Luckily, so many of them are opening up new eateries all across the country—from Beverly Hills to Tunica, Mississippi to Detroit to DC to New York.

Read the article I wrote over on Delish.com to find out more about them.

Food Network regulars like Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Michael Symon are covered, plus Top Chef's Tom Colicchio & Spike Mendolsohn and the D.C. sensation who's now opening up shop in Beverly Hills, José Andrés.

Yummy!

Check it out.

I Was Right! Daisy Martinez Coming to Food Network

Food Network Addict was the first to speculate about Daisy Martinez's possible arrival on Food Network, and guess what-- it's happening!

And in even better (or worse, depending on how you look at it) news, Rachael Ray will be producing the new series, Viva Daisy!, premiering Jan. 10 at 9:30am ET.


Watch Entertainment, Rach's production company whose president and co-founder is none-other than her husband John Cusimano, will be producing the series.

"I called [Food Network President] Brooke Johnson and we had a nice meeting with Bob Tuschman and some of the peeps over there, and we brought Daisy with us and she just lit up the room. What I love about Daisy is her accessibility factor; if you don't have a Latin-American heritage, it can be very foreign to an American audience. I think she makes it fun and easy,” Rachael told Broadcasting & Cable.

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So are you excited for Daisy's arrival? Think Ingrid Hoffman needs some Latin cooking company?

[Photo Source]

TV Alert: Paula Deen on Leno Tonight

The Queen of Butter, Paula Deen, will appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight.


Ms. Paula will be sharing the couch with Will Smith and k.d. lang.

Please Say I'm Not That Guy (Fieri)

Food Network's website has had this little interactive feature called "Are You That Guy?" up for a while now, where people post pictures or videos of themselves looking like Food Network always-on Guy Fieri.

Like Food Network says, "Guy's trademark bleached blond spiky hair, rough and tumble tats and distinct fashion sense isn't easy to replicate."

Well, I'll give you the "rough and tumble tats" but will not acknowledge any "distinct fashion sense." Most pics posted are just people (or a hedgehog, like someone put up) with bleached blond hair.

Please flatter me and say I'm not, or rather wasn't, "that Guy" back when I had my hair bleached.


Keep in mind that this was when I was barely 18 years old and frat dudes were getting their tips frosted. Compare that to today where Guy Fee-Eddie is, what, pushing 45 and still getting the dyejob? In 2008?

I understand that part of being a celebrity, for some, involves presenting yourself as something different or unattainable to the rest of the population. That's where the intrigue lies. Look at Christina Aguilera. She has the same ice-white blond hair that Guy does, but it still works for her. And she still manages to change it up from time to time.

Can Guy keep the bleaching up forever?

What's This Ad Trying to Tell Us?

Giada De Laurentiis at a recent book signing... and the Google ad associated with it.

Who Wears Short Shorts, Part II

I really don't have anything today, so I thought I'd look back and see what I posted TWO YEARS ago on Dec. 5, 2006. Sexily enough, it was a Dave Lieberman (RIP... on Food Network, that is) post. Looks like I didn't have much to say back then, either. Must be something about Dec. 5. Have a good weekend everyone!

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So who wears short shorts?


Evidently Dave does. I don't really have anything to say today. It's finally cold here in D.C. and I'm not too happy about it. Hopefully, these pictures of Dave on the beach will warm us all up:-)

Sandra Lee Speaks at Share Our Strength Event

Sandra Lee is a spokesperson for Share Our Strength and the Great American Bake Sale, the non-profit org dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America. Even though this speech was given a few months ago, I thought I'd post it since it was just uploaded and has a lot of great Sandra moments.

She speaks highly of her co-spokesman Duff Goldman, plugs her Halloween show, and even gets a bit choked up when she remembers paying for grocery with food stamps.


Some of my favorite quotes:
(talking about a drink recipe) "And a little buzz... which I haven't had today, yet. But as soon as I get on that plane...!"

"I don't birth babies, I birth books."

"My other brother, who is gay and has a great partner, he's marrying a doctor! And they have dogs, so it's all good."

"Maybe we should do 'Cocktails for a Cause.' When you get these ladies a little liquored up, they pull out their pocketbooks!"

Hahaha... I'm glad Sandra doesn't compromise her style, even when speaking at an event such as this. Good work, Aunt Sandy; it's a great organization to be a part of!

Nigella Done Being "Domestic Goddess"???

How can this be?

Her cookbook may have been called "How To Be a Domestic Goddess," but international cookery queen Nigella Lawson is over the phrase so-often associated with her.


"Either you are a bitch who spends too long in the office and never sees your children, or you're some little throwback wanting to make things nice in the kitchen. And, of course, in real life women are both. Or neither. You have to find a way of integrating those two sides of yourself. Otherwise you go mad," said Nigella in an interview with The Radio Times and reported by the UK's Telegraph.

"You don't have to do the whole domestic goddess thing to revel in the solace of the hearth," she said. "If you want to put up fairy lights everywhere and then get pizza delivered, that's absolutely OK by me. I'd never say no to chips and curry sauce - I have very low tastes. Just that, a nice drink and some nice friends and I'd be happy."

So, chips and curry sauce instead of ham for Christmas this year, everyone?

Michael Chiarello Opens 'Bottega' This Friday

Even when not filming his Food Network show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, which I have the sneaking suspicion hasn't been filming new episodes for a while now, Michael Chiarello is still plenty busy. He's got another show on sister network Fine Living, is the owner of the NapaStyle store and product line, and will be opening a new restaurant in the Napa Valley area this Friday, Dec. 5.


(There he is looking dapper at this past Feb's South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Not a drop of perspiration on the man, and it was like 90 degrees!")

Bottega, Chiarello's newest offering to Napa, is housed in a vintage space at the V Marketplace area of Yountville, CA and features two large fireplaces, an outdoor terrazzo, and working wine room with a private dining table. According to Eater SF (which has great coverage of the spot), "signature dishes include warm pecorino cheese 'pudding' and house-made veal tortellini."

Yum.

Chiarello also has several Bottega updates on his personal blog talking about the challenges of picking a wine list, getting construction completed on time, etc. He really understands what a blog is all about. Good for ChiChi!

Any NapaValians planning on going this weekend?