about this blog

Who is the Food Network Addict? He's the guy serving up the latest news and gossip on your favorite celebrity chefs. From Rachael Ray to Ina Garten, Paula Deen to Giada, he's got you covered. Stop by daily and feed your addiction.


blog advertising is good for you.

Thursday, April 30

Tyler Florence Cooks a Derby Day Meal on TODAY

While the internationally acclaimed life & style expert person who cooks and puts place cards on things while on television Sandra Lee may be the spokesperson for KFC's new grilled chicken, Tyler Florence recently took to NBC's airwaves to show us his method for the tastier, fried goodness that is fried chicken. Check it out:



Yum.

And just cause I've called the ladies out on it before, I think Ty's wearing the same thing he wore on Oprah a few months back. No biggie, though.

Is anyone going to the Kentucky Derby? I don't care much for horse racing, but I like the idea of fancy hats and drinking minty beverages all day. We'll see if I can make that happen.

Labels: ,

 

Wednesday, April 29

Guessing Game: Who's Rocking Christian Louboutin Zebra Print Shoes?

I'll give you a hint, it's not Alton Brown.

Which female Food Network host was recently sporting this animalistic wedge?



UPDATE: I forgot to mention you can CLICK on the photo to find out the answer!

Labels:

 

Tuesday, April 28

Happy 39th Birthday, Bobby Deen!

Bobby Deen turns a youthful 39 years old today. Someone's gettin' a lot of spankings tonight!


(Not to mention the ones he'll be getting for his birthday, too.)

The bodacious bachelor that is Bobby just keeps chugging along. Brother Jamie writes that the two of them will be in Altoona, Pa. this Sunday for a food show. No word on whether or not Mommy Dearest might show up.

Have a good day, Bobby!

Labels: ,

 

Times ARE Tough! Paula Deen's Renting Out Her Beach House

Paula Deen is just like us regular folk. I bet a lot of you have several TV shows, your own magazine, a line of products on QVC, a line of candles at Wal-Mart, a seafood line, a nuts line, a furniture line, two restaurants, countless speaking appearances lined up, and the like... right?

But even with all that, Paula must be tightening the collective belt at the Deen household, as she's announced, via Twitter, the rental of her beach house in Tybee Island, Georgia.



For the low, low price of approx. $3,000/week, you can sleep in the very same bed that Paula and her husband Michael Groover have... well, let's just not imagine that.

Take a look:
Hey y'all and welcome to my beach house. It's just lovely, and with almost 2100 square feet, it's very spacious. It has lots of windows for that bright, breezy feel that I just love! Of course it has a fully equipted kitchen with a stand-up mixer, blender, toaster and coffee maker. I've stocked the kitchen with dishes and cookware from my personal product line, and y'all know any kitchen of mine isn't complete without cast iron.

For those who can't, or don't want to climb the stairs, there's an elevator with access to every floor. All of the bedrooms have high definition televisions and 2 guest rooms have DVD players. Of course the house is kid friendly, and while y'all can't smoke inside, y'all can smoke on the balconies surrounding the house. There's a fully stocked laundry room with plenty of linens and even an ironing board with iron (just in case y'all need it). All y'all need to bring are your beach towels.

The two car garage houses a grill, but please don't grill in the garage or on the balcony, and two bicycles so y'all can explore the island. Now, after much consideration, I decided on this particular place because of it's location. Nestled on the North end of Tybee Island, it's exactly 4 blocks from a major beach entrance, so y'all can walk or ride the bikes to the beach. At night, you're surrounded by peace and quiet. It's the best of both worlds!

Every rental will receive a custom canvas tote bag filled with goodies I selected myself. From signed cookbooks, to sauces and spices, to Captain Michael's coffee, all goodies are yours to take home with you. I'm also gonna throw in a couple of surprises y'all are just gonna love! So, get away from it all and come stay at my house!


*******************

Not the best time for ole' Paula to be asking for three grand, I would think. The house sounds nice... just a little weird to be hawking it on Twitter.

Maybe Ashton and Demi will take Paula up on the offer?

Labels:

 

Monday, April 27

Rachael Ray & Bearded Man Attend 2009 City Harvest Event

Rachael Ray and John really need to just give up the horribly awkward kiss pic they always sport on the red carpet. Blech!


When you look like you're asleep in published pictures, it's probably time to think up a new pose.

Luckily Rach got some solo time and managed to look pretty hot at the David Arquette-hosted event for City Harvest.


She does enjoy her little black dresses, doesn't she? All in all, I give her an 8 on the Yum-O scale.

[Photos]

Labels:

 

Quote of the Day: Paula Deen


Paula Deen on her new furniture line that launched over the weekend:
"I hope that when people walk in and see it, they'll feel these invisible arms coming around them and pulling them in and saying hey ya'll come on in."

Note to readers: If you ever walk inside any place and feel invisible arms pulling you in, run.

Labels:

 

Sunday, April 26

Chef Sandra Lee Wants You to Eat some Kentucky Grilled Chicken

If Sandra Lee had a show on Discovery Health about how to apply band-aids and unroll Ace bandages would she get featured in commercials as "Dr. Sandra Lee"?


As many of you've seen, "Chef Sandra Lee" is featured in the big KFC marketing campaign out now for its "Kentucky Grilled Chicken" brand, asking you to unthink what you thought about KFC. In addition to setting up the oh-so-modern Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace pages, KFC is giving away a piece of this grilled chicken for free tomorrow, April 27.

I know some people get very upset about chef being used in what they believe to be unwarranted circumstances. The funny thing about this whole "Chef Sandra Lee" thing is that I don't even think Aunt Sandy herself would say she's a chef!

I have a feeling this anointment was the result of a marketing person thinking the smart idea would be to call her a chef, but when you're going to KFC are you really thinking about the "chef" making that chicken? How often have you sent compliments to the chef after downing a 10-piece bucket?

There are a few KFCs in the DC area. I don't think I'll make any effort to get my hands all greased up by Chef Sandy's chicken, but if you do... let me know.

Labels: ,

 

Friday, April 24

Promo for Sandra Lee's New Show: Money Saving Meals

I'm pretty sure Sandra Lee chose to include this beautiful shot of an "Armadillo Egg" being bisected in the promo for her new show since I made them for the recent Semi-Homemade Party.


Nothing like crescent roll, sausage, cheese, and jalapeño to wake you up in the morning.

Labels: ,

 

Thursday, April 23

Eager to Give Us a Sneak Peek, Food2 Forgets How to Spell

I don't know why, but this one is just a pet peeve of mine... or is that peave?



(Especially since it's spelled right on all of the following pages.)

Not as good as the GET FIESTY commercial, though.

Labels: ,

 

Food2 Launches with New Series by Kelsey Nixon, Adam Roberts, and more

Food2, the site that Kelsey Nixon told the Utah Valley magazine would launch in January (it had its soft launch back in March) has quietly launched some of the promised video content, including the original series Kelsey & Spike Cook.

Don't get too clever on us, Food2!


The Food Network-affiliated site has been in the works for about a bajillion years, so this is a big step.

Amateur Gourmet Adam Roberts is also back with a self-titled series, while Football star (I use the term lightly, as my knowledge of football is, like, zero) Keith Neubert is hosting something called "Man Kitchen."

*********************
Food Network has tried its hand at web-only shows before, the first ones being Dave Lieberman's "Eat This" and "Dave Does." They both had a temporary, finite feel to them, so I'll be interested to see if this is something they'll be able to pull off long term.

Labels: , , ,

 

Stars Turn Out for Food Bank for NYC's Can-Do Awards

The Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards were held this past Tuesday night at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers, so naturally everyone in the food world got zipped into their tiny little gowns (which was hard for Emeril Lagasse) and hit up the piers.


Former President Clinton, Jon Bon Jovi, REM's Michael Stipe, Anne Burrell, Billy Joel's sort-of wife Katie Lee Joel, and even my favorite SVU actress Mariska Hargitay (get that collapsed lung healed!) were in attendance.


Food Bank for New York City
aims to end hunger throughout the city's five boroughs. Hope they raised lots of money!

*************************

I'm so glad it's Thursday. This week has been rough and I'm looking forward to a bit of rest this weekend. Might be going to New York, though, so that's pretty much the opposite of rest. Hmm... I need more coffee. Hope you all have a great Thursday!

Labels: , ,

 

Wednesday, April 22

Food's Hottest New Couple: Bourdain & Batali?

Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali pose together at last night's Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner. Awwwwww!


Love the matching orange motif! Maybe Tony didn't have time to run home, so he just borrowed one of Mario's ties?

Labels: ,

 

Tuesday, April 21

Brian Boitano, Anne Burrell, Alton Brown, Danny Boome, Chris Cosentino, Aaron Sanchez, and more Coming to New Food Network Shows

There were quite a few new shows announced today out of Food Network—eight primetime series and six daytime "In the Kitchen" shows&mdsah;but none sound quite as interesting as the upcoming series, still listed with a working title, WHAT WOULD BRIAN BOITANO MAKE?

Hmmm....



WHAT WOULD BRIAN BOITANO MAKE? (WT)
Premieres: August 2009

Everyone knows Brian Boitano won an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. What they don’t know: Brian is an accomplished cook who loves to entertain! In this new series, Brian takes viewers on a reality cooking adventure as he creates amazing food for a new event in each episode. Funny, knowledgeable and irresistible, Brian brings himself and so much more to What Would Brian Boitano Make?

Wonder if Food Network personality Marc Summers, who hosted one of my fave kids shows What Would You Do? had a stake in this one? And who doesn't love a show title that's phrased as a question?

I'm also excited about...

WORST COOKS IN AMERICA
Premieres: January 2010
Premiere chefs Anne Burrell and Beau MacMillan each take on a team of six hopeless home cooks and try to transform them from kitchen zeros into kitchen heroes in only 10 days. On the line are the chefs’ professional reputations, $25,000 for the recruits, and the chance to say they are no longer one of the Worst Cooks in America!

Hope Anne's cookie monster voice doesn't scare anyone off.

Alton fans will love...

FOODS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (WT)

Premieres: 3rd Quarter 2010
Food guru Alton Brown hosts this mini series that explores foods that have shaped the course of human history and influenced the way our species evolved. Alton will also investigate foods of the future and how technology will transform food worldwide in centuries to come.

I already Twittered about this one right after Sandra announced it back in February...

SANDRA'S MONEY SAVING MEALS
Premieres: May 10th, 2009 at 12pm ET/PT

Well-known for her trademark Semi-Homemade cooking style, Sandra Lee now has her sights set on saving money! Her new daytime cooking series, Sandra’s Money Saving Meals, features incredible budget-friendly recipes for every day of the week. She continues to stretch the dollar by creating a clever leftover dish from each episode with “Round 2 Recipes” exclusively on FoodNetwork.com.

The ingredients for my first Sandra Lee recipe cost me like $28, so this better be good. It was a cake that you cooked in the crock pot! And you used a boxed cake mix! And I already had the expensive almond extract.

Let's pray Chris and Aaron got a good budget for this show. They deserve it...

CHEFS VS CITY (WT)
Premieres: July 200
9
Acclaimed chefs Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez are pitted against two local foodies in a winner-takes-all race through a different city each week, through the most fascinating, unusual food locations. Each team begins with a clue leading them to their first food challenge. Challenges could include everything from wine stomping to the eating the spiciest chili west of the Mississippi to diving for sea urchins! The five challenges take the chefs and foodies on an adrenaline-charged, food-lovers tour of each city, and once complete, it’s a sprint to the finish line to see if the locals can protect their home turf or if the Food Network chefs can conquer a new city.

And since I was never a fan of Rescue Chef, Danny luckily moved on to something else....

TAKE ON THE TAKEOUT (WT)
Premieres: 2010

In Take on the Takeout, Danny Boome visits delivery devotees with one goal in mind: to prepare a healthier, tastier, and less-expensive version of their favorite take-out dish faster than the restaurant can cook and deliver it. In addition to assessing cost and speed, the loyal customers taste and score the dueling dishes while blindfolded to determine the ultimate winner. With his practical ideas and British charm, Danny attempts to send the delivery boy packing to prove home-cooked meals beat take out any day!

Also premiering will be season 2 of Viva Daisy! and The Next Iron Chef Season 2.

*******************************

Some of these shows are so far off that I don't even have time to think about how they'll turn out. Food Network's been hit or miss when it comes to travel and "reality" shows, so I'm praying they used production companies known for turning out high quality programs (like Feasting on Asphalt) and not duds (like Two Dudes Catering).

Anything on the upcoming Food Network lineup browning your butter?

Labels: , , , , , , ,

 

Monday, April 20

Duff Goldman & Charm City Cakes Staff March for the Animals

I am so bummed I didn't make it up to Baltimore yesterday for The Maryland SPCA's March for the Animals. We were planning on going, since Duff Goldman was hosting the starting line ceremonies and my fan club honoree Mary Alice along with lots of other CCC staff members and their respective pets were going to be there... but just didn't get going in time and needed to take care of a few other things yesterday. Damn!


Looks like Geof and his dog Cotton, who was featured in the episode in which Geof made the Milkbone dog biscuit cake, made it out for the fundraising event that raised almost $175,000 dollars. Way to go!

I'll definitely plan on making it next year.

[Photo]

Labels: , , ,

 

Sunday, April 19

Paula Deen Featured on CMT "Cribs"

CMT apparently has a version of the old MTV show Cribs. I did not know that. For some reason I never thought that country stars would have homes that are as crazy extravagant as the rappers' "cribs" (stripper poles, Escalades in the front yard, bathrooms the size of a normal home) that made up the original, but maybe I was wrong.



In Paula Deen's appearance, she shows off her Mercedes and Lexus and even recounts a tale of being caught hot tubbing nude. Ahh, Paula. Wouldn't expect anything less from you!

Labels:

 

Saturday, April 18

Only 3 Shows In & Claire Robinson Already has $$$ In Her Eyes

"I wear aprons on every show. I could see that being a future product. Also I am really into knives, culinary knives. So I’d love to have my own brand of knives." -- 5 Ingredient Fix host Claire Robinson to The New York Times


Dang, girl. You only been on Food Network for three weeks and you're already talking about apron lines? Let's just see if you get renewed first, mmkay?

After reading the full article about Jon Rosen, the William Morris agent who claims Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Katie Lee Joel, Daisy Martinez, Al Roker, and many other food people as clients, I'm not that surprised by Claire's financial aspirations.

After all, Rosen comes right out and says it: "I don’t view these people as chefs. I view them as lifestyle personalities who we can build great businesses for."

Which is true, most of them are not chefs. I don't have a problem with that. I don't even have a problem with someone trying to make money. Go on and sell those aprons, Claire! How's that going for crazypants Lisa Garza these days, by the way?

It just seems a bit presumptuous to me to be talking about product lines when you're barely out of the gate. At least pretend that you're on Food Network to, ya know, host a cooking show for a bit and that you don't have some ulterior motives.

You don't hear Sunny Anderson, who's seen far greater success so far on Food Network, yapping about wanting a line of cutting boards & hoodies, do you?

What do you think of Claire's eagerness? Should she have to prove herself first or just move right into the Claire-brand aprons and knives?

Labels: , , , ,

 

Thursday, April 16

Cat Cora Shows Off the Bump at the A-List Awards

A pretty and pregnant looking Cat Cora showed up at Bravo's A-List Awards, held recently in Los Angeles. And unlike her Italian Food Network counterpart who preferred to stay inside for most of her pregnancy (or only go out in public in all black), Miss Cat wasn't afraid to show off her burgeoning bump, donning a pretty blue dress to the Kathy Griffin-hosted awards show.


As I twittered last night, Cat Cora presented the A-List Chef Award along with Jose Andres (Kathy Griffin called him something like "Ahn-dray-us") and was introduced as an "A-List, pregnant, lesbian, mom, winner."

Cat, whose partner Jennifer just recently gave birth to a baby boy (congrats!), is pregnant for the first time. She's due (it's a boy) in July.

*********************

Overall the awards weren't all that great, but they were still better than the atrocity that was the Food Network Awards a few years back. Poor dears. Maybe FN can try again in the future?

[Photos]

Labels:

 

Wednesday, April 15

Want to Use Ina Garten's Web Designer? You're S.O.L!

Ina Garten's website, BarefootContessa.com, generally stays pretty up to date and has some good general info about Ina, her story, even how to contact them to get an autographed book.

And while the site isn't the most dynamic thing in the world, it has a pretty nice & clean design that seems to fit Ina. So I wouldn't be surprised if Ina fans tried contacting the web designer she lists to get some design help.

Well, from the looks of it, Web Deisgner Erin Dailey has left the building. Take a look at what pops up when you click on her link:



Yikes! Either Erin really retired or Ina paid her to move to Florida so no one could steal her site's design!

Labels: ,

 

Tuesday, April 14

Food Network Addict's Comments on Mark Bittman's "TV Cooking vs. Real Cooking" Piece in the New York Times

I read The New York Times' Mark Bittman and his Bitten blog this morning on "TV Cooking vs. Real Cooking" and have some thoughts.

Bittman refers to food TV shows as:
"A charade because it's all taped, and therefore not only doesn't take place in real time but doesn't even give a sense of what 'real time' might be."

Is it because some food TV programs are watched by viewers who solely intend to go right into their kitchen and reproduce the recipes that said programs are now bound by a need to present a sense of real time? Does Bittman forget that a large number (I'd guess the majority) of viewers watch to, gasp, be entertained and aren't looking at their watch's second hand to double check that the cooking time the host said he used matched up with the amount of time that passed while we were sitting on the couch?

Does Bittman also complain when watching HGTV's slew of home renovation programs? It would have taken LONGER to tile that backsplash, I imagine him yelling at the TV screen. Would he be any more satisfied if they showed every last, mind-numbingly boring minute that goes into painting a bedroom? Obviously not. So why shouldn't food TV shows be given the same liberties?

If you're so dumb that you don't realize that 35 full minutes don't really pass in-between the shot of Ina Garten putting her brownies into the oven and the following shot of her taking them out, then perhaps you shouldn't be cooking... or getting anywhere near a 350 degree oven. In fact, I'd argue that it was the complaints against real-time cooking and the cheesiness of swapouts ("Here's this other pan of brownies I have all done!") that prompted food tv programs to move more toward time-lapse and interspersed vignettes that flow more logically.

These changes (seen most obviously in the beautifully shot programs of Giada De Laurentiis and Ina Garten) add significantly to both the production value and the time it takes to produce one episode. If modern viewers truly demanded real time cooking shows, why would so many shows go through the labor-intensive process of shooting them like movies with multiple "passes" (wide shots, close ups, etc.) if one, standard & continuous shot would suffice? As much as we might like to give it sole credit, it took more than Giada's cleavage to win her three Daytime Emmys. Everyday Italian looked like a damn movie and it was justly rewarded.

Bittman goes on to complain about the "egregious mistakes" wiped clean from the finished product:
A further charade because when it's taped, all sorts of egregious mistakes can be magically made to disappear."

Hmmm... like all those egregious mistakes that magically disappear when any movie is made? Or any taped and edited TV show? Even "reality TV" has no sense of real time, and oftentimes just the opposite happens with mistakes, as they are magically made more intense and more prolonged. So why should we be any more shocked about this occurrence when it comes to food television?

I guess the mistake arises when one starts to think of anything on television—not just food TV programs—as something resembling real life. I don't think people turn to TV programs that are designed to entertain and inspire to see egregious mistakes. And I'd like to think that people watching Barefoot Contessa don't think that just anyone can open a specialty food store in the Hamptons, sell it, make a few million dollars, and spend their whole day debating about which truffle butter is really best.

I agree with Bittman's statement that the aspiring home cook needs encouragement, but to assume we need to see a TV chef burn a steak to a crisp, lest we get befuddled when attempting it ourselves, doesn't give the home cook enough credit.

Labels: , ,

 

Monday, April 13

Jeff Corwin Gets 8 More Episodes of 'Extreme Cuisine' on Food Network

I didn't catch it when it aired back in February, but the Jeff Corwin special "Extreme Cuisine" on Food Network has been picked up to for a full, 8-episode series. It will launch in the fall, according to reports.



The busy bee has also landed an MSNBC special. I wonder if the NBC-owned Bravo will get a Jeff Corwin special, too, now?! CNBC?

Labels: ,

 

Sunday, April 12

Food Network Runs Top Chef Marathon, Eh?

Canadians have got some of the best stuff in life: Canadian bacon, Molson beer, marriage for gays and lesbians... and, apparently, a Top Chef marathon on Food Network's sister station up north, Food Network Canada. Just pack your knives and watch this Easter Sunday, eh?


I've been a longtime fan of the Canadian version of Food Network, and its Top Chef marathon this Easter weekend only reinforces my love for the station that always seems to have a leg up on programming.

While it seems kind of weird to think of the Padma/Tom lovefest show airing on FN—considering how different the Bravo series (in the US) looks and feels when compared to anything on Food Network USA—it makes sense to have the best food shows airing on the food network.

Hope my Canadian readers enjoyed the marathon!

*********************************

Sorry for not posts over the last few days. My parents came down for some non-denominational weekend excitement, so I was a little overwhelmed playing host. They've been here before a million times, so I luckily wasn't dragging them up the steps of the Washington Monument at 6 a.m.... but it was still taxing.

And speaking of taxes, I did my taxes for FIVE hours today. Spent about 3 hours wasting time trying to do them with a variety of online services before just biting the bullet and paying for TurboTax again like I did last year. Get me that refund fast! Hope you all had a great Easter weekend!

Labels: , ,

 

Wednesday, April 8

BURN! Michael Chiarello Ditches Food Network for Bravo

Not one to sit around and rest on his laurels, Michael Chiarello, star of Food Network's probably-not-going-to-ever-tape-new-episodes Easy Entertaining, will be appearing on Bravo's Top Chef Masters, the Top Chef spinoff that features 24 professional chefs competing for $100,000 to be donated to charity. The new series premieres on June 10 at 10 pm ET—three days after Food Network's big show The Next Food Network Star premieres its fifth season.

Someone's out for a ratings war!



While I was never the biggest fan of the ChiChi, he is obviously a very good chef and I think his talents will pay off in a competition like this one. That being said, he's up against some pretty tough competition:

- Rick Bayless – Frontera Grill, Chicago, Ill.
- Wilo Benet – Pikayo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- John Besh – Restaurant August, New Orleans, LA
- Graham Elliot Bowles – Graham Elliot Restaurant, Chicago, Ill.
- Michael Cimarusti – Providence, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Wylie Dufresne – wd~50, New York, N.Y.
- Elizabeth Falkner – Orson, San Francisco, Calif.
- Hubert Keller – Fleur de Lys, San Francisco, Calif.
- Christopher Lee – Aureole, New York, N.Y.
- Ludo Lefebvre – Ludo Bites, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Anita Lo – Annisa, New York, N.Y.
- Tim Love – The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Fort Worth, Texas
- Rick Moonen – Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nev.
- Nils Noren – French Culinary Institute, New York, N.Y.
- Lachlan McKinnon Patterson – Frasca Food & Wine, Boulder, Colo.
- Cindy Pawlcyn – Mustards Grill, Napa Valley, Calif.
- Mark Peel – Campanile, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Douglas Rodriguez – Alma de Cuba, Philadelphia, PA
- Michael Schlow – Radius Restaurant, Boston, Mass.
- Art Smith – Table Fifty-Two, Chicago, Ill.
- Suzanne Tracht – Jar, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Jonathan Waxman – Barbuto, New York, N.Y.
- Roy Yamaguchi – Roy's Restaurants, San Diego, Calif.

****************************************

Hmmm... looks like June will be a very busy month for food TV competitions. I wonder which one will come out on top.

Labels: ,

 

Tyler Florence Debuts New Website

Tyler Florence's recently announced (via Twitter) the launch of his redesigned website, tylerflorence.com. Check it out:


I like the dark gray and black design and bigger pics that fill up the site's sections. His new blog is featured prominently, so I'll be on the lookout for fresh posts, TyTy!

What do you think of the site's redesign?

Labels: ,

 

Tuesday, April 7

PICTURES: Season 5 Next Food Network Star Contestants


Here are the pics and bios of all of the season 5 contestants on The Next Food Network Star (available exclusively to anyone who requests them.)



Teddy Folkman
, 33 (Alexandria, Va.), co-owner and executive chef of Granville Moore’s Gastropub in Washington, D.C., developed his love of food at a young age while working at a deli and honed his culinary skills and style under several well-known chefs. Now, Teddy focuses on sharing simple techniques to inspire people to think and cook like chefs. Teddy spends his free time teaching cooking fundamentals to local high school students, and he won a mussels and fries challenge on Throwdown with Bobby Flay in 2008.



Melissa d’Arabian, 40 (Keller, Texas), pairs her varied culinary and life experiences to provide food lifestyle solutions and approachable recipes for today’s families. As a stay-at-home mom to four young daughters, she efficiently budgets time and money to prepare the finest in fresh, home-cooked meals every day. Melissa finds culinary inspiration in family, friends, cooking classes, and world travels.



Michael Proietti
, 28 (City Island, N.Y.), joined the restaurant industry at a young age and worked his way up from washing dishes and prepping food to become executive chef at the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle, N.Y. The New York Restaurant School graduate infuses his bold personality into everything he does and admits that his “inner diva” sometimes comes out in the kitchen. A native New Yorker, Michael uses influences from the variety of markets available to him and brings his appreciation for global cuisine and his one-of-a-kind attitude to the competition.



Katie Cavuto, 30 (Philadelphia, Pa.), provides personal chef, cooking, and nutrition services through her self-started company, Healthy Bites. She developed her knowledge and passion for food at Johnson and Wales University and Tufts University where she also became a Registered Dietician. Katie brings a creative and competitive charm to the kitchen where she uses unprocessed, organic, farm-to-table ingredients to create simple and nutritious meals.



Eddie Gilbert, 30 (Los Angeles, Calif.), expands his culinary knowledge by working as an apprentice in a Los Angeles restaurant. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with two degrees, Eddie worked at a prestigious talent agency before turning his love for cooking into a career. The travel, sports and music enthusiast enjoys modernizing traditional dishes and making them more accessible for the home cook.



Jamika Pessoa, 30 (Atlanta, Ga.), a certified personal chef and businesswoman, loves exploring international cuisines in the kitchen. Family, friends, and clients rave about her bold twists on traditional dishes, especially those of her Caribbean heritage. Innovative style, sassy personality, and inspiring tenacity are Jamika’s key ingredients to the magic she produces in the kitchen.



Brett August, 32 (New York, N.Y.), keeps busy as the executive sous chef at Doral Arrowwood Hotel in Rye Brook, N.Y., where he has worked for 11 years while enjoying the music, sports and culinary scene in his native New York City. Inspired to cook by his father at a young age, Brett’s culinary point of view focuses on simple food for the home cook. The New York Restaurant School graduate exudes passion and ambition in and out of the kitchen.



Jen Isham, 30 (Orlando, Fla.), considers herself a modern housewife who loves organization in the kitchen. A sales manager at Orlando’s Crowne Plaza Downtown, Jen once worked as a line cook at Walt Disney World. The French Culinary Institute graduate spends Sunday evenings planning menus for the week and always creates tasty, economical meals for her loved ones.



Jeffrey Saad, 42 (Los Angeles, Calif.), a California Culinary Academy graduate, has more than 25 years experience as a restaurateur, food consultant, recipe developer, and chef. He enjoys cooking without borders: combining flavorful and often unexpected ingredients to achieve simple, tasty dishes in no time. The married father of two owns a real estate brokerage firm with his wife and has a second degree black belt in martial arts.



Debbie Lee, 39 (West Hollywood, Calif.), a former Hollywood caterer, now shares her branding and menu-planning expertise as a restaurant consultant. Her Korean heritage and Southern upbringing make a dynamic combination as she uniquely blends Asian and American cuisines. Debbie attributes her cooking chops to her mother, grandmother and notable chefs that she's worked with.

[All photos courtesy Food Network]

Labels: ,

 

Next Food Network Star Returning in June - Ina Makes an Appearance!

HOW BAD CAN THIS BE?

At some point during season five of The Next Food Network Star (premiering June 7 at 9pm ET), Ina Garten will be saying to the contestants:


(I actually knew about this since February, but I stupidly kept my mouth shut.)

That's right! Ina Garten will be making her first-ever appearance on the show that aims to find the next Food Network star... or something like that.

She'll be joining the likes of Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Alton Brown, Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, Gina and Pat Neely, Masaharu Morimoto, Ted Allen, Tyler Florence, Michael Symon, and Aaron McCargo Jr. in the shows lineup of special guests. (And even though it doesn't say it in the release, Anne Burrell told me she taped something for it, too.)

You know they rolled production into East Hampton for the day, as I can't imagine Ina leaving her compound just for any old reason, even if it is the most-watched show on the network.

According to the release:
Challenges include catering a party for a roomful of Food Network stars, impressing the "Barefoot Contessa" herself in the Hamptons and preparing a comforting meal for returning soldiers on the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. The show also flies to sunny Miami – for the first time – where the finalists must survive a beachside wood-grilling challenge for Red Lobster and create a delicious dinner for a group of culinary elite at a screening of Columbia Pictures’ movie Julie & Julia (in theaters August 7). Throughout the season, they will also have to prove they have star quality and dazzle a variety of media outlets with their personalities, including Access Hollywood, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, and USA WEEKEND.

(Of course this isn't the first time the show has flown to Miami. Season 3's final episodes which were shot down in Miami had to be scrapped after JAG bowed out of the competition.)

I'm seriously hoping for a little Ina attitude, just like we've seen when Giada has appeared on the show. Remember this?


You know Ina's got some glares in her, too.

Following up on my blind item I announced back in December, it looks like I was right on my prediction that one of the contestants had appeared on the network before. Take a look at the list:

The 10 finalists include: Brett August (Washington Heights, N.Y.), Katie Cavuto (Philadelphia, Pa.), Melissa d’Arabian (Keller, Texas), Teddy Folkman (Alexandria, Va.), Eddie Gilbert (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Jen Isham (Orlando, Fla.), Debbie Lee (West Hollywood, Calif.), Jamika Pessoa (Atlanta, Ga.), Michael Proietti (New York, N.Y.) and Jeffrey Saad (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Could that Teddy Folkman be the same Teddy Folkman who's Executive Chef at DC's Granville Moore's, who also appeared in the Mussels episode of Bobby Flay's Throwdown? YES!

As for the other contestants, I have no idea who they are. Google away, people. And get excited!

Labels: , ,

 

Monday, April 6

Guy's Wife Talks About Life with Fee-Eddy


Check out this interesting look into what it's like being the wife of Guy Fee-Eddy. Lori Fieri (did she change her name too?) recalls Guy saying he wasn't going to compete on Next Food Network Star at first—she was pregnant and Christmas was coming up.

But compete he did. And look where we are now.

Labels: ,

 

Sunday, April 5

Food Network Addict Review: 5 Ingredient Fix with Claire Robinson


No, those aren't the Yorkshire Puddings that Claire Robinson made in yesterday's premiere episode of 5 Ingredient Fix, but with the way FN hawked 'em (Pillsbury "Savorings") during every commercial break, I can see how you might be confused.

Seeing how it's recessionpalooza right now, it must be somewhat discombobulating to see a TV host attempt to persuade us to make doughy, puffy balls of dripping pudding from scratch one minute and then see commercial after commercial for pre-made "savorings" and the like that may or may not cost less than the needed ingredients for the host's own recipes (plus, you get all those yummy preservatives and space food-like substances in the Pillsbury kind). Obviously cooking from scratch is the smarter alternative, but when you only got a dollar to spend, those packages are mighty tempting.

I'm not sure what I'm saying here. I just have been getting a lot of mixed message from Food Network lately... like this:


I don't get... well, never mind. I don't have the energy this Sunday.

Obviously, 5 Ingredient Fix is popping up on the Food Network landscape right now to capitalize upon the vast amount of people who are cooking at home (although if you lost your job, you might be cooking Ramen) and looking to save money. Now, not only are the recipes FAST (think Rachael Ray), but you don't need an entire garbage bowl full of ingredients to make them! In case you didn't catch that, there are only 5 ingredients or fewer in each one of Claire's recipes, a point they reinforce with not-needed graphics:


... and a "ding" sound effect, for added measure. I'm hoping these graphics are just showing up in the early episodes. I think Claire herself might throw a rib roast if she had to hear that damn "ding" the hundredth time she added olive oil to a recipe.

One thing that did work for me was the set design and overall look of the show. While I do love Anne Burrell's and Sunny Anderson's over the top, colorful, rarely attainable in New York City, are we watching a rerun of Friends kitchens, Claire's set design is simple, clean and roomy. And she even has a regular refrigerator!


(I say "regular" here, as many of my friends in NYC have those tiny euro-style fridges and not some Sub Zero, clear front, so big it's almost a walk-in that have been showing up on a lot of Food Network shows lately.)

It's not excessive, which is nice to see on a new show; it's a bit more reflective of the real world.

And speaking of reflections, is someone trying to pull a Rachael?


Maybe, maybe not. But I do know that Rachael isn't getting any less busy. I haven't heard anything about new deals since her 2-year one was announced in late 2007, and I wouldn't be surprised if after the crop of 120 new 30 Minute Meals episodes she's obligated to do get shot, we won't be seeing any more cooking shows hosted by Rachael. Expect more travel shows (with voiceovers and less actual travel) and more producing credits from Ms. Ray. Just my guess.

Anyhow, that leads me to believe Food Network is trying its hardest to find a new Rachael—one that will resonate with housewives and husbands, singles and seniors alike. If that was their goal with Claire, I think the network missed the mark.

While Rachael seemed like the bubbly, friendly, kinda dorky girl next door from upstate New York when she burst onto the scene, Claire seems like the tough girl from the Bronx who could cut you with her serrated knife if you tried to cross her. I don't think she'll get the same kind of "let's be friends!" following that Rachael did.

Still, like I always say, there is hope. This is just experience #1 with Claire Robinson and 5 Ingredient Fix. The food looked good (she is trained, according to her bio) and she's pretty good on camera. But just like the small number of ingredients in each one of her recipes, Claire's got a small number of episodes to make an impact. Let's see what happens.

Labels: , ,

 

Thursday, April 2

Daisy Martinez Gets Renewed for 6 More Episodes, Rachael Ray Co. Gets More Money

Food Network today announced that production will begin this month on a second "season" of Viva Daisy!, starring Daisy Martinez. Even though I wasn't blown away, I guess Daisy did dazzle enough to get resigned.


And now, the immortal words of Bob Tuschman:
"Daisy has a loyal and passionate following among food lovers. Her vibrant personality and easy approach to Latin dishes have made her a hit with our viewers, and we are excited to produce more episodes," said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network.

In case you forgot, Viva Daisy! is the first non-Rachael television venture for Watch Entertainment Inc., "the parent company for all Rachael Ray-related businesses including television production, licensing, merchandising and digital development."

Be on the lookout for more Rachael proteges on Food Network, handpicked by Ms. Ray herself. Yum-O.

Labels: , ,

 

Wednesday, April 1

'30-Minute Calphalon Meals?' 'Paula's Kitchenaid Cooking?' - Will Product Placement Infiltrate Food Network (and would anyone care)?

It takes a lot to get me excited about a new Food Network show before it airs; you gotta prove yourself first, and if you don't, you're dead to me (Chic & Easy who? ).

So that's why I haven't even mentioned the newest raspy voiced host Claire Robinson and her new show 5 Ingredient Fix, which premieres this Saturday at 9:30am ET. Apart from another obvious attempt to create the next Rachael, the only other thing I'm interested in on the show's site is this curious "Set List" which got me thinking...


Everything from the show's dishware and cutlery, to the utensils and compost bin is listed with the corresponding brand name and web site. Is this simply a service for curious viewers or a new money-making venture for Food Network? Wouldn't those brands have to chip in a bit more for the added online presence?

For years, Food Network has covered up its products brand names, usually by just turning the label away from the camera or putting some tape over the identifying brand. Bigger shows like Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals are given the honor of real-looking, faux labels for their products that are created by graphic designers—keeping with television's longstanding tradition of genericizing all name brands to avoid conflicting with paid advertisers. You can't show Aunt Sandy using name brand Cool-Whip and then have a Reddi-Whip commercial right after! All hell would break loose!

Or would it?

In today's DVR/TiVo world where anyone can zip right through commercials, advertisers are looking for new ways to get their message out. Wouldn't Food Network, which already receives a bulk of its endorsements from food & housewares companies, benefit from doing a little food & housewares advertising during its programs?

Would you think less of Paula Deen if she shoved a big spoonfull of butter pudding into her mouth if the spoon was clearly emblazoned with Oxo? What about if Guy Fieri pronounced Ore-Ida tater tots to be the clear winner in the land of frozen potato products?

****************

I'm not sure what to think about the possibility of product placement in Food Network shows. Big name stars like Ina Garten and Paula Deen, who shoot in their own homes, receive many (if not all) of their high-end appliances for free (Ina's assistant admitted to me this was the case in Ina's new barn).

Viking, Sub Zero, et al know their products will be seen in countless episodes of Barefoot Contessa and Paula's Best Dishes, so they give them gratis or at big discounts. (These deals often have other requirements where the stars' kitchens are featured in magazine spreads, books, etc. to get the brands even more exposure.) So what's stopping brands from competing and paying to be in a Food Network kitchen? Methinks not much.

And now for some official-sounding language: Food Network Addict contacted Food Network for comment, but calls were not immediately returned. Will let you know if they do, though!

Labels: ,

 
CrispAds Blog Ads

twitter


blog archive