If you want to see Food Network stars while down at SoBe, just stand by the Loews Hotel

See that pic of Alex Guarnaschelli and me? I bet you think I had to call her press people and arrange a photo opp weeks in advance or buy an expensive festival ticket to an event I knew she was going to be at just to get this picture, right?

WRONG. I got that picture without any pre-planning or cost on my part (apart from the cost of getting to South Beach)... and you can too!

But first, let's look at the opposite side of the financial spectrum.

The ticket prices at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival can be very steep--outrageous some might say. While the events are packaged up and divided well enough that it is possible to get in a pretty good festival experience on a budget, if you want to attend even a few of the bigtime parties and events you better be ready to throwdown... and Bobby Flay ain't footing any of the bill. I checked.

So, I thought it would be interesting to look at the price breakdown of an ultimate festival experience. After I pull the numbers I urge you all to call Suze Orman and ask "CAN I AFFORD IT?" (Let me know if she does approve any of you 'cause we need to meet.)

THE ULTIMATE SoBe FEST PACKAGE

This is what I'm guessing would be the average cost for a couple to travel to South Beach and attend several of the big festival events.

Economy Airfare for 2: $600
Hotel for 4 nights: $250/night (For a boutique hotel. Luxury ones will run you much more.)
Rachael Ray Burger Bash (2): $400
Wine Spectactor's Best of Best (2): $700
BubbleQ (2): $700
Grand Tasting on Saturday (2): $425
Tribute Dinner (2): $1050
Paula Deen Brunch (2): $250
Guy Fieri Closing Party (2): $150
Meals (not all events provide food): $200 (and that's being frugal)
Airport Transfers: $80 (cabs from MIA to South Beach are about $32/each way + tip)

... all that FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF: $5555!

Those are just some of the events that go on during this massive festival. I have no idea what the cost would be if you managed to go to multiple events, ditching one for another as the next one began, for the entire multi-day festival. Nuts!

So here's my little secret if you don't want to spend five grand on tickets, but still want to see some stars: stay at or stand outside of the Loews Miami Beach Hotel at 16th & Collins.

Over the years I've either seen or talked to Morimoto, Sunny Anderson, Tyler Florence, the Neelys, Al Roker, Alex Guarnaschelli, Michael Symon, Duff Goldman, Bobby Flay, and more... all while just hanging out in or around this hotel. If you're lucky enough to catch them when they're not in a hurry, you have a great chance of getting a photo, autograph, etc.

Getting that close really isn't that possible during the actual festival events. The crowds are intense and, as is the case with most of the more popular personalities, they aren't strolling around the beach unguarded all that much. Instead, they're whisked from their hotel to the event via golf carts.

To me, there's something a little less pathetic about bumping into someone into a hotel lobby and letting them know how much you enjoy their show than it would be to try and chase down a golf cart. ;-)

So that's tip #1 on how to save money in South Beach if you still want a small taste of the festival.

You could try to go to the tents the day after everyone leaves...



... but I wouldn't recommend it. Stay in (your expensive hotel room) and just watch Food Network.

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UPDATE: Sunny Anderson was nice to remind me that, although expensive, the festival benefits FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Teaching Restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. Lots of students are present and get hands-on experience and scholarships.

Food Network Addict Year in Review 2009 -- Part 2

And now! The exciting conclusion to my 2009 Year in Review. Check out Part 1 below.

IN JULY...

I met up with former Next Food Network Star contestant Kelsey Nixon and Top Chef's Spike Mendolsohn at his DC burger joint Good Stuff Eatery:


It was great getting a chance to meetand talk with Kelsey and I do wish her the best.

... we saw that sign language that comes along with 5 Ingredient Fix, I visited Paris and London (didn't see Ina Garten OR Nigella Lawson)...



...I gave you my 5 reasons why I thought Melissa d'Arabian was going to win The Next Food Network Star, and we checked out Sandra Lee's spread in Out magazine.



IN AUGUST...

Melissa d'Arabian was crowned the winner of The Next Food Network Star, we saw how her set might have been recycled from season three winner Amy Finley's one-season show...



... runnerup Jeffrey Saad got a "mini-series" webisode deal on Foodnetwork.com called "The Spice Smuggler" and we haven't heard anything since, we saw how funny pictures of Pat Neely can get snapped at book signings...



... Noah Starr disappeared on Ask Aida, Ina Garten, Rachael Ray, and Bobby Flay won Daytime Emmys, and we saw—yet again—what money has done for Rachel Ray:



IN SEPTEMBER...

We got our first inkling that Anthony Bourdain's worst nightmare might come true (it did) when it was rumored that Scripps Network Interactive (the parent company of Food Network) might buy a controlling stake in the Travel Channel, we saw Nigella Lawson doing her best Dita Von Teese impression...



... we found out that Paula Deen's line of cast iron pans for QVC might crack or shatter during cooking--woops!, and we learned that it was never really Alton Brown's goal to be on TV.

IN OCTOBER...

We saw the first pics of Mary Alice's amazing weight loss...



... it was announced that FLN was changing to The Cooking Channel, I hit up the NYC Wine and Food Festival...


... we got our first glimpse of the JUST RENEWED new show by Alex Guarnaschelli, and we got some baking tips from Charm City Cakes' Adam Goldstein.

IN NOVEMBER...

Aunt Sandy hit up Wendy Williams...



... Emeril Lagasse hinted at bringing back Emeril Live to some network other than Food Network, Martha Stewart acted like a jealous jezebel when Rachael Ray appeared on her talkshow, I posted a guest review of Food Network's first game for Nintendo Wii, the episode of Barefoot Contessa that I was a guest on reaired, and Paula Deen got hit in the face with a ham.



IN DECEMBER...

I found out where Dave Lieberman had been hiding...


... just-about-to-debut-a-new-show Anne Burrell got sued for discrimination, Dr. Phil made a move on Cat Cora, and George Duran got a job!

*******

Overall, it's been a very fun year--a much busier one than other previous blogging years for me, I'd say. When I started this blog I was in a very different place in my life: recently out of college, working for a job I didn't love, needing a writing outlet that interested me, and just learning how to cook for myself for the first time.

Now, honestly, I find myself watching HGTV more than Food Network. Ha! I guess that's the progression of life. First you learn to cook, then you look for a house to cook in.

I still love my Food Network peeps and don't plan on giving it up, though. I hope everyone has a happy, safe, food-filled, drink-filled New Year's Eve. See yah in 2010!

Alex Guarnaschelli's Got Love... For Herself!

"Joined" or "started it yourself," Alex G?


Haha...just kidding, Alex! Nothing like a little self love to get you through the day.

I Think I know What Alex Does On Her Day Off

I caught the first episode of Alex Guarnaschelli's new show Alex's Day Off this morning and was very inspired to cook some breakfast foods in loads and loads of bacon fat. (If you didn't catch the ep, Alex cut some ridiculously large bacon slabs for her special breakfast meal and then used the grease to not only cook the eggs but also as a topping that she ladled over the tops.)

I'm not sure whose choice it was to get rid of Alex's "Cooking Loft" format, where she was surrounded by a small group of supposed students (I know someone who misses the "hot, tattooed guy," so that's a tragedy), but I find Alex by herself in the kitchen just as good.

Alex is sooooooo descriptive about what she's cooking, what she thinks about what she's cooking, and what she's thinking about what she's cooking. She appears so into the process that sometimes I forget she's talking about food and think she's moved onto something else entirely. Something strangely... erotic? Take a look and see if you see the same thing:



People may talk about the Neelys being a bit sexual on their shows, but I think Alex's delivery might contain the most sexual metaphors on Food Network! I'm all hot and bothered after hearing Alex talk about heat and oil and something called "total goo". ;-)

Yum! Overall, a great first episode. I look forward to more, Alex!

Looking Forward to Alex Guarnaschelli's New Show - Oct. 18

I'm bummed I didn't run into Alex Guarnaschelli at all this past weekend in New York, but I'm slightly consoled by the fact that her new show Alex's Day Off premieres this Sunday, Oct. 18 at 9:30am ET.

Watching Alex on TV won't be as great as eating at her restaurant and meeting her like I did last year on my birthday, but it's a close second!


The first episode's description includes this line: [i]n an act of ridiculousness, Alex melts a wheel of cheese on a bed of crispy hash browns -- so we know that's gotta be good.

Looking forward to it, Alex!

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Obviously, Alex is posing in the pic above with Aida Mollenkamp and Aaron McCargo Jr. I actually ran into Aida right when I got to New York and went to The Standard hotel where the festival's homebase was. We had chatted once by phone last year, but it was nice to say hi in person. And, let me say, she looks even more model-y in person. Almost didn't recognize her!

I saw Aaron later in the day working on his computer by himself, so I didn't speak with him. Later, on Saturday night, I saw him at the Duff Goldman-hosted "Sweet" event and saw an Aaron fan trip right over a giant lamp on the floor in an attempt to get a hug from Big Daddy himself. Aaron was nice and didn't laugh in the poor girl's face, but it was pretty funny.

Is it the weekend yet?

Alex Guarnaschelli's Tempted by Cupcakes

Alex Guarnaschelli posted a Facebook status update this morning (although they really aren't status updates anymore, are they?) about her plan to shed a few pounds, despite the evil temptations of birthday sweets:


Alexandra Guarnaschelli I really am trying to lose some weight. Not anything serious. Just a few pounds. I am trying to be lighthearted. I have a small package of anemic looking melba toast and some slightly smushed triangles of Laughing Cow Cheese as my breakfast. I am chewing, staring at a huge, goopy chocoalte cupcake leftover from my daughter's birthday party. Life can be cruel. 27 minutes ago

Awww... that's tough, Alex. Enjoy the cheese and toasts, though! Having dined twice at Butter, the NYC restaurant where Alex is head chef, I'm sure the temptation to indulge is ever-present (they have some rich, rich food there!).

Good luck, Alex G!

Review: Next Food Network Star - Ep. 1

Last year I gave you my spiel about Food Network's dilemma in finding a new star out of its most-watched show, The Next Food Network Star. Unlike a lot of reality shows (Survivor, The Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, etc.) in which the producers are mostly concerned with crafting good story lines, Star's winner, in theory, should go on have a successful show, launch a product line or two, sell a couple thousand books, and maybe teach a few people how to cook in the process. In theory.

The show hasn't been that successful with those goals, though. Season 2's winner Guy Fieri is the biggest star of the "what was their name?" bunch known as former Star contestants. Why is that, I wonder. I don't think Guy is more talented than season 1's Dan & Steve or season 3's Amy Finley or even last year's winner Aaron McCargo Jr.-- he was just the most willing to embody a marketable "personality" for the network.

Food Network also seems to understand the game better now than it did before. If it wasn't for the mega-marketing campaign behind Aaron McCargo's show Big Daddy's House (and the smart decision to premiere the first episode the Sunday immediately following his win), I'm not sure he'd still be around. Who knows where Dan & Steve would be today if they had had that kind of support.

So after watching the first episode, the season 5 premiere of Star, I felt like I was seeing a show produced by people who think they truly get it. They get what kind of kind of challenges work well on TV. They get what the right camera angles are when shooting contestants race through Whole Foods' aisles. They get how to perfectly edit an elimination session for maximum tension.

But just "getting it" doesn't always make for great television. Repeating well-established reality show principles isn't what we're looking for these days, is it?

So that's what I mostly felt after watching the first episode. To make a long story short, the episode opens with a little New York stock footage, some contestants meeting each other in their new living quarters, and an immediate cooking challenge involving some fast shopping for ingredients and catering a large party for Food Network's 16th birthday. There are, of course, some issues with the ingredients and time and things not coming out perfectly.

The party is held at NYC's Butter restaurant, where Food Network's Alex Guarnaschelli is chef (and she looks glam, btw!). Also in attendance are Anne Burrell, Duff Goldman, Sunny Anderson, Alton Brown, Giada De Laurentiis, Ted Allen, and Morimoto, who has another great line this opening episode, although not as good as last year's:


But unlike last season's opening episode, where the first mini-challenge was an on-camera exercise with Alton Brown, in tonight's opening episode we don't see much in the way that helps show us what kind of cooking show stars these contestants might be if they were to win. I realize there will be lots of these types of challenges to come, but proving you can be a star is the point of the show and the reason for winning. After watching this first episode, I feel like all I know is that when given a limited budget and a few hours to cater a party, problems inevitably arise.

I get it. There is tension when strangers, all competing for the same prize, are forced to work together for the first time. I get it.

I just wanted more.

The Next Food Network Star premieres TONIGHT -- Sunday, June 7 at 9pm ET.

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.
  

Ted Allen Will Host FN's Chopped

So maybe this is another reason why Ted Allen won't be returning to Top Chef?

Ted Allen was announced as the host of Food Network's new competition-style show Chopped, which I talked about back in August.


Chopped
Premieres: Tuesday, January 13th at 10pm ET/PT
Passion and expertise rule the kitchen on the fast-paced new series, Chopped. Hosted by Ted Allen (Food Detectives), the series challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets "chopped" until the last man or woman left standing claims victory. Each week, a rotating panel of culinary elite judges including Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, and Geoffrey Zakarian will decide whose dishes shine the brightest and award the winner $10,000.

This sounds like a much better fit for Ted. We already know how he is on a food competition show, so this should be no sweat. And I know I'm making the Top Chef comparison above, but it's really not all that surprising that a cable network would create a "copycat" show. Anyone following the Project Runway scandal between Bravo and Lifetime? Bravo already has several "copycat" shows in the bag if PR really does leave for the other network.

People may complain, but the fact is people watch and get much more into these types of shows than traditional, instruction-based cooking shows. Sorry peeps, but it's true.

Still... the $100,000 prize on that other show just sounds a bit more tempting that the $10K Chopped is apparently offering. Oh well... looking forward to Ted, at least!

What Alex Guarnaschelli Ate Last Week

Alex Guarnaschelli was recently featured in an awesome New York Mag/Grub Street piece in which she describes some of the yummy things she ate all week. I love the way she describes food: "I ate chicken-liver crostini, a roasted chicken with fennel, and a huge — like ridiculously, embarrassingly huge — homemade apple tart, which was just shy of pornographic."


You can really tell she knows food and understands flavors' intricacies.

But she's not afraid to talk about her imperfections:
"I make a really crappy omelet. I shouldn’t say crappy. I always start out with the intention of making a beautiful omelet and it always tastes good but it doesn’t always look so pretty. Nine times out of ten I will turn an omelet into a scramble at the last minute and pretend like that’s what I always set out to make."

Advice on acting domestic:
"I have a friend in from out of town and I wanted to pretend to be domestic. The best way to do that is to turn the oven on and put something with cinnamon in it in the oven."

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

I'm still debating whether I should go out and get my free Starbucks for voting this morning. I might need the caffeine if this things goes on all night. Hope everyone's holding out all right!

The Best Birthday at Butter

We had a wonderful time at Butter in NYC on Saturday night celebrating my birthday. Executive Chef and star of Food Network's The Cooking Loft Alex Guarnaschelli personally welcomed us and helped make the night extra special.


I started off with the romaine salad, which had a basil pesto and light caesar dressing. The romaine had been left mostly unchopped, so there was some pretty spectacular height to this salad. And the freshly shaved parmesan wasn't that bad, either.

Jared had a butternut squash soup that had a cute little side of freshly popped popcorn. "Elegant and earthy" as Ina would say.

For the main course, I had the olive oil poached striped bass. It was really good, but, to be honest, I could barely finish it! I was so full from the other courses Chef Alex had sent out to us. I remember a croquette of some kind, a creamy lemon pasta, and another involving some sweetbreads. (This is why I'm not an official restaurant blogger. I don't write things down!)

I am in love with the restaurant's design. A giant, sweeping arch of light wood and soft lighting encircles you above and really puts you in a different place (perhaps it's the forest photo [backlit to look like it's glowing] that does that too) and helps to set the mood.

We tried both red and white wines, plus the Butter martini which were all very good... and reasonable, for NYC.

A birthday isn't a birthday without cake, and even though we were stuffed to the max, we toughed it out and tried two different desserts (which I don't think are on the menu online). I even got a candle with, thankfully, no embarrassing song and dance.

We were really treated well by Chef Alex and the entire staff. I can't wait to return.

If you're in New York, definitely try to get to Butter. It has the fanciness you look for in a special night out and none of the pretense. We came straight from SNL in our jeans and Converses. Love those kind of places!

(PS- I'm still full. Need to do the 10-day detox or something now.)

Grand Tasting at NYC Wine and Food Fest

In my opinion, the Grand Tasting is the main reason for attending a food fest like the recent New York City Wine and Food Festival. The educational opportunities and smaller wine tastings are great, but it's the sensory-overload display of food, wine, and liquor--all for the tasting--that I love the most.


It can also be one of the most crowded events.

Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised by the crowd level on both Saturday's and Sunday's Grand Tasting. It's definitely been a problem the last few years in Miami, so it was great to be able to walk around freely and actually have some time to speak with the vendors.


Everyone entered through the "Target Welcome Area" and got their wristband, gift bag, and some chocolates and espresso (if you wanted it). You then had to wait to cross a very busy street to get over to the pier where the Grand Tasting tents were. Kind of a strange arrangement, but people seemed to deal okay.

A big thing to help ease the crowds seemed to be the event organizers' decision to break the public Grand Tasting into two separate sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. It was such a help!





Alex Guarnaschelli from The Cooking Loft was there all day Sunday representing her restaurant Butter. I complimented her on the show and was excited to hear it had been picked up for more episodes.

AND I'll be eating at Butter for the first time this Saturday. I'll be going for my birthday before Saturday Night Live. Can't wait!















Seriously, if there is one event to attend at a festival like this it's the Grand Tasting. Do it! Your stomach will thank you... even if your head doesn't the next morning when you wake up and realize you drank about 10 glasses of wine and a few shots between the hours of 11 and 3. You might even meet a Dancing With the Stars castoff like we did!

The Cooking Loft is GOOD!

I've been busy or out of town almost every time The Cooking Loft has aired, but I've managed to catch bits and pieces from most of the episodes... and I gotta say, it's good!


I love Alex's laid-back, casual delivery style. Dare I say it reminds me of a certain East Hamptons, former specialty foods store owner? A bit.

I also love how natural Alex is when she speaks to the camera and her students. You can definitely tell the show isn't scripted word-for-word (or if it is, she's a great actress). I've been turned off by some of the scripted shows lately (*cough* Aida *cough* *cough*), so it's refreshing to see someone who's knowledgeable about what she's talking about, who doesn't come across as wooden or forced.

And the food has looked great, which is, you know, important and stuff.

What do you think of the show? Hate the timeslot (Saturdays at 9:30am)?

The Cooking Loft Premieres Saturday

Taking a page from Perez Hilton... fill in the blank:

I am _____________ about Alex Guarnaschelli's new show The Cooking Loft.


I don't know much about the show, other than the host, Alex Guarnaschelli (executive chef at NYC's Butter), teaches a small group of students (a la Molto Mario) how a "pro puts her own unique spin on basic cooking techniques."

I have high hopes for the show. After the major success of Anne Burrell, Food Net appears more prone to finding great talent within the restaurant world, often having years of training.

Still, lots of training doesn't necessarily equal a successful show. And that student/teacher type show can sometimes make the viewer feel like a third wheel.

The Cooking Loft premieres this Sat. at 9:30am ET on Food Network.

PS- I have heard unofficially that Anne Burrell's Secrets of a Restaurant Chef was renewed for more episodes. I'll let you know as soon as that is cofirmed.