Food Network Addict Year in Review 2009 -- Part 1

I really can't believe it's the end of 2009... but I guess I say that every year. I should just get used to this whole racing toward death Gregorian calendar thing.

Soooo, as we prepare to down a couple buckets of Aunt Sandy's cocktails tomorrow night, let's look back on the year that was at Food Network Addict!

IN JANUARY...

Tyler Florence and Andrew Zimmern kicked off the year with a little hissy fit on Facebook.


After Tyler appeared on a show called "Momma's Boys," Zimmern referred to Tyler as the "least talented TV chef" among other things. Tyler hit back on Facebook, calling Zimmern "the guy who eats dried camel cock for a living." Yum-o!

... we pondered whether the Rachael Ray & John Cusimano-produced show Viva Daisy dazzled:


Answer: no.

... Bobby Flay's company got sued, we learned that an undercover FBI agent turned to Food Network's Giada De Laurentiis and Mario Batali to help "sound Italian", and I tried to figure out who wore Aretha's inauguration hat best:


I bet Bob will have one on next season of The Next Food Network Star!

...and Sandra Lee celebrated her magazine launch.

IN FEBRUARY...

We saw how good lighting can make someone look a little more like themselves on TV:


...Sandra Lee demonstrated her "burrito casserole" on GMA (put frozen burritos in dish and eat), I ran into Ingrid Hoffmann, the Neelys, Sunny Anderson, and Sandra Lee at the 2009 BubbleQ in South Beach.

IN MARCH...

I wrote more about the 2009 South Beach Wine & Food Festival and all the lovely sights:


...I got my picture taken with SandraFUCKINGLee!


... I got blinded by Guy Fieri's sunglasses:


... I made my very first Sandra Lee recipe (a crock pot buckle):


... and then went to a Semi-Homemade Party (only to stop at McDonald's afterward 'cuz I was hungry), and Duff & Tyler hit up HSN to sell their wares.

IN APRIL...

We saw Claire Robinson show off her best Rachael Ray faces:


... Paula Deen was featured on CMT's Cribs:


Of course. Also, "Chef" Sandra Lee tried to sell us some grilled chicken from KFC, Bobby Deen turned 39 years old, and we learned about new shows still yet to premiere in 2010.

IN MAY...

Giada De Laurentiis showed off baby Jade on Today:



... apparently a medical expert now, Paula Deen tried to convince us it was fine to eat pork and that we couldn't catch H1N1 from it, I reviewed the first episode of Sandra Lee's new show Money Saving Meals (and missed Semi-Homemade), Rachael and John did a few more awkward red carpet poses:



...Robert Irvine came BACK to Dinner: Impossible, after being replaced by Michael Symon, Sunny got a new "star-quality' do:



... and Ina had a finger-licking good time at the beach!



IN JUNE...

I did the first-ever interview that Bob Tuschman & Susie Fogelson had done together for The Next Food Network Star, Kate + 8 visited Charm City Cakes:


... Next Food Network star contestant Michael Proietti made a funny video poking fun at eventual winner Melissa d'Arabian (and then took it down):



... Susie Fogelson said contestants goodbye in style:


... and we learned that Guy Ferraridksdlkjfoi was no longer the spokesperson for Friday's.

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

Stay tune for Part 2. It's been fun looking back on the crazy busy, changing year it was. Hope you enjoyed it!

-j

See Me with Ina--Again! Dear Food Network Thanksgiving Desserts

Oh wow! The episode of Dear Food Network that I appeared on last year is airing again--right now! It'll also be on several more times throughout the week leading up to Thanksgiving.

I can't believe an entire year has passed since my visit to East Hampton. Such an amazing experience, that was.

I gotta get cracking on my mixed berry cheesecake!

Ina Garten, Rachael Ray, & Bobby Flay Win Daytime Emmys!

Congratulations to Ina Garten (yay!), Rachael Ray, and Bobby Flay who were all winners at the Daytime Emmys this weekend. I'm so happy for Ina!


Giada At Home also won for Directing in a Lifestyle/Culinary program.

Sadly, missing out again this year was Sandra Lee who lost in both of her categories (Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling and Outstanding Achievement in Makeup) to The View. Somebody give Aunt Sandy a break!

The creative arts Emmys were announced on Saturday. The "real" Daytime Emmys are airing right now on The CW.

Petit Paris Post: Poilane

When I was in Paris last week, I knew I'd have to make time to visit the world famous Poilâne bakery, the Ina Garten recommended boulangerie featured in her Barefoot in Paris special and cookbook.


Getting there was kind of an ordeal. After the RER train broke down one stop away from the airport on the day we arrived, I thought my experiences with travel disruptions would be over. Not so.

Overall, the metro in Paris is great. It runs everywhere I needed to go, so I decided to take metro to Poilane. So, I got out my little ticket, entered the station, and got on a waiting train. Well, there was a disruption almost immediately after getting on. Not knowing French, I simply followed the others out of the metro car after the announcement in French was made several stops before my intended station. No one seemed that upset. I waited with the other morning commuters until another train came and got one. Two stations were passed and another French announcement came on over the loudspeaker. This time, people seemed to be getting perturbed.

Once again, we had to exit at this station, only this time there were metro employees yelling at us to get out of the station. I asked someone I heard speaking English what was going on and he didn't seem to know, either. Oh well... I'll just walk, I thought.

I had a copy of Clotilde Dusoulier's (Chocolate and Zuchinni) wonderful book Clotilde's Edible Adventures in Paris with me and found what sounded like a great crepe stand to check out before hitting Poilane. Well, sadly, after checking multiple maps and wandering small streets, the spot was no longer there (now up on Clotilde's updates page). Perhaps someone was trying to make sure I arrived at Poilane on an empty stomach, I thought.

Giving up, I popped in to the cafe next door and grabbed a coffee at the counter, just like the dapper businessmen who came in for a few seconds to read the paper and drink a quick coffee. It was a cool environment.

Moving on, I was only a few blocks away from the charming bakery known as Poilane. I peeked inside and finally spot those signature loaves with the trademark P stamped on the front.


I told the friendly salesperson I'd like one pain au chocolat & one small loaf of bread, paid the clerk, sampled one of their famous "punition" butter cookies, and made my way out to find some place to dive into the goodies (I was hungry since there had been no crepes earlier).

I had read that eating in public, other than at street cafes, was considered uncouth in Paris, so I tried to avoid smearing chocolate all over my face and avoided eye contact with all passerbys.

It was so good--buttery, flakey, and just enough chocolate. I ate it so fast that I actually walked back to the bakery and got two more, plus two croissants for good measure.

There's definitely a reason Poilane is considered by some to the best bread in Paris. You have to check it out if you make it there. I miss it already.

GIVEAWAY: Ina Garten "Summer Entertaining" DVD

Happy Friday, everyone!

In honor of Ina Garten's first-ever appearance on The Next Food Network Star and the fact that's officially Summer (yay!), I'm giving away her "Summer Entertaining" DVD.


The DVD includes the "Surprise Beach Party," "Sunshine Food," and "Summer Beach BBQ" episodes.

To enter:
Send me an email at foodnetworkaddict [at] gmail [dot] com between now and 12:00AM on Monday, June 29, 2009 with your favorite Ina saying in the subject line. I'll pick a winner at random on Monday, June 29.

Good luck!

UPDATE: The contest is now over and the big winner is Sarah Jones! Thanks to all of you who entered; I loved all the quotes!

Next Food Network Star - Episode 3

Rule #1,782 when you're a contestant on The Next Food Network Star is: only cook your own recipes... and if you're not cooking your own recipes, don't attribute them to Paula Deen, Eddie!

In case you haven't watched yet, Eddie told the judges in the judging room that his watermelon & feta salad that he cooked for INA GARTEN came from a Paula Deen cookbook. Here's a thought, Eddie: if you want to steal a Paula Deen recipe, steal a good one?! Make her fried chicken. Make her blueberry cobbler. Don't make some watermelon salad with raw onion that Paula probably added because Gordon Elliott told her it was watermelon week and she had to think of something.



Quite a lot of drama this week! I could have taken a little less eye rolling on Eddie's part, and a lot less of Teddy's crying. In fact, I would have been fine if both had gone home.

What did you think?

Is Giada Moving to Europe?

In a recent interview with Redbook, Giada De Laurentiis said she'd love to live abroad with her family, adding "Todd and I have talked about Paris or Rome. I didn't plan on having this career, I just rode the wave. And now I'm contemplating where it leads."

Hmmm...but will you still come back to do your guest judging stints on The Next Food Network Star, G?!?


Maybe she'll just be sort of like Madonna circa the still-married-to-Guy-Ritchie years and claim to live abroad, but still be back in the U.S. all the time.

This is the same interview that Giada addresses the non-rumor that there was a rivalry between her and Rachael Ray, and even though she says there is none, G didn't pick RayRay as the Food Network personality she'd like to cook her last meal:

Instead she said:
"Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. She makes this chocolate espresso cake with this special sea salt, and there's caramel in it too. Espresso, caramel, and chocolate. It has that perfect combination of sweet-salt smooth, sticky but rich, fudgy kind of flavor. That would be my last meal. That's all I would want."

You mean you don't want a crusty bread sammie stoup MYOTO for your last meal, G?!

Ina Garten's Finger-Lickin' Beach BBQ

Things got a little freaky on today's Beach BBQ episode of Barefoot Contessa. Doesn't everyone get blindfolded before going to a beach cookout?








Haha! Just don't be spinning Ina or Michael around and giving them a bat.

And even though Ina made certain to remind us she's anything but upper class by grilling clams and grass-fed beef burgers with caramelized onions and putting them on English muffins (No ketchup? No cheese?), I still love her.

Go out and grill this weekend, just leave the blindfolds behind.

Party at Ina Garten's House

I'm not sure how exclusive the "Membership Cocktail Party" on June 6 is, but the event (a benefit for the East Hampton Historical Society) is being held at Ina Garten's home and there's a phone number to call and reserve.

I'm thinking the dues to join must be something like $3,500/month (or 100 lbs. of fresh saffron threads, whichever is worth more) plus one on-call florist, per person.

Food Network Nominated for 10 Daytime Emmys, Rachael Ray Gets Noms for Talkshow & Food Network Show

The 2009 Daytime Emmy nominations were announced today, and in what I think is a first for the awards show, Rachael Ray is nominated for both Outstanding Talk Show Host and Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Host in the same year.

The celebricook's daytime talk show, Rachael Ray, is also nominated again for Outstanding Talk Show (Entertainment). She won the Outstanding Talk Show category last year. Congrats Rach!

Also nominated for Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary host is Ina Garten. This might be your year, Ina!


(My longstanding offer to be Ina's date to the Emmys still stands. You know Jeffrey has some speaking engagements/book writings/tent pitching he'll need to be doing that night, anyhow.)

Bobby Flay, PBS's Ming Tsai, and Style Network's Peter Ishkhans are the other nominees in the category.

Giada at Home & Guy's Big Bite were the Food Network nominees in the Outstanding Directing in a Lifestyle/Culinary Program, Giada's show, Grill It! with Bobby Flay & Barefoot Contessa also received nods for Outstanding Culinary Program.

And even though she lost last year, Sandra Lee is nominated again...










Yes, Aunt Sandy got nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling category again this year, plus in a new category: Outstanding Achievement in Makeup!

We're rooting for you, Aunt Sandy! You rock that hair and makeup! ;-)

Congrats to the nominees!

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!

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!

What I Imagine Ina Garten's Reaction Would Be To the Suggestion Of Using Regular Vanilla...

...and not good vanilla.

Food Net Has "Sizzling camera work the most ambitious pornographer would envy" says Wall Street Journal

Alton, Ina, Rachael, Paula, and Guy all get positive mentions in yesterday's Wall Street Journal article on Food Network.


Highlighted is the aspect of escape that Food Network offers. Everywhere else we're hearing news of the stimulus package, the wars still raging, and whether Michelle Obama will go sleeveless or asymmetrical again. On Food Network, the only talk of pork "is the kind being fried, baked, char-broiled before your eyes," says the WSJ.

Here's to escapism!

Ina Makes a Valentine's Day Meal on TODAY

Ina Garten hit up NBC's studio 1A this morning, better known as the location of the TODAY show, to promote her recent book Back to Basics and cook up a Valentine's Day inspired meal. I think this makes it appearance #3 for Ina G. with this book. Such a media darling!

As we've discussed on here before, cooking segments on TV shows are usually obnoxious, rushed, and lacking of any useful information. And even though I think I've already seen all of these recipes (either on other segments or in the book), I still like watching. I think Ina does a very good job at explaining things quickly without leaving out any important info for the people who don't really cook. AND we even get a Meredith/Ina kiss! How appropriate!

And just in case anyone wants to make me the Coeur a la creme for V-Day, here's the recipe:

Coeur a la ­creme with ­raspberries
Ina Garten

This amazing dessert was inspired by my friend Anna Pump in her Loaves and Fishes Cookbook. This is really easy to make and can be prepared days before a party. Believe me, your friends will go ­crazy.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1⁄4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 1⁄2 cups cold heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
• Raspberry sauce
• 1 pint fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS
Place the cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Scrape down the beater and bowl with a rubber spatula and change the beater for the whisk attachment. With the mixer on low speed, add the heavy cream, vanilla, lemon zest, and vanilla seeds and beat on high speed until the mixture is very thick, like whipped ­cream.

Line a heart-shaped mold with cheesecloth so the ends drape over the sides and place it on a plate, making sure that there is space between the bottom of the mold and the plate for the liquid to drain. Pour the cream mixture into the cheesecloth, fold the ends over the top, and refrigerate ­overnight.

To serve, discard the liquid, unmold the cream onto a plate, and drizzle raspberry sauce around the base. Serve with raspberries and extra ­sauce.

Happy Birthday, Ina Garten!

The Barefoot Contessa herself (I actually don't like when people call Ina that, as it was just the name of the store -- a name she didn't even pick) Ina Garten turns a sweet 61 years young today. Looking good, Ina G!


Perhaps she's celebrating with her famous 5 sticks of butter between the cake and icing coconut cake? I hope so. And I hope everyone from the gardener to the florist, butcher to the fishmonger makes it over for an awesome party. How fun is that?

Who Wears It Best: Aretha's Hat

Aretha Franklin's inauguration hat is quickly becoming so last season, so I have to be quick and get this up before the week is up and Obama's into his first vacation.

So who wears Aretha's hat best? I tried to give a good sample of choices, even giving the Neelys a very special double-wide hat -- because those lovebirds can't let giant bows keep them apart!

Also, I'm fond of Bob Tuschman's little pillbox mini version.







Cute, huh?

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!

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

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!