The Importance of Semicolons

For a second there I thought Mario Batali was gonna be talking about his new diet on the Today show this morning!


Guess not.

An Intimate Conversation Between Mario Batali & Meryl Streep

Cablevision Be Damned, Food Network Gets Highest Ratings EVER on Sunday Night

Well, even though approximately 3 million cable subscribers in the Tri-State region weren't able to watch, Sunday, Jan. 3 turned out to be the highest-rated, most-watched night in Food Network history.

Two big premieres—Iron Chef America: Super Chef Battle and Worst Cooks in America—attracted a combined average audience of 3.7 million viewers, according to the network.

Additionally, the 7.6 million viewers who watched the super chef battle helped make Food Network the most-watched cable network on Sunday night.

That's a pretty big achievement!

Still refusing to negotiate, Cablevision?

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I watched some of the Super Chef Battle, but honestly found myself flipping around after a bit. Even though it was cool to see the White House and Mrs. Obama, that portion of the special was rather short. They were in and out of DC in what seemed like 10 minutes. Then, the rest of the battle was just a bit too drawn out for me.

Maybe if Mrs. Obama had made more of an appearance and they had featured a little more on the actual garden and what goes into cooking the White House meals I would have been more interested. (Truth be told, I sometimes get bored watching regular one-hour Iron Chef episodes, so I'm surprised I stayed on for almost 2 hours with this one.)

Did you watch? What did you think of Mrs. Obama and the "secret ingredient" that wasn't much of a secret.

Mario, Emeril, & Bobby Get 2 hr White House Special - A Sign of Importance or a Consolation Prize For Dwindling Network Time?

When you get an invite from the White House you send in the big guns. And at Food Network, to many people, those would be Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, and Emeril Lagasse... or they would have used to think that. Apart from Bobby and his ever-presence on the channel, Mario and Bobby have all but disappeared into rerunville.

So when I read that the three big boys would be appearing in a two-hour Super Chef Battle episode of Iron Chef America, featuring Michelle Obama and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, I wondered... is this a sign of who's really important at Food Network, or just a consolation prize to Mario and Emeril?


Food Network stars Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse travel to the White House to take part in an unprecedented culinary competition in Super Chef Battle, a special two-hour episode of Iron Chef America. Greeted by First Lady Michelle Obama, the chefs are joined by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and receive their challenge: create a meal for America using The White House Kitchen Garden’s produce as their secret ingredients.

For one, Emeril isn't even an Iron Chef. Why was he asked to come along and not, say, Cat Cora, the only female Iron Chef?

Alton Brown is coming along for his commentary, and Ted Allen will serve as a guest floor reporter.

Even Food Network kind-of star Nigella Lawson (she's huge in the UK; hasn't entirely caught on here for whatever reason) will serve as one of the judges, which would normally be a bit of a no-no. Ted Allen had inferred in recent interviews that he wouldn't serve as a judge anymore due to his more established relationship with Food Network as host of two series, Chopped and Food Detectives.

It makes sense that Food Network stars shouldn't serve as judges, actually. Alex Guarnaschelli used to judge Iron Chef America battles, and now her new show Alex's Day Off is produced by Bobby Flay. Who knows how her vote might get swayed if she had to choose between Bobby and the challenger.

Soooo... I'm not really sure what to think of the addition of Mario and Emeril in this special. I mean, it makes sense they didn't ask Sandra Lee or, uhhh, Mary Nolan (that one worked out well, FN) to the White House. But is it a real sign their presence is valued on the network? We shall seeeeeee....

The special episode premieres Sunday, January 3rd at 8pm ET/PT.

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?

Food Network Stars Helped FBI Agent Sound "Italian"

All the haters telling Giada to quit with the spagheeetee and proshootoh better think about stopping. Turns out retired FBI Agent Jack Garcia, while working undercover with the mafia,
turned to Giada De Laurentiis and Mario Batali (among others) to get his Italian pronunciations just right, according to the NY Post.

Giada gets the most grief for the pronunciations, which we know she's been teaching her baby Jade since she was in utero:



Ha! I'm not surprised, but I feel like if I was undercover I'd try a few more advanced language programs than Food Network.

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Okay, so the big thing I got to do today was attend the Oprah Winfrey Show taping at the Kennedy Center. No Food Network stars in the house, although I did see Top Chef's Spike Mendelsohn (soon to have a show on Food Network's new website) on GMA this morning. That's. about. it. Where's Sandra Lee when you need her?

Morning Show Roundup: Ina, Tyler, Sandra, Nigella, Mario

So many Food Network stars are showing up on the morning shows these days. I can't keep up!

This morning, Ina Garten made her first appearance (according to Diane Sawyer) on Good Morning America.


I love how Ina says she "splits the difference" when trying to cook her Thanksgiving dinner in one oven by just using one temperature for everything -- this, coming from the woman who has three ovens in her barn's kitchen, two in her home, and about four more temporary ones in her garage when she's shooting her TV show. :-) Maybe she's saving energy and only turning on one these days, though.

Sandra Lee also hit up GMA recently. She made some kind of raspberry mustard-crusted chicken that sounds completely unappetizing to me... but she seems to enjoy it.


Sandra has been putting "internationally renowned" in her bio for a while lately. What exactly does one do to get "internationally renowned"? Does that mean you got a good book review in Canada? That the hotel staff in Mexico recognized you? I'm not sure.

Tyler Florence has two new books out now. Naturally, he appeared twice on NBC's Today show this week. Here's one:



Mario Batali promoting his new book and PBS show on Today.



Nigella Lawson on Today.



And my favorite fave Amy Sedaris ALSO subjected herself to Kathie Lee hit up the Today show to promote the release of her book I Like You in paperback.

Giada Makes Faces at Pink Party

Those pesky red carpet paparazzi. Always making demands to the stars.

I guess at a certain point you just give in, though, like Giada De Laurentiis apparently did this past Saturday in Santa Monica at the 4th Annual Pink Party benefit for Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Research Institute.

1) "Giada! Smile for the camera!"


2) "Okay, now pose with your hand on your hip!"


3) "Okay, now act like you see someone to your right!"


4) "Wait, that first smile wasn't big enough. Can you try it again?"


5) "You can do better than that!"


There you go!

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I was in New York City over the weekend. Stayed right across the street for Mario Batali's Babbo Ristorante, but didn't get a chance to dine there. Sigh... maybe next time.

Hope your weekend was pleasant.

[Image Source]

Mario Batali's Also an Indie Music Star

Mario Batali makes a short cameo in this video for The Bloodsugars' single "Purpose Was Again."


Pretty cool. Love the animation. [RCRDLBL]

Mo Rocca Interviews Mario Batali

Mo rides a Vespa with Mario and gets a lesson in convection cooking while grilling in Chinatown.


"He's from Singapore. He's going to kill you now."

One Night's a Big Night

Rachael Ray and President Bill Clinton's one-night-only pop up restaurant in New York City, Cafe Una Notte, was a big success--raising more than $200,000 for Rach's charitable organization Yum-O.

Rachael's Food Network colleagues Bobby Flay and Mario Batali were on hand to show their support.




The event was catered by five teenage aspiring chefs, along with the help of Iron Chef Michael Symon. Each teen got a $10,000 scholarship.


My oh my... Rachael's becoming quite Oprahesque, isn't she?!

[Images]

If you want an autograph from Mario, wait

I love this quote from Mario Batali from today's Washington Square News:

"I'm happy to sign autographs and do all of that, but there are times when I'm just trying to eat breakfast with my kids and the person I ask to wait for an autograph calls me an asshole. I'm not going to go off, though, like some celebrities, and punch a paparazzo or anything."



Mario took some time off to talk to students of the class, "Celebrity: A Cultural and Historical Exploration of Modern Fame" at his restaurant Otto.

And while he may lament the change in the network's new focus on fast & easy, Mario seems to be able to recognize the positive:

"At the end of the day, I'm happy to have anyone cook anything - I'm more against Arby's and McDonald's than people who cut corners and whatever to get dinner on the table."

[Photo via Washington Square News]

Mario on Martha

If you're lucky enough to have the day off (like me), perhaps you've been checking out the fine (right) daytime TV offerings that we all normally miss while slaving away at "real jobs."

I was able to catch a classic Good Deal rerun on FN with Dave making some baked bolognese and other pasta dishes (all of which are in his latest cookbook).

He was still a little rough in this episode...fumbling his lines and such, but I really think he could have had (and I guess still could have) a great television cooking show if the time was right. Oh wellllllll.

I also randomly caught Mario Batali's segment on the Martha show. I never watch her show, but was excited to see him on.

He made this yummy sounding spaghetti with green olive sauce. So simple and fresh.

I kind of missed out on the Mario phenomenon (in terms of his FN career) since I didn't really start watching in earnest until close to the end of Molto Mario, but after watching this segment I was reminded just how good a television personality he really is.

His demo was effortless but not lethargic. He was able to teach simple cooking lessons without being pedantic. Yes, he did throw in some big, multisyllabic words here and there, but they weren't overdone.

While it's pretty clear that his time hosting a cooking show on FN is done for the time being, it's still obvious that he's a great talent. I'm totally stoked about his PBS show with Gwenyth Paltrow in Spain (as I've mentioned before).

And that's not just because I've eaten chipirones en su tinta (squid cooked in its own ink) while in Bilbao, España.

Have a great day off (If you have it off) everyone!

Tampa Trib Gets It Wrong

Umm... you might want to double check your story before you publish it, Tampa Tribune:

Food Network, Now With One-Third Less Body Hair

After 10 years on the air, the Food Network canceled Emeril Lagasse's "Emeril Live" show. The network also canceled Mario Batali's "Everyday Italian" series.

Obvs, Everyday Italian is not Mario Batali's series, nor was the show I believe the writer intended to refer to (Molto Mario) "canceled." New episodes haven't been filmed for years.

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Ugh! I'm still not feeling well. I'm in bed right now watching Giada on Today. She's getting better. Good for her.

Happy new year, folks.

A Batali/Tuschman Blowup?

I've been getting a lot of emails about the recent New York Times article about the Food Network--namely, the he said/he said statements of Mario and Bob Tuschman about whether or not Mario's new show was turned down by FN, or never offered to it in the first place!



The Times claims that Food Network passed on Mario's new public television show, which is a food tour of Spain with Gwenyth Paltrow and other guests. (And sounds delicious, btw. I'm not a major public television watcher, but I love food from the different regions of Spain.)

The exact quote is: "Mr. Tuschman of the Food Network said it had passed on that series. 'It was not the right fit for us.'”

Now, saying something was not the right fit doesn't necessarily equate "we were offered the show and didn't choose to buy and run it"-- it could simply mean the concept in general was something that he and other FN execs felt would not be a good fit.

It's just weird that the Times throws that random quote in, follwed by: "Mr. Batali, who still participates in the Food Network’s Iron Chef America competition, said the show had not been offered to the Food Network."

And then NO explanation for the seemingly incongruent statements. Was this a passive aggressive response by Mario--who perhaps feels betrayed by the network he helped found--or simply an honest answer to a question? He may or may not have even known that Tuschman said FN had passed on the show. The way the statements are presented, that isn't clear.


But I do get the feeling that Mario feels a little betrayed...


In regards to his on-again, off-again relationship with the network, Mario attempted to set the record straight by pointing out why he thought his presence was dwindling:

“They don’t need me. They have decided they are mass market and they are going after the Wal-Mart crowd,” which he said was “a smart business decision. So they don’t need someone who uses polysyllabic words from other languages.”

Wow. Wal-Mart, Mario? They sell their wares at Kohl's. Give them some credit!

People Gobble Up South Beach Tickets

Tickets are already going fast for the 2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Fest, Feb. 21-24, 2008 in Miami.

In fact, the Giada De Laurentiis hosted "BubbleQ," Rachael Ray's "Burger Bash" and Ingrid Hoffmann's "Interactive Lunch" are all already SOLD OUT!



You'll notice that both Mario Batali and Al Roker do NOT have Food Network logos stamped onto their pictures.

I'm not that shocked to find out "Roker on the Road" may have taken it's last jaunt and is not being renewed, but with all the hubub from FN re: Mario's employment status I just figured the logo would be on for the time being-- at least while his (final) episodes of Iron Chef air.

I N T E R E S T I N G!

Rachael, Giada and Ingrid will surely be doing some other events during the fest, so don't let these sold-out event discourage you.

Seriously-- it is one the best events I've ever been to. Amazing food, great wine, Food Network celebrities AND the beach in February!

(I sound like a commercial, I know. I'm not getting paid at all by them, but I'll let you know if I ever do. You ain't even HEARD commercial, yet! JK)

Mario's REALLY Dunzo with the Food Network

It's been news for a while that Mario Batali's Food Network show Molto Mario wasn't being renewed and no new episodes would be filmed, but it was revealed today that the famous Italian chef would not be returning to his other gig, Iron Chef America.



The New York Post revealed today that:

Chef Mario Batali has been chopped from TV's Food Network, the influential cooking channel that made him a household name.

Sources said that network executives told the spotlight-loving chef last month his multiple shows, which includes the long-running "Molto Mario," would not be renewed and that he would no longer be competing in the popular "Iron Chef America" series.

The paper claims that Mario bowed out because his other show(s) was not being renewed, but I was under the impression that his other shows were already cancelled... or at least on a semi-permanent "hiatus." When was the last time you saw a new episode of Molto, anyway?

I wasn't a huge fan of Molto Mario, but I enjoyed Batali on Iron Chef. Out of all the Iron Chefs, he's definitely the best at cooking while still performing at the same time. He is on TV, after all.

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Woo... already Wednesday. Have you packed up all of your white shoes now that it's post Labor Day? Put the cover on the grill? Put up your Halloween decorations? I'm not quite ready to do any of those things. I need more summer!

Mario Gets Busy

Anyone still awake? Sorry for the extra late post. It's been a crazy week already.

Anyhow, I had to post this pic of one of my faves, Jimmy Fallon, hugging all up on Mario Batali.

Jimmy has that same kind of dorky/cool personality that I love so much about Dave Lieberman. Those two need to hang out. Collaborate. Now.

Jimmy was being honored at the Food Bank of New York Can-Do Dinner. I guess Mario was there to... umm... eat?

[Source via Source]

Friday Book Club

I'm going to get my inner Oprah going and sort of recommend a BOOK this Friday. You see, there are these things called books that are not televisions, yet they still give us information. Some of them even describe the same things we watch on the Food Network!

The funny thing is, I haven't even read this book! FNA reader Jenn sent me a message about it, and based on the reviews at Amazon it looks really good. It's called The United States of Arugulaand it's written by David Kamp, a good friend of Food Network personality Mario Batali.



I would imagine it's Ina Approved, since she does enjoy her arugula. Giada, too.

Here's what some reviewers said:

The United States of Arugula is ostensibly about how America changed from a burgers and fries, Swanson TV dinner, baloney sandwich and Fritos kind of country to a sushi and edamame, Whole Foods, imported bottled water nation. What it really is though, is a collection of some of the best gossip I've read in a long time. This is quality stuff. The stars of the story are food pioneers Craig Claiborne, James Beard, and Julia Child. Along with accounts of their careers, we learn of their various trysts and relationships. Even Julia Child, of whom there are no revelations of extra marital affairs here, comes across as rather bawdier than we are used to seeing her. Alice Waters gets the full treatment as well. What a busy bee she's been - that kitchen at Chez Panisse sure gets hot. Author David Kamp has really done his homework. We learn how Whole Foods, Zabar's, Dean & DeLuca, and Williams Sonoma got started. We get the lowdown on how the French cooking craze that Julia Child started morphed into Nouvelle Cuisine in New York and into California Cuisine in Berkeley. Chefs Jeremiah Tower, Thomas Keller, and Wolfgang Puck make cameo appearances. Find out how Peet's Coffee in the Bay Area begat Starbuck's.

This badly titled book in fact is a thoroughly research profile of the great U.S. chefs and great food promoters in last 40 years -- starting with James Beard, Julia Childs and moving through to Alice Waters, Jeremy Towers, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Pierre Franey and the Batali/Bobby Flay crowd. David Kamp logged many hours to get everyone on the record and drew from published sources, to give a very detailed picture of how the American household shed their Joy of Cooking roots and started to experiment with taste and ethnic foods. He has tons of quotes and anecdotes--showing also how Ruth Reichl, Craig Claiborne and other food writers also shaped opinions and began developing the reputations of our celebrity chefs.

I was first introduced to an excerpt of this book by reading a short article in VANITY FAIR just a few months ago. After reading that VANITY FAIR article, I was hooked and I HAD to have this book. Glad I bought it too! This book is very well written. The author writes smoothly and each chapter is filled with such fascinating facts and stories about the world of cooking and eating. I'm glad I bought this book.

So, like Oprah, let's all get together in a few months with the author and chat, okay?

Iron Chef, Battle Cranberry Wrap Up

As you may recall, I celebrated Thanksgiving early and fell asleep during the initial airing of the Iron Chef battle between Giada De Laurentiis and Rachael Ray.

I think everyone needs a full week or so after Thanksgiving to recover, so that's why this is so late. Hopefully you've all had plenty of time to see it.

The secret ingredient was cranberries. Both teams discussed a bit about what they'd make (or just pretended if they already had it planned) before getting into it.




This is right about where I fell asleep the first time, so it's fitting that my pictures begin from this point.

Giada immediately got flustered with that food processor. Her nerves were over the edge for the rest of the episode.

Mario Batali quickly got on the judges good side by sneaking some cranberry Bellini's over the them. Cheers!



When asked to comment on this obvious bribe, Bobby Flay sort of just acted his normal, alien-like self:



No words. Anyhow, he's a focused chef. No time for chit chat.

Mario didn't seem to mind prancing around, handing out pannetone to both teams while taking his own dishes to the refrigerator when needed... himself!

Since the chefs (and Rachael the "cook") are so focused they rarely have time to look at the camera. Most of the time you get these top of the head kind of shots.



But with all they looking down and bending over, you'd think we'd get some of those cleavage shots Giada has made famous! Come on, Mario! Don't let us down.

Just kidding.

So they cooked a lot, both teams making osso buco-inspired recipes. They all looked and sounded interesting to me, but some looked better than others. Rachael boiled pasta in red wine which sounded really nice. I had seen Michael Chiarello do a similar wine-soaked pasta and wanted to try it. Hmm...

Finally it was time to judge. The honorable judges were Mo Rocca that I remember from the Daily Show, some girl from Entertainment Weekly (I think), and David Evangelista who used to do hair and makeover segments on the Rosie O'Donnell Show (before the View became the Rosie show II).

Team Fliada went first:



This one gets a check mark by me. I like everything about it. Some of the judges didn't like the AMOUNT of goat cheese on it (too thick or something), but more cheese is always better in my book. Especially when it comes from a goat.



Sorry, Giada. I love you, but these ravioli look like flat, oily disks rather than gourmet, hearty Italian fare. Next!



This one gets a ribbon by me. Honorable Mention! I say that because I'm not the biggest fan of duck, but know many people are. They would have liked it better than I.



This one might have done in Team Fliada. Again, I don't like venison, but that's not even why. When compared next to Mario's osso buco, this one just doesn't match up. Also, that cranberry risotto looked really runny and sort of grayish. They showed some overhead shots of it and it kind of appeared to be what throwing up Pepto Bismol must look like. Sorry!



Giada's zeppole always get a check mark from me! Even though, admittedly, balls of fried dough should always get good marks. She had some trouble getting them to fry through, but they turned out great. Would love to try some.

Mo Rocca asked if Italian cops eat zeppole instead of "regular" donuts. Haha... that got him a hug from Giada.

Team Ratali:




This dish gets... a sheriff's badge from me, basically because I don't really remember anything about it. Can't even really tell what it is from this picture. Hmm...



These shrimp things get a check mark, but NO BOX:-) They sound all right, but I don't love the idea of wrapping meat in more meat. Maybe I'm wrong. Alton pointed out pancetta is like bacon, but not smoked. Great.



The drunken bucatini that I mentioned earlier gets a check/exclamation point! It sounds delish, and I've even eat the sweet and spicy sausage.



This one wins. I love saffron and the gold leaf.



This looks beautiful. I would get over my dislike for trifles by eating this, I think.

And now for the scores:

... but first



What is that in/on Rachael's teeth? As Jordan Baker pointed out, it sounded like Rachael had "smoked a full carton of reds" before the taping. It looks like it, too. Someone get Rachael on the patch quick!

After tabulating the scores, the winner is TEAM RATALI!



Rachael can't believe it; Mario knew it.



Looks like Giada thought Mario might try to throw the match her way. Flay is in alien mode.

That is a pretty saucy reaction from Ms. De Laurentiis. At least it wasn't this:



Better watch out!

All in all, a good episode. Fun times. Even if it took about 3 tries to get through it.

Okay, this post took forever. I gotta go sleep again:-)

Congrats Team Ratali!