Food Network

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Food Network gears up for Ultimate Recipe Showdown 3

News releases are starting to leak potential candidates for the next season of Ultimate Recipe Showdown. The final decisions have not yet been made, but it appears as if the first notifications have been sent.

CommercialAppeal.com lists "Gail Churinetz, who teaches pizza classes at Viking Cooking School and was featured in a home chef profile in The Commercial Appeal, has made the first cut for Food Network's The Ultimate Recipe Showdown. If she's selected, she'll compete against other cooks on the show hosted by Guy Fieri. Weekly winners receive $25,000."

(source)

And several sources (not sure which was the originator) recently wrote that "Greg Fontenot of Woodlands, Tex., has a winning streak going. Besides being chosen as a Top Tomato 2009 finalist for this recipe, the 48-year-old scientist has a fairly impressive track record of competitive cooking conquests over the past eight years, including his pending status to appear on Food Network's Ultimate Recipe Showdown. The gingerbread and banana napoleon recipe he submitted for that one sounds first-rate."

(a source)

Were I to make a conjecture, I'd expect Ultimate Recipe Showdown Season 3 to tape in New York City sometime in late September, 2009.
*update*
Dates are September 22 - 30, 2009 blog post

You can watch the previous two seasons of Ultimate Recipe Showdown on FanCast.

Some of the most popular recipes from the show are:
Battered Chicken Wings with Pomegranate and Mango Barbecue Sauce
St. Nino's Chicken
African Ground Nut Stew
Kickin' Chipotle Fried Chicken Tenders with Cool Cucumber Slaw

These and the winning recipes from Season 2 and more are listed on the show's index page.

Related Posts:
The Guy Fieri - TGI Friday's connection
Guy Fieri interview on Ultimate Recipe Showdown
News Spot and Feedback from URS

Friday, August 21, 2009

Guy Fieri's favorite sandwich - Chaps Pit Beef

I missed this episode of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on the Food Network when it first aired; I suppose now I can be glad for reruns? (Never thought I'd say that.) "Between Bread" brings Guy back to another Diner, Drive-in or Dive.

This episode airs on the Food Network
Apr 05, 2010 - 9:00 PM ET/PT
Apr 06, 2010 - 12:00 AM ET/PT
May 09, 2010 - 2:00 PM ET/PT

And you can check the show index page or show episode guide for future episodes, and check the Between Bread episode page for future airings.

Guy's offering for this week's program is the 52 Chaps Submarine (which I can not find on the menu), with corned beef, ham and pit beef, at Chaps Charcoal Restaurant (a.k.a. Chaps Pit Beef) in Baltimore, Maryland.

Chaps Charcoal Restaurant - website
5801 Pulaski Highway, Baltimore, MD, 21205 - map
(410) 483-2379
www.chapspitbeef.com

Here's Chaps' segment from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives - "In the Family", which first aired in June of 2008.

From their website, Chaps says, "Chaps Pit Beef was established in 1987 by Gus and Bob. Chaps was a 12 X 15 shack with no electric, and or phone. We simply had beef, ham, and sausage served with joy and the hope of seeing delight, and enjoyment from the faces of our customers. In the beginning chaps struggled, but we soon had electric, and a phone. Donna joined our team and 22 years later were still here. Over the years chaps has grown, as well as our menu serving Hot Dogs, Mexican Ham, Fish platters, and much much more. Chaps has also been in The City Paper, "Baltimore's Best" from 1991-2005."

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Guy Fieri finishes up a busy week in WNY

Elena Cala Buscarino of Buffalo Rising scored a nice interview with Guy Fieri while taping Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in Buffalo, New York. She writes, "I met up with him at Sophia's on Military Road this morning, and I have to say that any national celebrity who can be funny and gracious at 7:45AM is alright with me." Read the full article here.

Guy Fieri in Bernice, the author's '75 LeSabre

Guy listed the places in Buffalo that he's visited already: Lake Effect Diner, Grover's Bar & Grill, Earl's Drive-in, the Blackthorn, and "a Bill's tailgate party hosted on a Pinto at Ralph Wilson Stadium," which POTENTIALLY leaves the Pizza Junction yet to be shot in the afternoon of the 19th or the morning of the 20th.

Moreover, Guy said the "Tailgating Warriors" show, produced by Guy's Production Company, Ragtop Productions, a joint venture between Page Productions and Guy Fieri, is scheduled to air on September 17, 2009. Of course, Kleetus says it will air October 17, 2009. So just stay tuned, and I'll see if I can't sort it all out.

And to comment on the food in Buffalo? "Beef on weck? Oh my God," Guy said, "this could have been the beef on weck tour."

Ok, for those of you NOT from Buffalo, a typical beef on weck sandwich (a.k.a. kummelweck or kimmelweck) is made from slow-roasted, hand carved, rare roast beef. The cut face of the top half of the roll may be dipped in the juices from the roast. Prepared horseradish is usually provided for the diner to spread on the top half of the roll to taste. In the Buffalo area, it is common to see jars of horseradish on eatery tables that serve the sandwich.

As usual, it will take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months for these restaurants to air on the Food Network.

(source)

At the Lake Effect Diner, the parking lot was roped off, and Guy could be seen inside entertaining kids with magic tricks, joking around with the diners, and posing for pictures with fans.

Tucker Curtin, owner of the diner, is an active participant in the local farm movement, working with local farmers and members of his staff to bring fresh, locally grown food to the table. Read more here.

Guy Fieri at the Lake Effect Diner

(source)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Review of Feast of Fieri, Atlantic City

Lauren Buzzeo of the Wine Enthusiast Magazine was in Atlantic City for the Food and Wine Festival in early August, 2009. She wrote of many events, but of interest here are her experiences at The Feast of Fieri, a private dinner with 24 guests, priced at $1000 each. From her blog Uncorking my Passion in Atlantic City:

"But the highlight of the weekend? Without a doubt, the intimate, exquisite, and undeniably delicious Feast of Fieri with Food Network personality Guy Fieri. The man isACFW Guy Fieri awesome, people… I mean, everything that you think he is from his shows and books (cool, friendly, funny, cuddly) HE IS!

And boy oh boy, the man can cook. I had some of the biggest prawns I’ve ever had (wrapped in bacon), a delicious grilled romaine salad (again, with bacon chunks), cedar plank salmon and steak Diane that rivaled any high-end restaurant (sadly, no bacon on that one).

The food was second only to Fieri’s tableside manner, which was immensely real and approachable as he regaled us with personal stories that entertained the whole room."

Recipes:
Bacon Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ
Grilled Romaine with Blue Cheese-Bacon Vinaigrette
Johnny Garlic's Cedar Plank Salmon

A Filet Mignon Steak Diane used to be on the menu at Russell Ramsay's Chop House, a brief concept restaurant of Guy Fieri and Steve Gruber, located where Johnny Garlic's is now in Santa Rosa, California. But the recipe for this steak Diane is not available online.

See also Guy Fieri takes a big bite out of Atlantic City

Entertainment Weekly gives nod to Triple D

Entertainment Weekly, in their August 14, 2009 issue, takes a look at the 15 tastiest offerings on Food TV right now, including:

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives GUY FIERI VARIOUS TIMES / FOOD NETWORK

(via)

Fieri is living the dream — for four seasons of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, the season 2 winner of The Next Food Network Star has been visiting some of the nation's favorite greasy spoons in small towns and big cities. The boisterous, spiky-haired Fieri seems just as at home chatting up a camera-shy cook about deep-fried chicken gizzards as he does downing a shot of pungent "Mad River" syrup with a soda-shop waitress. The only downside: More than any other food show, it's nearly impossible to watch Triple D without snacking...preferably on something caked in beer batter.

(source)

Related Posts:
One of a Kind - Joe's Gizzard City
Diner Speak
Fans travel miles to Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The best thing Guy Fieri ate with his hands: Lou's fried chicken

I've been enjoying the Food Network's new show, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." This week's episode was "With My Hands."

This episode repeats on the Food Network
Aug 22, 2009 - 6:00 PM ET/PT

And you can check the show index page or show episode guide for future episodes, and check the With My Hands episode page for future airings.

There is also a Best Thing Blog on FoodNetwork.com, if you're interested in checking that out too.

Guy's offering for this week's program is the fried chicken at Uncle Lou's in Memphis, Tennesee.

Uncle Lou's - website
3633 Millbranch Road, Memphis, TN, 38116 - map
(901) 332-2367
http://unclelousfriedchicken.com

Uncle Lou's first aired on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in August of 2008 - "Where the Locals Eat"

And if you're interested in making your own "Unclicious" chicken at home, Uncle Lou's has an online store, where you can buy their fried chicken seasoned four, "Sweet Spicy Love" mild or hot sauce and their "Corruption" seasoning mix.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Guy Fieri cake ... takes the cake

Or rather, the Guy Fieri cake takes a blue ribbon! At the the 134th annual Ventura County Fair in Ventura, CA. Oxnard resident Kristin Shapiro paid homage to the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The cake took Best of Show honors in the baked foods competition.

(via)