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Tina and Jon Get Creative and Artistic For the Tech Emmys

PopSugar — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:37:40 -0700

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Amy and Meryl Take Julie and Julia to NYC

PopSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:20:39 -0700

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Let's Dish: Top Chef 4.11 - The War Is On!

YumSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:56:44 -0700

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The Tasting Villages at This Year's SOBE Festival

YumSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:34:25 -0800

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Bourdain's Commonwealth of Knowledge

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:57:18 -0800

A couple of weeks ago, TeamSugar and I headed out to Lafayette (east of San Francisco) and trekked out to a fancy pants high school where Anthony Bourdain was speaking. As you may have figured out, I have a slight infatuation with him and was quite eager to hear what he had to say. Would he be as brash in person? Would he complain about Rachael Ray? Or would he be slightly humble and have intelligent things to say? The answer to all of those is yes. He was brash, yet humble. He railed on Rachael, but he also gave a great perspective on our food industry.

The talk was hosted by The Commonwealth Club of California and is actually available online. To get the link to the audio, as well as read some of my favorite bits - including his run down of your fave Food Network chefs - read more

On vegetarians:
"How do you travel? I like a clean colon just as much as anyone, but [vegetarianism] just seems rude."
On Ina Garten:
"She's good. See, I surprised you. I might not want to spend a weekend at her weird house in the Hamptons, but she's good. She raises expectations and actually teaches you something."
On Mario Batali:
"He's godlike, a walking buddha."
On Emeril Lagasse:
"He's good for the world. I don't like the show either, but he raises expectations."
On Sandra Lee:
"Good or evil? I don't think there's any questions there."
On Rachael Ray:
"She scares me. She could have me killed with what she spends on Triscuits each week."
On cooking and eating:
"Cooking is about domination and being in control. Eating, however, should be a submissive act."
On opening his own restaurant:
"Life's good. Why would I want to go and f**k it all up by opening a restaurant?"
On the slow food movement:
"[The slow food movement] is really important. Anything that improves things is. But do I think the world will go that way? No way. I like Whole Foods just fine. I don't like paying $1 for a lemon, but I'm glad that I can."
On Top Chef:
"The judging is totally honest. When Tom sends home the 'wrong' contestants [the producers] despair in silence."

Like I said, those were some of my favorite bits, but definitely check out the audio (RealAudio only) when you have a chance.

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Top Chef 3.11 - Snacks on a Plane Recap

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:22:06 -0700

Well folks, we are down to the final six cheftestants, and I must say I was slightly shocked by last night's episode. Shocked by who was eliminated, shocked by how mean guest judge Anthony Bourdain was - although I should have been expecting it - and shocked by how many folks overcooked fish. I could go on and on about my shock, but let's just start at the beginning for now.

The episode starts with Padma sneaking into the dorms and rousing the chefs from their slumber. And naturally, she has a surprise! They stagger into the (super swanky) kitchen area and are told they have 20 minutes to make her breakfast with ingredients in the kitchen. No time to change, no time to think, just make. Oh and they're endorsed by Breville's blender, so they might want to use that too.

To find out what happens next, read more

Once the challenge starts, the cheftestants (as Hung said) "scatter like roaches." Truffle oil is falling off the counter, bell peppers are lying on the floor and burners are barely burning. All of the chefs decide to play it a little safe - crepes, French toast, eggs in a nest, etc - and Hung wins the challenge with a well prepared take on steak and eggs and a papaya smoothie. Did I mention that his papaya smoothie was spiked with Grand Marnier? I'm sure it gave him an edge, but the simple combo of blended papaya with milk is fantastic, so I'm sure his would have been fantastic with or without the added bonus.

As winner of the elimination challenge, Hung is presented a copy of Padma's upcoming cookbook and will be able to pick his protein first. However, before they can begin, it's time to pack their bags and head West to Aspen! But oh wait, there's a slight detour and they're going to New York first!

When the cheftestants arrive at the Newark airport, they're ready to head to New York, but are told to check in to their airport hotel and prepare for an elimination challenge the next day. The challenge takes place - hair caps and all - in the kitchen for Continental airlines. They have two hours to prepare business class appropriate meals that will be reheated and served to the judges - including guest judges Anthony Bourdain and Jimmy Canora of Continental's Congress of Chefs - and a fleet of elite flight attendants.

Four of the six chefs opt for fish, Hung takes the fatty Chilean Sea Bass, Brian takes lobster (to go with this gigantic steak), CJ takes halibut and Sara opts for salmon. Casey and Dale take meats, veal and steak respectively. The fishes - except for Hung's - are overcooked and rubbery. Bourdain says he didn't even know what Brian's lobster was and Sara's salmon is awful and inconsistent. In the end Casey walked away the winner with grilled veal medallions and cauliflower gratin.

However it isn't the fish, but side dishes that send folks home. Sara's couscous is considered an afterthought - which she agrees with - and CJ's burnt broccolini is according to Tom, the "worst dish that they've had in three years of the competition." Bourdain backs it up by saying that it looked like they were cleaning Bob Marley's house and found it in the closet. Ouch, harsh words for some sad broccolini.

Unfortunately, it isn't just harsh words that are given to CJ. He is also given the boot. I must say, I was a bit shocked. I honestly thought he would be in the final four. It looks like it must have been a tough decision, I mean Padma is practically in tears as she tells him to go home.

Things to ponder...

Did you think the beginning was staged? Something about it seemed like they re-enacted the scene.
This is probably some sort of sin to ponder, but is Bourdain's mean guy schtick too predictable? Oh and If you haven't read his thoughts on the evening, you really should.
Were you as touched by how sad Padma was, as I was?
Who are you rooting for? I think I'm rooting for Hung, but with my track record that must mean he's going home next week.
Oh and, I don't know about you, but I have to figure out how to fly business class from now on...

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Food Network Awards - I Somehow Managed to Sit Through The Whole Thing

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:48:41 -0700

Ladies and Gents, were you as disappointed in the Food Network Awards as I was? For having all those big personalities, it was pretty darn dull, don't you think? This picture of Paula pretty much says it all. I had it on in the background, otherwise I don't know if I could have sat through the whole thing. Although, I must say, as much as I was dulled-to-death by it, I was not nearly as irritated as our pal Anthony Bourdain.

The production itself--above and beyond the witless, ill-considered, just-plain stupid "concept" of an Awards show where most of the "awards" went to inanimate objects (accepting the award for Best Comfort Food is...Macaroni and Cheese!!), appliances or cities (Portland's mayor wisely did not bother to show),--the production values--were lower than whale shit. The food styling during the "Best New Appliance" looked like some kind of 1960's themed monkey effluence, dying, soggy, butt-ugly.

And yes, I know, Bourdain's "I totally hate on Food TV" schtick is a little off-putting and old-hat to some, however I still love every scathing word of it.

Did you watch it? What did you think? Tell me about it in the comments! Oh and did anyone else notice that they used the same music that Top Model uses??

And finally, if you want to know who won the metal cake statuettes (even though most of the recipients are inanimate objects), or see more red carpet imagesread more

Here are the winners, visit Food Network for a full list of nominees

"Hot" Chocolate - Andrew Shotts - Garrison Confections
Delicious Destination - Portland, Oregon
Play With Your Food - Jell-O Artist Liz Hickok
Icy Innovations - Moobella Ice Cream
Tasty Technology - PoliScience Anti-Griddle
Delectable Delivery of the Year - Zingerman's Z-Club
Super Market - Wegmans
Better Burger - Burgerville
Edible Entrepreneur of the Year - Alicia Polak for Khaya Cookie Company
Viewer's Choice: Fave Food Combo - Burger & Fries
Viewer's Choice: Fave Classic Read - Green Eggs & Ham
Viewer's Choice: Best Ball Park Eats - Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
Viewer's Choice: Kitchen Appliance You Can't Live Without - Microwave
Viewer's Choice: Fave Cool & Classic Cocktail - actually, I missed this one... anyone know? My guess is going to be be Margarita (choices were margarita, mojito, daiquiri & martini)
Share our Strength Humanitarian of the Year - Floyd Cardoz of Tabla (I must say this was the one interesting, if not totally different, part of the show. Floyd seemed genuinely touched)
Food Network Hall of Fame - Julia Child
Culinary Dream Come True - Matthew Finkel (and I thought it was also interesting how they made him think it was a competition, even though he was the only candidate. I also loved how Alton started to let his true feeling for the giant metal cake statuette slip through)

And that folks, was honestly a waste of my time... I wonder what they'll do differently next year, because you know there's going to be a next year...

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South Beach Wine & Food - Celebrity Chef Book Signings

YumSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 07:57:51 -0800

During the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, many celebrity chefs were on hand to chat with fans while signing copies of their books. On hand were the usuals (like Rachael and Giada), however there was one particular Food Network bashing chef on hand as well. Yep that's right, our favorite celebrity chef bad-boy, Anthony Bourdain, was there too. On one hand I'm sort of surprised, I thought he hated these guys, but on the other I'm not surprised at all. I mean he is a celebrity chef, so why wouldn't he be there?

Here's what Charles Passy of the Palm Beach Post had to say about the "Howard Stern of the food world":

Of course, in the process of espousing such a philosophy, Bourdain made note of everything from Giada de Laurentiis’ oversized head to Al Roker’s stomach stapling (Bourdain’s point with the latter: Do you really want to bask in the culinary wisdom of a guy who can’t eat?). I laughed so hard, it almost made up for the five numbingly dull hours I spent at the Food Network Awards the night earlier.

But here’s the thing: Just an hour or so before the talk, Bourdain was doing a book-signing session, sitting in the same seat that Giada had occupied moments earlier. Can he have it both ways - mock the famous and bask in fame at the same time?

So what do you guys think, can he have it both ways or is it hypocritical?

Source: Palm Beach Post

For more pictures of celebrity chefs signing books, read more

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