YumSugar

Bobby Flay Signs On to NBC Restaurateur Show

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:00:23 -0700

Today there's more intel on NBC's restaurateur reality TV show, formerly titled United Plates of America. Variety reports that the competition, which will air next season, has a new name, America's Next Great Restaurant, that's perhaps more fitting of the show's premise than its old title.

In addition, Bobby Flay has signed on to be one of the five restaurant and business leaders who will be a judge, mentor, and investor to the contestants. On the new program, which is casting right this moment, industry insiders like Mesa Grill owner and Iron Chef Flay will help a winning chef or aspiring restaurateur open a new eatery.

NBC hasn't had too much success in the food reality series department: 2003's The Restaurant, starring Rocco Dispirito, was a flop; last year's The Chopping Block with Marco Pierre White was canceled after just three episodes. Still, this is a completely new premise, and having Bobby Flay star certainly can't hurt. What do you think? Does the show sound like it has the ingredients for success?

Will Top Chef 7 Be Top Chef: Washington DC?

YumSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:30:44 -0800

Hot on the heels of news that Top Chef 7 has been delayed, rumors are flying that the show will be filmed in the nation's capital. Yesterday, DC food blog Metrocurean said it received word that Bravo crews could roll in as early as next week - and anonymous tipsters quickly began leaving intel that the cast, crew, and judges would be staying on location in historic neighborhood Dupont Circle.

Today, The Reliable Source, the Washington Post's gossip column, is also reporting that Top Chef will be filmed in the nation's capital. It doesn't surprise me that Washington DC is the purported season seven location. I'm already envisioning episodes involving Michelle Obama's garden, the White House farmers market, and former Top Cheffers (and locals) Spike Mendelsohn, Carla Hall, and Bryan Voltaggio.

Would you be pumped if Top Chef 7 took place in Washington DC?

Source: Flickr User Alotor

Yummy Links: From Brisket Hash to Mai Tais

partysugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:15:05 -0800

Must make: beef brisket hash. - Hands On Gourmet
Cookbook author Katie Lee is working on a television show pilot. - The New York Times
Unaged tequilas that you should be sipping.- Serious Eats
The Magical Elves, the production company behind Top Chef, will bring an Amazing Race-style cooking competition to Bravo. - Feast
Take a look at Pulino's, New York City's most anticipated new pizzeria. - Eater NY
Chef Michael Mina is returning to the San Francisco restaurant where he got his start. - Grub Street SF
Two traditional Irish cookbooks worth checking out. - The Epi-Log
Learn the correct way to make a mai tai. - Chow

Could Kate Winslet Star in Top Chef 7?

YumSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:09 -0800

For an actress with as much star power as Kate Winslet, being on Bravo's Top Chef should be, well, a piece of cake. The New York Post got the early scoop on Top Chef season seven when it ran into head judge Tom Colicchio at Bravo's Upfront Party in New York last night. Not only has shooting been pushed to April (due to the birth of Padma's baby, Krishna), but Oscar winner Kate Winslet hopes to be a part of the production.

"I met Kate Winslet at a party the other night, and she said, 'I want to come on the show,'" Tom told the Post. "So I said, 'Kate, you've got an Oscar in your hands, you can do whatever you want!'"

Kate is a known foodie. Her mom is an award-winning pickler, and the actress has expressed her love for eating and cooking - despite being accident-prone in the kitchen.

I'd love to see someone like her on the show. Do you think she'd make a solid guest judge?

Martha Stewart Developing a New Reality TV Show

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:39 -0800

Martha Stewart may be approaching 70, but she has no plans to slow down. The media-merchandising overlord is developing a new reality television series, titled Help Me, Martha!, in partnership with Survivor producer Mark Burnett.

The premise of the program? The head hostess will come to the surprise rescue of viewers who need help planning special events, like dinners and weddings. Help Me, Martha!, which will be made by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, has yet to be sold to a television network.

Martha has endless creative ideas, so I can't wait to see what entertaining suggestions she'll offer on her new show. Based on the premise, would you watch it?

A Sneak Peek at Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

YumSugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:44 -0800

Jamie Oliver's latest project has been a long time coming. Last May, we learned the famed British chef would be starring in a reality show, Jamie's Food Revolution, to give unhealthy cities good-food makeovers. His cookbook by the same name gave Americans a taste of what the transformation would be all about. And now, ABC has released the trailer for the show, which will premiere Friday, March 26, at 9 pm.

Jamie jumps across the pond to Huntington, WV: population 50,000 and home to the unhealthiest people in America. "I'm here to start . . . the biggest food revolution that this country's ever seen," he declares. But that's before a teary Oliver encounters serious roadblocks along the way.

Can the acclaimed health activist and TED Prize winner - who's known for his school lunch overhaul in the UK - have the same impact in the US? Watch the trailer and tell me what you think.

Rachael Ray Plays Prankster on "I Get That a Lot"

YumSugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:30:54 -0800

In the last year, Rachael Ray's nabbed a gigantic daytime Emmy and built the popularity of her food magazine (your top pick for best glossy in 2009). But what if the media mogul quit her day job as a wildly successful celebrity chef, TV personality, and cookbook author?

That's what happened on last night's CBS special I Get That a Lot. Ray went undercover at the dry cleaners as part of a prank on customers, who couldn't decide whether she was a dead ringer or the real deal. See some of Rachael's golden moments below. Do you think she plays the part well?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Top Chef's Voltaggio Brothers Debut Weekly Web Video Series

YumSugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:30:45 -0800

Just before the winner of Top Chef Las Vegas was crowned, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio teamed up to launch a new website, VoltaggioBrothers.com. By Christmas, they'd announced plans for a new video series with media company EQAL. Wrote Bryan: "Being forced to cook something in 20 minutes with bizarre ingredients is fun, but not what we normally do in our restaurants. These videos will give you a better sense about our culinary point of view and our passion for cooking."

Their first webisode, titled "Deconstructing the Voltaggio Brothers," debuted yesterday. While we didn't see any demos, we did learn, in between snippets of the brothers making brioches and pop rock lollipops, that Michael excels at poetry, and Bryan would've been a landscaper in another life. Take a look when you read more.

I'm already a fan of the series, which reveals a softer side of both boys. Did you learn anything new about the brothers? Will you tune in to watch more webisodes?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Anne Burrell Talks Terrible Cooks and the Year Ahead

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:45:00 -0800

If you've ever wondered what the world's most unappetizing dishes look like, here's your chance to find out. On Jan. 3, Food Network is exploring the opposite end of the culinary spectrum with Worst Cooks in America, a new reality TV series showcasing some of the nation's biggest kitchen failures.

I spoke with Food Network chef Anne Burrell - who, along with Beau MacMillan, is one of the show's hosts - about the new series, the biggest fail of a dish she's ever had, and her year ahead. More, after the jump.

Top Chef Quiz: Season Finale Part 2

partysugar — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:15:55 -0800

Well folks, that's it! Top Chef 6 is over. The final three had to create a four-course meal that included a dish inspired by their mothers, a dish with special ingredients, a wild card dish, and a dessert. The dinner was served to the judges and some of the nation's most prominent restaurant owners. Were you watching? How well did you pay attention? Find out now when you take the quiz!

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Take the quiz