Archive for June, 2009
June 25th, 2009
There was the usual amount of drama on Sunday night’s episode of the Next Food Network Star. It seems that this year, someone is always crying, but maybe they just hired better editors? Who knows…….
In this episode Tyler Florence met the contestants in a market in a market, where he gave them instructions for their next task. They had to shop for a dinner party for 12 people. The catch? They only had $60 to do so. Throughout the course of this challenge, the contestants had to stop at the camera where Tyler critiqued them as they gave a 30 second budget food tip to the camera. As usual some of the contestants did well, others not so much.
The next day, the contestants were driven to Ina Garten’s house in the Hamptons. This was the mystery setting of their BUDGET dinner party and their guests were to be Ina’s friends and the selection committee. Yet another “twist” revealed that the contestants would have to cook in teams of two. Each team would have one hour to cook an appetizer, entrée and dessert.
Jeffrey won the first challenge so he was the only contestant that could choose his partner and he chose Michael. He chose wisely because this duo won the challenge. Michael was a little off tonight, but Jeffrey saved the day. However, he really needs to think of something beside the “crepe story” because everyone is getting sick of it.
In the elimination room, Debbie’s fears about Teddy were realized. He made a terrible dessert and did not want to take credit for it. He actually tried to take credit for a dish they collaborated on and again throw someone under the bus, just as he did with Melissa last week. Even the judges were not buying it and he ended up saying he was sorry…..and crying. (What a jerk!)
In the end Teddy and Eddie were left. I think they both deserved to go. Debbie really carried the whole meal and the presentation and Teddy was still ready to try and take credit for something he did not do. And Eddie…..I just do not even know why Eddie was ever on this show. He was down right mean to Melissa and he obviously can not cook.
I do not know if anyone caught the fact that Eddie made a salad with raw onion, watermelon and feta cheese that everyone hated. In fact, Susie Fogelson said it was “inedible”. Guess what? He got the recipe from a Paula Deen cookbook. After he revealed this fact at elimination, no one criticized the recipe again. Interesting…….
Eddie was sent home, but I really think Teddy will be next. No one is ever going to trust him no matter how much he cries and apologizes. At least we are rid of Eddie Munster…… (I know it is mean, but the resemblance is uncanny.)
June 15th, 2009
Last week, we learned that catering a party for 75 people in five hours was not an easy task for anyone. No surprise. This week, we witnessed how difficult it is to prepare a recipe for the male readers of Esquire magazine and present that recipe on camera. Not easy either. Even more difficult is to be assigned a holiday and have to design a meal around that holiday and present it to be the selection committee and reps from Good Housekeeping. What could be worse on the nerves? Having Giada De Laurentiis as a guest judge. She is nasty! Giada’s attitude is getting bigger than certain other parts of her body.
Luckily, Brett’s food was not really good and he bombed on the presentation so it was his time to go. But it was not soon enough. Brett and Teddy manage to throw Melissa under the bus by blabbing to the judges that they helped Melissa plate her dishes. What nerve! They offered to help her, she did not ask. Due to creative editing, the viewer could not really get a good idea to what extent they helped Melissa, but it was probably only less than a minute. They both could have just kept their mouths shut. I think Brett knew he was on the way out and thought that by making Melissa look bad, it would help his chance of survival. Guess not Brett.
One final note about last night’s show. I am still up in the air about who I think will win, but at this point my top picks are Jeffrey, Michael or Jamika. Creepy is the only word that I can think of to describe Eddie and I think that Debbie is prasied too much, she will eventually fall. What do you think about who got voted off?
June 7th, 2009
Tonight is the premier of the fifth season of the Next Food Network Star, hosted by Bobby Flay. All of the contestant’s bios are covered on the Food Network website. I am just interested to see if a star will really emerge. Some of the past seasons have not been the greatest. Guy Fieri is the only true “star” that has come out of the show with Aaron McCargo, Jr. and Adam Gertler both coming in at a distant second. Season one and season three winners are no longer on the air.
The thing I love most about the show, is watching the other Food Network “Stars” really go at the contestants. I think this is one of the most difficult reality shows. These Food Network people can be nasty! Watch out when Giada is a guest judge!
Stay tuned for more after the show……….
June 7th, 2009
Last month, my husband and I went to New York for the weekend. It was my little niece’s baptism on Sunday and we were there for less than 48 hours; however, we did manage to squeeze in as many culinary delights as possible.
The minute we landed, we hopped in a cab and met my brother and his wife at Orsay; an adorable little upper east side French Bistro. Sitting there on a beautiful May afternoon, sipping a wonderful Sancerre, while enjoying a delcious Croque Monsieur, I did forget for a moment that I was in NY.
After lunch it was straight to our hotel, The London NYC in midtown. We chose this hotel because Gordon Ramsay is behind all of the food. He has two restaurants in the hotel and they handle room service as well.
We had reservations at the more formal Gordon Ramsay at the London for that evening. I was very excited. I am sometimes wary of these expensive, multi-course meals because they often leave me disappointed. But, being Gordon Ramsay fans, my husband and I decided to give it a try, despite the hefty price tag. I also had the opportunity to wear a gorgeous Philip Lim dress that i had been saving for the occasion.
We both chose to have the five-course tasting menu with the cheese supplement (why not?) and wine pairing. We began our meal with a glass of champagne, chosen from the lovely champagne cart that was wheeled over by a member of our wait staff team and then the meal began…..
Each course was paired with a delicious wine that was explained and poured by the sommelier. Even after four courses and as many glasses of wine, we did manage to polish off most of the wonderful cheese course.
Despite being unbelievable full and a tad bit drunk, we were delighted when the bon bon cart was brought over, as a prelude to our real dessert. . Each course was exquisitely presented and the restaurant was formal without being intimidating. It was truly a remarkable dining experience that my husband and I will never forget.
The next day, we woke up and you would think that we would be sick of food after a five-course+ meal, but no, not us!! We are in NY for two days and we were going to eat as much good food as possible. You can not come to NY without getting real NY pizza. (It is just not the same in Florida). We grabbed an early lunch, (late breakfast or just a pre-lunch snack maybe?) at the famous Ray’s pizza and then did some shopping along Madison Ave. We did have to work off some of the food we had been consuming.
That afternoon was my niece’s baptism and yes, we ate again. My brother and sister-in-law had a lovely lunch for family and friends at Centolire, a upper east trattoria that specializes in traditional Italian-American cusine.
Sunday evening, we had reservations at the infamous Waverly Inn with my good friend and her husband. The concierge at our hotel managed to get us reservations at the still apparently hard to get in celeb favorite in the Village. I am not really into restaurants that are famous just because they are impossible to get in, but The Waverly is different. The food is really good. The truffle mac and cheese is one of the best I have ever had and let me tell you….I am the truffle mac and cheese aficionado. It is one of my favorite dishes and I ordered it anytime it is on the menu. The Waverly’s is one of the best! I also recommend the hamburger, shorts ribs, and the tuna tartare. They are all delicious.
I could not ask for more than spending time with family and friends, while experiencing great cuisine. It was a perfect weekend!
