Monday, March 9, 2009

Guy Fieri - on URS, DDD and Life on the Road

The Appetizer, part of Canada's National Post, asked Guy a few questions about Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Diners Drive-ins and Dives and just life in general. Canada is premiering Ultimate Recipe Showdown starting on Wednesday, March 11.

Guy said that URS is good TV. "As a chef, as a restaurant owner, as a food TV guy, for me to see everyday cooks get a chance to win $25,000 for their favorite mac 'n' cheese comfort food, I think that's awesome. If you're a fan of food and a fan of people, it's killer."

Many people ask if the car Guy drives on DDD is his or does it belong to the show. He answered that question, "That's not my car in the show." But he does have seven cars. He says his favorite is a '71 Chevelle, but he does not allow anyone to eat in the car. No Drive-Ins for Hunter, I guess! He said in an earlier interview, "I'm not a big eater in the car. I have two little kids, and they make enough of a mess."

"That said, one of my favorite places is called the Bar-B-Q-King in Charlotte, N.C. I can park and eat barbecue in the flatbed of my truck all afternoon."


Guy Fieri, on having 20 pairs of one-of-a-kind skateboard tennis shoes by Globe: "Yep, my wife hates it. I have more shoes than Imelda Marcos." And as for his signature look and clothing choices, "More often than not, I just wear whatever shorts I walk in with. I'm not trying to make a statement, it's just what I wear. It's fun. I like to be comfortable. Right now, I've been wearing more T-shirts."

And the spiked hair? He says he doesn't own a comb! "It's how I wake up, really. It's funny. I was on a shoot once and this woman came up to me and gave me this half-used tub of hair stuff and said, I love your hair, you've got to try this. I stuffed it in my bag and then when I ran out of hair product on the road and needed something, I pulled it out and tried it. Now I get this stuff by the case, it's killer stuff." J Beverly Hills Clear Waxx. Apparently this is a common question. He told Express Night Out, "I was in an airport, and a woman just walked up and gave me some. It's the best stuff in the world."
He says his favorite Food Network moment was when he won the Next Food Network Star. "I never thought in a million years that I'd win. I was just stoked to be on the show." And he doesn't have a least favorite moment, "... it's more about being away from my family. I'm on the road a lot. I love what I do, driving around, introducing people to new food and being a food dude, but it's hard being away from my wife and my two boys."

"I love what I do. I think that's got to be at the core of it. I'm recognized in an industry that, frankly, could use a lot of help right now. If I can go around and point out these great independent mom and pop joints to people, that's great. And the stories that people tell me and the letters I get from the places I've featured on the show, I mean, I start crying. I'm a giver, I'm an Aquarius, I come from a family where giving means a lot more than getting. So, when your only real pain is being away from your family at times, then I guess I've got it pretty good."

And his "showcase dish" for friends and family? "Everything. There's no rhyme or reason; it's whatever wild idea I get. This is so sad; I'll wake up in the morning and ask my wife, 'what do you want to have for dinner tonight?' And she'll be like, 'Will you give me a minute, I haven't even had my coffee yet.' But I'd have to say, I like a good, beefy taco salad."


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