Friday, September 30, 2011

Fan questions, September 2011

Some time ago I added a new page to this blog, Have a Question? I receive some 50 questions each month. Here, I share what fans are asking and what answers I could find for them. [Some answers are edited for brevity. ~D]

TJ from Carta asked, "where do you get your shirts, and how can I get them? And can you find a decent dinner, drive-in or a dive in my town St.Petersburg, Florida?"

Our answer: Great questions! Interestingly enough, some of Guy's shirts will be for sale soon. We'll have more information on that in another week or two. Please check back? In the meantime, Guy said, "Cubavera is the main brand, but starting to wear a lot of Fender stuff now... Yeah Fender like the guitar, sweet stuff." He also wears shirts from Remetee, Roar and Affliction.

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives taped in Tampa and St. Petersburg in March of this year. Here's all the places they went, Triple D hits Tampa, FL. Let us know if you go to any of 'em?

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Maria from Philadelphia wrote, "So I watched last night [9/19/11] 'new' episode to see what Citizen Pictures did with all of the material that Page Productions got for them. It still sounds off - and not the typical DDD that I know after watching dozens of episodes.

I also am curious to know what's happening with the credits - obviously Page Productions found the locations, did all of the pre-production and research, and the production itself. But it looks like the only credit it to Guy himself. Perhaps David Page is right about Guy - he thinks he can do the show all by himself."

Our reply: Yes, I watched this episode very carefully too. Have had a few emails about it already. Most noticeable was the reduced volume of background music. On the one hand, a reader wrote that he could hear the conversation better. On the other hand, he said that it sounded "dead," that it was almost uncomfortable to "eavesdrop" on someone else's conversation. I thought that was insightful?

I've reached out to Citizen Pix for comment on the credits. Haven't heard back yet.

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Debbie from Toronto asked, "I still do not understand why you don't come up here to Canada? We eat alot more than just poutine.... Anyway we love th show and I have been to a couple of your pics in AZ. We are now going to watch the Bruin and Leaf game in Boston this October. Since I don't have too much time which place was your absolute fav in Boston?"

Our answer: Guy hit the Vancouver, B.C. area in early August for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. We anticipate it will be a very popular episode (or series of episodes). Assuming it goes well, one can only assume that the Toronto area would be next on the list of "north-of-the-border" areas to be researched and taped for the show. If you have favorite restaurants in Toronto to suggest, send 'em to storyideas@tripledinfo.com.

In Boston, try Mike's City Diner - website, or any of the places listed here, Triple D goes to New England.

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Brent of Summit Hill simply asked, "Does guy like eggs?"

Our answer: As an ingredient, yes. As a dish as itself, no. For breakfast, Guy has said he likes a plate of hash, or just a banana and a cup of coffee. He's also taken up making organic juices of fruits and vegetables for breakfast. He also doesn't like chocolate and sweets.

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Michael from Novato asked, "At the local Costco I found two types of Guy's Tri Tip, now I can only find the one. Sorry can't remember the names, but the one they carry now is a shade of orange, and is very good. But the one with the greenish sauce is my fav, and I can't find it. Are they going to get it back? Or can I find it elsewhere???"

Our answer: Excellent question! Each Costco location is trying and rotating different flavors, and those decisions are made locally. I think you're referring to the Rosemary, Herb Pepper Crusted Beef Sirloin Tri Tip? We suggest that you contact your local Costco meat department service manager and make a request.

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Kinben from Vancouver, BC asked, "When is the DDD episode from Vancouver, BC Canada going to be on the air?"

Our answer: The earliest air date for a Vancouver location to be on the show is October 31. We have no confirmed dates at this time.

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Rebecca MacKinnon from Nottinghamshire, UK asked, "Is there any way I can get a copy of the hunch card from one of the episodes of DDD? I would love a copy to give to my brother! Thanks."

Our answer: Oh, we've been on the lookout for one of those hunch cards for a looooong time. So far, have not found any available to beg, borrow, steal nor purchase. If we do, we'll add your name to the list of interested parties, to be sure.

Related Posts:
Fan questions, Mid-September 2011
Fan questions, August 2011
Fan questions, July 2011

-> more Frequently Asked Questions about Guy Fieri <-

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Triple D goes to New York, again

We're beginning to receive tips on Food Network camera crews filming new restaurants in and around New York City. Guy Fieri was in the area about this time last year. Here's a list of places we hear the show will go this time, to tape new episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in New York:


*Taping 9/29*
Mama's Food Shop - website
200 East 3rd St.
New York, NY 10009
(212) 777-4425
www.mamasfoodshop.com
Facebook
*Premiere 12/19/11 - Southern Staples*

*Taping 9/29*
The Redhead Restaurant - website
349 East 13th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 533-6212
www.theredheadnyc.com
*Premiere 12/26/11 - Scratch Made Classics*

*Taping 9/29* - click here for photos from the shoot at John's
John's of 12th Street - website
302 E 12th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 475-9531
http://johnsof12thstreet.com
Twitter @johnsof12thst
Facebook
*Premiere 1/23/12 - Global Traditions*

*Taping 9/30*
Gazala's Place - website
709 9th Avenue # 48
New York, NY 10019
(212) 245-0709
http://gazalaplace.com

*Taping 9/30*
Defonte's of Brooklyn - website
261 3rd Avenue
New York, 10010
(212) 614-1500
http://defontesofbrooklyn.com

From Queens, NY, Rincon Criollo posts "Thank You All SO MUCH for participating in the Rincon Criollo's special on the Food Network Show Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It was alot of fun and quite an experience. Guy Fieri is a riot. He is so much fun and as funny and charismatic as her appears on TV. He went crazy for the Ropa Vieja and Picadillo. Special thanks to those who were inconvenienced with Cameras, interviews, etc. I really appreciate your patience and loyalty to Rincon Criollo." via Facebook.

Rincon Criollo - website
40-09 Junction Blvd
New York, NY 11372
(718) 639-8158
www.rincon-criollo.com

Typically we see six or seven locations taped of the course of a week. We love confirmations, tips, pictures and comments! If you see that red convertible or those blond spikes, just comment below.


We'll update this post as more information comes in.

Click here to see a map of all the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Guy Fieri went to in the New York area.

Related Posts:
DDD '67 Camaro for sale
Guy Fieri does Diners and Drives in New York, 2010
TVFoodMaps creates DDD alert
Couple visits 250 DDD's, meets Guy Fieri

-> more on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives <-

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

New: Guy Fieri knife sharpener

Introducing: the latest in the Guy Fieri Knuckle Sandwich line of cutlery by Ergo Chef. This sharpening steel, dubbed "Blade Warrior," has a hard TPR rubber tip for a non-slip grip and safety when using, a solid durable ABS plastic handle polished with a stainless steel end cap, and star for Guy's signature look. Flats on handle hand guard to prevent rolling.


Buy at FoodNetworkStore.com

The knife sharpener is made of stainless steel and is 16.5" long, including the handle. The full line includes a chef's knife, santoku, utility and paring knife, cleaver, steak knives, and knife block.


For the full line of Knuckle Sandwich knives including bundled packages, visit FoodNetworkStore.com. Or for more information, visit www.ErgoChef.com.

*Contest* From Ergo Chef's Facebook: Do you "Like" to Win Free Stuff? Do you "Like" Guy Fieri's New 10” Diamond Sharpener? Just "Like" this comment or comment saying "Sharp as a Diamond" for a chance to Win Guy's 10” Diamond Sharpener! Contest ends on Wednesday! Good Luck and Happy Chopping! - www.facebook.com/ergochef

Related Posts:
New grilling accessories from Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri's knives now at Dillard's, more to come, 2010
On reviewing and marketing Guy Fieri's knives, 2010

-> more Guy Fieri merchandise <-

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Recent Guy Fieri news, September 2011

Word on the street: Guy Fieri and his camera crew will be shooting new locations for Food Network's Diner Drive-In's & Dives in lower Manhattan, beginning Thursday, September 29, 2011. The exact locations have yet to be announced.

A shoot in and around Dover, Delaware is also being buzzed about for this Fall. Send DDD restaurant suggestions to storyideas@tripledinfo.com.

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On Thursday, September 22, RITZ Cracker Recipe Contest winner Tina S. had her dinner with Guy Fieri, part of her grand prize package. From Rocklin, CA, Tina submitted and won the contest for her Ritzy Key Lime Bites recipe.

Guy graciously hosted the winner & guest at his home. Visit facebook.com/RitzCrackers for the recipe!

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Buzzy Martin, author of "Don't Shoot! I'm the Guitar Man" and "Live Aus San Quentin," met up with Guy Fieri at the Doobie Brothers / Sammy Hagar concert, B.R. Cohn Winery's 25th annual Charity Fall Music Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

For more pictures from the event, visit B.R. Cohn's Flickr page.

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Arrangements are still being made for the sale of the red '67 Camaro convertible, seen on almost 150 episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. We received some more information on the spec's of the car.
‘67 Camaro, an original SS. The new engine is a 350C 327HP (with 5,100 miles on the new engine) - 4 on the floor, rear wheel drive. The car itself has 61,682 miles on it, and the original 327 engine is crated up and will be available to the buyer if wanted.

Interested in following the bidding? Interested in buying? Click here for more.

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Guy Fieri events at the New York City Wine and Food Festival this weekend:

Oct 01 , 11:00am
Sold Out! Grand Tasting and KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations

Oct 01, 6:30-7:30 pm
Complimentary Illy Park Welcome Center & Book Signings
Cookbooks available for purchase on site

Oct 01, 2 : 00pm
Sold Out! TimesTalks - Guy Fieri

Oct 02, 9:00pm - $125 to purchase
Tickets Available! Party in Guy's Garage presented by Pucker Flavored Vodka

Related Posts:
RITZ recipe contest winner announced
New York Wine & Food Festival tix on sale
Guy Fieri hosts charity dinner, B.R. Cohn, September 2011

Saturday, September 24, 2011

On eBay, Guy Fieri tickets & memorabilia

Every so often I check eBay to see what Guy Fieri items are out there for sale. Today, there are over 300 items, from Ergo Chef Knives, to autographed photographs, back issues of magazines with Guy Fieri articles, tickets to upcoming shows and autographed memorabilia. What follows is not an exhaustive list; just a few that I found interesting. Happy shopping!

New York City NYC Wine & Food Festival - Guy Fieri Garage Party 10-3-11. Starting bid: US $200.00 - Bidding ends Sep 26, 2011, 17:57:48 PDT

Close the FoodNetwork's NYC Wine & Food Festival with Guy Fieri... Sunday 10/2/2011 9PM-midnight. "Party in Guy's Garage" is the weekend closing event that is sure to be a blast. We got tickets, but with the recent flooding in NorthEase PA... can't afford to take the precious weekend time away from the clean-up. We have 2 tickets that cost $294 shipped to our door.

GUY FIERI THE FOOD NETWORK TRIPLE D SIGNED BASEBALL. Price: US $65.00 or make an offer

Guy Fieri, The Food Network, signed MLB Baseball. This was obtained while in town for Lollapallozza [sic]. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME AT windycitygraphs@yahoo.com

There is another Guy-signed baseball: Minute to Win It GUY FIERI Signed Baseball Ball. Price: US $49.99 or make an offer

Up for sale is a Guy Fieri signed Baseball. All items are guaranteed authentic. A COA can be included upon request.

GUY FIERI 2011 Allen & Ginter AUTOGRAPH Food Network. Starting bid: US $49.99. Bidding ends Sep 25, 2011, 18:26:51 PDT

You are bidding on a 2011 Allen & Ginter AUTOGRAPH of Food Network Star Guy Fieri. Buyer to include $2.95 S/h. $.25 for each additional auction. Please check out my other auctions. Thanks

There are several autographed collectible cards on eBay. GUY FIERI Signed 2011 Allen & Ginter #209 is priced at US $24.99 (or make an offer). And three Guy Fieri auto signed 2011 Topps Allen Ginter are available, with reduced price US $25.00 US $18.75 (sale ends 9/24/11).

Non-signed Guy Fieri cards are selling from $1.00 to $2.00, according to what I could find.

Check out eBay.com for more!

Related Posts:
Guy Fieri article in AutoWeek, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions about Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri at Celebrity Softball Game, 2010

-> more Guy Fieri merchandise <-

Friday, September 23, 2011

TVFoodMaps creates DDD alert

There are several websites and mobile apps that help travelers find Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on their way. TVFoodMaps takes it a step further by tracking several food-related travel shows and the places they visit across the country.

Frank, one of the site developers wrote, "The site was built by two friends / programmers who both love watching and traveling to the places they see on shows like DDD, Man vs. Food and just about any other show on Food Network and Travel Channel. While we found a number of great fan sites for individual shows we hadn't come across a single site that would act as a 'hub' for all of these shows."

Recently, TVFoodMaps announced a service they provide to alert YOU when you're near a featured location. In their own words ....

We are really excited to announce what I would say is our coolest feature yet, Location Based Notifications. This feature allows you to automatically get emailed or SMS’d (text) whenever you are near a restaurant seen on TV.

We use your check-ins on services like FourSquare and Facebook to determine where you are and then notify you with an email or SMS (it’s up to you) about the places that are nearby. This way you never miss out on a chance to eat at a restaurant you saw on shows like Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, Man v. Food or any of the 11 shows featured on our site. Don’t worry we provide settings to control how often we contact you, we don’t want to be a nuisance!

To use this feature you must be a registered TVFoodMaps.com user and connect your account with either Facebook or Foursquare. You can learn exactly how to setup this feature by reading our “How-To” post.

As always please let us know how we can make this better!

For more, visit www.tvfoodmaps.com, follow in Twitter @tvfoodmaps or find them on Facebook.

Related Posts:
TV Food Maps (guest blog)
Dr. M’s TOP TEN reasons that visiting Triple Ds is a great hobby!
iPhone Apps for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

-> more on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives <-

Thursday, September 22, 2011

"Minute to Win It" Kinect Game for Xbox 360

Due in stores October 18, 2011, video game publisher Zoo Entertainment, Inc. has released a "Minute to Win It"™ game for Xbox 360®, with the Kinect™ Sensor for controller-less play. Similar to what is seen on television, "Minute to Win It" features the likeness and voice of Guy Fieri, who guides you throughout the game.



According to a Marketwire press release:
"The premise of the 'Minute to Win It' game show translates perfectly to a Kinect experience because the real physical challenges of the game can be implemented using a hands-free control mechanism," said Mark Seremet, CEO of Zoo Games, Inc. "What we've noticed during the focus group testing was that players who weren't familiar with the show still had an amazing time playing the game. It's just inherently fun. Also, one of the most entertaining aspects of any Kinect game is watching video replays of yourself and others and in 'Minute to Win It' for Kinect we have set up challenges that will lead to hilarious and entertaining video reels."

The game has four single-player modes and six multi-player modes including 2-player co-op and 4-player turn-based action. "Minute to Win It" for Kinect is rated "E" for "Everyone."


For more, visit http://minutetowinitkinect.com or "like" them on Facebook.

Related Posts:
M2WI for iPhone, iPad, more on "Minute to Win It"
Rachael Ray meets "Minute to Win It" game wizards
Video: Guy Fieri on "Minute to Win It" games

-> more on Minute to Win It <-

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Guy Fieri to Emcee "Autism Speaks to Wall Street"

"Autism Speaks to Wall Street" is the Fifth Annual Celebrity Chef Gala in support of the Autism Speaks organization. Set for Monday, October 3, 2011 at Cipriani Wall Street, New York, the exclusive event will be emceed by Guy Fieri and co-hosted by Wine & Food Festival founder Lee Schrager and 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl.

Gala guests will have four-course meals prepared table side by one of 80 leading chefs. Participating chefs include: Tom Colicchio, Wylie Dufresne, Masaharu Morimoto, Jonathan Waxman and many more.

Entertainment will be provided by Rex Lewis-Clack, a young musician with Autism, and opera singer, Sam McElroy.

Fund-raising events also include live and silent auctions.

For more, visit communities.autismspeaks.org.

Related Posts:
Smash Mouth's "Egg Challenge," with Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri hosts charity dinner, B.R. Cohn, September 2011
The Guy Fieri Foundation's Pretzel Cart Project

-> more upcoming Guy Fieri events <-

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Guy Fieri recipes - October 2011 FN Magazine

The October 2011 issue of Food Network Magazine is dedicated to "Fall Favorites." And just in time for the beginning for football season, Guy Fieri is sharing a tailgate sandwich and a pumpkin dessert.

Chicken-Tequila Tailgate Sandwiches - recipe



Pumpkin Pie Creme Brulee - recipe



Keywords:
jalapeno pepper, rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, tequila, butter crackers (such as Ritz), pecans, heavy cream, canned pure pumpkin

More on the current issue of Food Network Magazine
All Food Network Magazine recipes

Related Posts:
Guy Fieri recipes - June 2011 FN Magazine
Guy Fieri pretzels and pizza recipes in FN Mag
Guy Fieri recipe: cranberry sauce

-> more Guy Fieri recipes <-

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Smash Mouth's "Egg Challenge," with Guy Fieri

This, verbatim from Essential Broadcast Media:
After being prompted by a bizarre online fan challenge, lead singer of the multi-platinum GRAMMY-nominated group Smash Mouth, Steve Harwell, has set a date to eat 24 eggs as promised. Pairing up with celebrity chef Guy Fieri who has offered to cook the eggs, the "Egg Challenge" will take place on October 10, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at Fieri's restaurant, Johnny Garlic's, in Dublin, Calif.

The call for Smash Mouth to eat two dozen eggs came about when a fan prompted the challenge on a blog website, Something Awful. The spontaneous request was immediately backed by a multitude of fans via the website, Twitter and Facebook continuously urging Harwell to eat the eggs. Soon, it became one of the hottest trending topics on Twitter and Yahoo, and like an encore chant at a live concert, Harwell had no choice but to submit to their pleas.

Harwell responded in an effort to legitimize the request, telling fans if they could raise over $10,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a charity very near to Steve's heart, he would eat the eggs. The band launched a fundraising page on www.Causes.com and watched as fans came through to meet the goal in less than a week.


Long-time friend and Food Network star Guy Fieri then volunteered to cook the eggs any way Harwell would like them; and the two hope to continue to raise money for St. Jude's up until the date of the challenge. If you wish to donate, please visit www.Causes.com.

For additional updates on Smash Mouth's "Egg Challenge," follow Harwell and the band Smash Mouth on Twitter at @steveharwell1 and @smashmouth and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SmashMouth.

Steve Harwell joined with Guy Fieri for Meal Ticket's segment on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, part of the Sweet 'n Savory episode, Fall of 2010.


Video from Meal Ticket (With Steve Harwell, lead singer from Smash Mouth)

*Update* - According to Johnny Garlic's Facebook page, the Dublin restaurant is making a day of it:
"Big event Oct 10th in our Dublin restaurant....Come check it out. The city has named it "Guy Fieri" day! Booksigning, photos and Dinner with Guy. Proceeds go to Childrens Charities of East Bay....Tickets on sale at the restaurant"


Guy Fieri events at JG's in Dublin start at 6:30 p.m.; tickets on sale at the restaurant.

Johnny Garlic's
4920 Dublin Blvd.,Ste 265.
Dublin,CA 94568
(925) 248-2347

Related Posts:
Guy Fieri to host "Brew B'Que," L.A. Food & Wine
New York Wine & Food Festival tix on sale
Guy Fieri hosts charity dinner, B.R. Cohn, September 2011

-> more upcoming Guy Fieri events <-

Friday, September 16, 2011

Fan questions, Mid-September 2011

I've added a new page to this blog, Have a Question? At the end of each month (and sometimes part-way thru!), I'll share what fans are asking and what answers I could find for them. [Some answers are edited for brevity. ~D]

Kristen from Hadley asked, "Is it true that Guy Fieri has in his contract for 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives' that he can only eat two bites of each thing made at each restaurant?"

Our answer: To our knowledge, no. It isn't expressly stated as such in his contract. Rather, it's Guy's choice to keep the "big bites" down to a minimum, so that he doesn't fill up.

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Deb and Paul wondered, "How many sunglasses does Guy own?"

Our answer: When we last asked Guy that question, in 2009, he had about 80 pairs of shades. Find out more here, Frequently-asked Trivia Questions. We're confident that number has grown to at least twice as many at this point. :)

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Adam from Evanston asked, "How do you not weigh 400 lbs for eating all the food om tripe D?"

Our answer: The magic of television. It looks like Guy is having several meals at three restaurants in 30 minutes. But in a typical shoot for the show, Guy visits two restaurants in one day, totaling 7 places in a metro area over four days. He takes just a few bites of each dish.

And, the show only tapes at most twice a month. So it isn't as much food as one would think, eh?

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Pat from Fresno told us, "I have purchased 2 of the tri tips with the herb seasoning and rosemary and all of them were so salty we could not eat them. is this a problem that you can control? The product is over salted and ruins the taste of the meat. I thought the first one was just a mistake and then I cooked another today and we still can not eat it. Thank you"

Our reply: Oh, that's too bad! We'll reach out to the manufacturers and see what can be done. Thank you so much for contacting us! Without feedback like this, we'd never know ....

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Mary from Brookfield wrote, "Hi--love your shows, your enthusiasm and huge personality. Also, your kitchen set for Guy's Big Bite. My husband and I watch your shows together and do enjoy your cooking and commentary!!! I noticed among your kitchen items a playing card themed ice bucket. I love it and would like to find one like it for my husband for a gift for our 35th wedding anniversary. Any chance you could share where I can purchase one like it? I have been watching E-BAY for retro/vintage ice buckets with the same or similar theme/design and have not been successful yet. thank-you so much for your time."

Our answer: Wendy Waxman, the original set designer for Guy's Big Bite, finds these gems in the most obscure stores in and around New York City. So we're not sure how you can find one exactly like the one used on the set. However, if you go to Google.com Shopping and enter the search term, "retro ice bucket cards", some tasty options come up!

Best of luck with your search! And let us know how it goes?

Here's a bit more behind-the-scenes information about Guy's Big Bite set that you may enjoy, blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish.

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Sue from Albuquerque wrote, "Last evening (9/5/11) I caught the end of the program (I think in Minnesota). It was a place that made it's own corned beef and smoked white fish. I would like to re-watch that episode but don't know which one it was. Or at least know the name of the restaurant. Thanks!"

Our answer: Monday's episodes were "Porkapalooza" and "Fast Food Their Way." Here's the show's information page, Fast Food Their Way.



And, that episode is airing again soon:
Sep 16, 2011 - 9:30 PM ET/PT
Sep 17, 2011 - 12:30 AM ET/PT
Sep 17, 2011 - 4:30 PM ET/PT

Hope you can catch it!

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Debbie from Eureka asked, "Did Guy ever work at Red Lion in Eureka, Ca. making Steak Diane???? A bunch of us are wondering."

Our answer: Sure enough, he did! In fact, he re-created his Steak Diane at "Feast of Fieri," in Atlantic City, 2009. Read Review of Feast of Fieri in Atlantic City for more on that story. And in homage to the Red Lion, Guy developed Red Lion Flambe Cherries Jubilee, featured on the Comfort Replay episode of Guy's Big Bite.

As a teenager and after having spent 11 months in France, Guy came home and got his first restaurant job at the Red Lion Inn in Eureka. Guy says that his dining room manager at the time, Mark Milligan, was “one of the first guys that got me. Or, at least tolerated me,” he added with a laugh. “I think I was a bit of a handful.”

And we think, maybe, he still is. :) Here's more on that story.

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jfxn from Stafford Spgs asked, "Why do you have all the great Fender equipment and I have never seen you play. I bet your are a drummer!"

Our answer: You're right! A drummer. And a bit of keyboards, too. All of the other band equipment on the set is there for (1) show, and (2) Guy's buddies play them during taping breaks, haha!

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Tom from Columbia, SC wrote, "You answered everything except his height and weight. Also he's the most likeable and freshest face on food tv"

Our answer: Guy Fieri is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds. We learned that from the Press Democrat!

Related Posts:
Fan questions, August 2011
Fan questions, July 2011
Fan questions, June 2011

-> more Frequently-asked Guy Fieri Questions <-

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Couple visits 250 DDD's, meets Guy Fieri

Three years ago, beginning on September 3, 2008, Ben and Barb Stillwagon started visiting some of the places that Guy Fieri had featured on his show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. They had tallied visits to 249 of the over 450 restaurants from the show, and on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, the Stillwagon's chose Guy Fieri's restaurant, Johnny Garlic's in Santa Rosa, CA as their 250th. Guy Fieri was there, and he and the Stillwagon's finally had a sit-down lunch to pour over their travel stories.

The Press Democrat reports, "They were greeted and fed, over-the-top generously, by Fieri, the Midas-touch superstar who was a flicker in the galaxy of Sonoma County restaurateurs until he followed a whim to enter the Next Food Network Star competition in 2005." The three culinary travelers were served garlic onion tortilla soup, Johnny Garlic's Caesar salad, coconut shrimp, Ahi Won Tacos and cajun chicken fettuccine.

The Stillwagons said that "their travels along the Fieri trail haven't been just about TV-touted diners and the food they serve, but about seeing America and having cause to visit far-flung kin and friends."

The Stillwagon's daughter, Tracy, wrote
What started as a few meals, some interesting stories and a couple of pictures ..., turned into a mission to visit as many of Guy's featured restaurants as possible and quicker than anybody else. My parents are so fortunate. They raised 3 beautiful, successful daughters ..., retired from their jobs at young ages, were able to save money so they could travel after their retirement and still have their health to pursue their dream. They have traveled from New York to California and back again to pursue their dream.....of meeting Guy Fieri.

We first heard of the Stillwagons in a State Journal Register story written by columnist Dave Bakke in March 2011. We contacted the family to let them know Guy Fieri would soon be touring through St. Louis, MO on May 28, 2011, on the Guy Fieri Road Show. The couple got "Off Da Hook" on-stage tickets with their family in the audience, but unfortunately the Stillwagons only had time to get a picture and an autographed book, but no real "time with Guy" like they had hoped. Guy did mention during his live show that the Stillwagons had visited 210 of the DDD restaurants, at that time.

Ben has said that one interesting insight has been how the national, repeat-airing exposure from Fieri's show has saved restaurants that previously struggled, allowed others to expand and caused some that were already popular to get accustomed to telling folks the wait will now be longer.

“Pretty much, he has tripled everybody's business,” Ben said.

It is important to note that in the three years we've been writing this blog, we've heard of NO ONE else who has been to so many of the places Guy has been to for his show. 100, yes a few. 150, even less than a few. But no one, not even close, to 250 DDD's. We've been writing and pestering Guy's agents for seven months to make this meeting happen, but can't claim any of the credit for the ultimate meeting. "The Mafieri," as I call them, ignored or denied our requests.

On Monday, September 12th, the Stillwagons arrived in Santa Rosa and stopped in at Johnny Garlic's to see if they could "talk to Guy". By a happy chance, Guy just happened to be there in a meeting, and the staff told them they could wait. Tracy writes, "Shortly after they got them chairs and a drink, Guy walked out of the meeting room and they FINALLY got to meet him!! My dad said he shook his hand, reminded him that they had met back in St Louis and got to talk to him for a short time.....success!"

The private lunch was set for Wednesday the 14th, and the trio FINALLY had a chance to go over the albums and memory books the Stillwagons have amassed. Right place, right time, mission accomplished. :)

The Stillwagons say they've got a fair amount of Fieri-inspired eating to do before then. “We'll be at 325 when we get home,” he pledged.

Ben and Barb, happy travels!

For more photos, click here.

*Update* for more on the story, read Dave Bakke: Face time with Food Network idol fulfills couple's dream

Related Posts:
190 Diners, Drive-ins and Dives ... and counting ....
DDD '67 Camaro for sale
After a long hiatus, new Triple D episodes start tonight

-> more on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives <-

How many Diners, Drive-ins and Dives have you been to?

Monday, September 12, 2011

After a long hiatus, new Triple D episodes start tonight

It's been 16 weeks since we saw a premiere episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives; that time period has been filled with mini-marathons of reruns. But starting tonight, fans of the show will see new episodes for at least the next seven straight weeks.

Sep 12, 2011 - 9:00 PM ET/PT
Grillin' and Smokin' - San Antonio TX, Denver CO, St. Petersburg FL

Sep 19, 2011 - 9:00 PM ET/PT
Southern Flavor - San Francisco CA, Bradenton FL, Denver CO

Sep 26, 2011 - 9:00PM ET/PT
Gettin' Fresh - Boulder CO, Chicago IL, Norfolk VA

Starting in October, Food Network airs Diners, Drive-ins and Dives one hour later. Check those DVR settings!

Oct 3, 2011 - 10:00PM ET/PT
Homemade & Homebrewed - Chicago IL, Mooresville IN, Tampa Bay FL

Oct 10, 2011 - 10:00PM ET/PT
Latin Street Food - Chicago IL, San Antonio TX, Queens NY

Oct 17, 2011 - 10:00PM ET/PT
Slammin' Sammies - Virginia Beach VA, San Antonio TX, Chicago IL

Oct 24, 2011 - 10:00PM ET/PT
Global Comfort - San Antonio TX, Virgnia Beach VA, Chicago IL

The above episodes were taped when Guy Fieri visited restaurants in these cities between November 2010 and April 2011. Correction: tonight's episode is the last Diners, Drive-ins and Dives that was fully edited by Page Productions.

New episodes in Detroit and Vancouver were taped in August 2011 under the new production company, Citizen Pictures, which completed the editing process from raw tapes for the remainder of the 12th season.

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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Guy Fieri to host "Brew B'Que," L.A. Food & Wine

The First Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival is set for October 13 - 16, 2011, with food, drink, music events and more than 100 celebrity chefs planned in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and the downtown area of Los Angeles.

Guy Fieri is set to host "an afternoon of sunshine, BBQ, beer and live music at Brew B'Que on Santa Monica Pier" on Saturday, October 15, from 4-7 p.m. Expect "home-style BBQ dishes prepared by Fieri and renowned chefs from across the country, including Tim Love, Roy Choi, Chris Cosentino, Ray Garcia, Frank Ostini, Mark Estee, Sang Yoon, Roy Yamaguchi, Charles Phan, Mark Kiffin and more."


What's not to love about Sunshine, BBQ, Beers, Music and Friends? Combine all those ingredients and you have a memorable event. Enjoy a day on the famous Santa Monica Pier and take in the sun-drenched view of the Pacific Ocean, the sounds of music from some Rockstar bands, BBQ tastes from celebrity chefs and beer from some of the most notable breweries around the world! - All this at one price ALL INCLUSIVE. You will never find a pub crawl that will give you this opportunity. A perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

More than 100 beers from some of the world's most notable breweries will accompany.

"There is no better place to soak in the sun, grab a beer and feast on some killer BBQ than the Santa Monica Pier," says Fieri. "Brew B'Que is the place to be during Los Angeles Food & Wine."

A portion of the proceeds will benefit St. Vincent Meals On Wheels, raising awareness for the culinary community.

Tickets for Brew B'Que on Santa Monica Pier are $95.00. Los Angeles Food & Wine events start at just $50.00 and are available at www.lafw.com or call (877) 234-8425 for more information. Click here to view Guy's events at the L.A. Food & Wine.

VIP Access to Guy Fieri's Brew B'Que: limited tickets available for $150. Click here for more.

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-> more upcoming Guy Fieri events <-

Friday, September 9, 2011

Guy Fieri on the cover of Delight Gluten-Free Mag

Guy Fieri dishes on his new line of gluten-free sauces in the current issue of Delight Gluten Free.

On children with gluten intolorances, Guy says, "Being on a gluten-free diet is a lifestyle change that will be there forever. You either beat it or succumb to it."

He continued, "Your child can fall into the steamed veggies and chicken routine and not live a culinarily-inspired life, or you can help take battle to it and learn about the food you can eat."

Gluten-Free Magazine's kitchen also gives two recipes using Guy Fieri's sauces & salsas:

Bourbon Brown Sugar Turkey Burgers

and

Sauteed Salsa Verde Shrimp with Black Beans & Rice

Delight Gluten Free Magazine is donating a portion of hte Fall 2011 issue proceeds to the Celiac Disease Program at Children's National Medical Center to support gluten-free cooking-with-kids programs.

Click here to read the full article. Visit delightglutenfree.com for more information or to subscribe to their magazine.

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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Guy grills burgers, poolside on Carnival

On August 26, Guy Fieri tweeted, "Headin' home then off to Mexico for some fishin' and a little Cabo Wabo." But on the way, he did more than fish, he grilled burgers poolside on Carnival Splendor!

Al joked, "Just passed Guy Fieri on Deck 5 on the Carnival Splendor. Does that mean this place is a Dive?" And wrote later, "Just had a drink with him in the Casino Bar - I said, 'Gonna be a long week for you, huh?' He said, 'You ain't f'n kiddin!' Gotta love it!"

tink24 writes,
Just got back from the Splendor 8/28 - 9/4 sailing. On our first sea day we walked past the grill and saw some yummy looking burgers already made with EVERYTHING you could possibly imagine on them. There were some guys behind the grill dressed in tight black t-shirts and most were blond. One was especially blond with spikey hair. I knew they couldn't possibly be the normal grill crew, but didn't think much of it at the time. The burgers were the best I have had possibly anywhere. We found out later that Guy Fieri had been onboard until Cabo. Carnival is testing him out with the hopes of offering gourmet burgers at the grill. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works out because his burgers were AWESOME!

So good to hear!

Samantha wrote, "Had the best time on your 7 day cruise to Mexico. We even got to meet Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive in's and Dives!"

And Chris wrote, "Just got back from 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise....knew it was a good sign we were going to have a great time when Guy Fieri was cooking up the hamburgers poolside....oh yeah, the food was especially good!!!" And continued, "One of the best hamburgers I have ever had....at least the best poolside hamburger!!!!"


Guy got off the boat in Cabo and spent some time in the kitchen at Cabo Wabo on August 30, 2011.


See more photos at Cabo Wabo Cantina on Facebook.

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Celebrity Chef night at Palapa Joe's, with Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri - charitable works in Mexico

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Guy Fieri videos: on the road ....

Guy Fieri joins with the Zac Brown Band in Detroit, MI, with Guy Hamblin. Guy adds his herb and rosemary crusted tri-tip to the feast.



From the most recent Guy Fieri Road Show, Guy's family joins him on the bus to wrap up the Rock 'n Road Show tour.



See also: Guy Fieri shares his tips on trying to eat healthy while on the road. Click here to view.

And this was a promo for the city of Santa Rosa that featured Guy Fieri.

Guy Fieri - Santa Rosa promo from Nick Asbill on Vimeo.

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Friday, September 2, 2011

Page Productions' message to Fans of Triple D

In light of the recent suit and counter suit between Page Productions and Food Network and the concern that Diners, Drive-ins and Dives might have been canceled, I reached out to David Page, president of Page Productions and creator of the show for his comment on the suits, settlement, and specifically Guy Fieri's role in either. And I asked David if he had a message for the fans of the show.

Here is his response, in his own words:

"Dora - you asked me if there was anything I wanted to say to the readers of your site. There is:"
Thank you all.
Thank you for finding DDD.
And for appreciating it.
We worked very, very hard to make this show something special. Good enough was never good enough. And I'm proud of the work my very talented staff did in crafting this show to be so much more than average in every single way - especially in creating an onscreen image for Guy that presented him as someone viewers would see as knowledgeable and likable.

I've been in the business for 40 plus years. Making this show was a true labor of love and the creative high point of my career. Unfortunately, it's over. As often happens when TV creates an instant celebrity, that celebrity turns into someone else. Guy decided he no longer wanted to be produced or directed, no longer wanted my input or expertise to insure that his presentation and the show itself were as good as they could be and would continue growing and improving.

Guy clearly decided that what he needed was a different production company that would allow him to be in control. To that end, over the last year, he began making it extraordinarily difficult for us to produce DDD by canceling shoots, often at the last minute, failing to return phone calls and emails, refusing to schedule necessary voiceover sessions in a timely fashion to allow episodes to be completed on schedule, and simply being incredibly difficult for me to work with. Then, he went to the network and demanded they kick me off the show or he wouldn't perform. So they did.

Perhaps as Guy matures in his career he will come to realize that even Hemingway had an editor. And that actually listening to notes is something that can make a big difference in one's longevity. Along the way he may also learn it isn't good to get a reputation for plundering a production company's budget or for wanting to be surrounded only by sycophants, and he might even adopt more tolerant social views regarding minorities. Or maybe he won't.

As for those e-mails of mine that got printed in various newspapers? They weren't the reason the network did what Guy demanded - they were an excuse. You see, the network was so pleased with my work that they signed a new contract with me for 3 more seasons (12, 13, and 14) only three months before kicking me off the show. The e-mails came later - after I learned that Guy had been colluding with several disloyal staff members in his efforts to take the show away. Those emails were then sent to those staff members expressing my anger at their treachery. Context matters.

Fact is, people are people. They can disappoint you - sometimes to a remarkable degree. At the beginning, Guy and I were friends - close friends. I believed in him, and worked my butt off to help make him a star. To do that, it is essential to emphasize a performer's good qualities on TV and leave the rest on the floor. Frankly, the longer the show went on, the deeper the pile on the floor became. For Guy's sake, I hope he wakes up - soon - and recaptures his soul, his humanity, and his integrity.

But despite the disappointment of losing DDD (and the fun of producing it, and the income it generated for many employees who have now had to be laid off), it's been a real pleasure knowing that we have been able to entertain our viewers.

So, thank you again. And I look forward to attracting you all to our next project. Stay tuned.
David

David, thank you for your message! And may I express my empathy for you in losing a show, a project, which so obviously meant so much to you.

Readers, Page Productions is currently working on new television projects with tons of potential. Visit them online at pageprod.com.

Also to be announced soon: several of the shirts that Guy Fieri wore on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives will go up for auction. More info on that as we receive it!

More from David Page.

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