Fan questions, March 2011

Recently I added a new page to this blog, Have a Question? At the end of each month, I'll share what fans are asking and what answers I could find for them. [Some answers are edited for brevity. ~D]

Darla from Cleveland, TN wrote, "I work in television and am very impressed with how well the show is shot, edited and produced. Can you tell me what kind of cameras you shoot with? Thank you!"

Our answer:: I wrote to Anthony Rodriguez, one of the crew who shoots Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy in the field with your question. Here's his reply: "First off all, please pass on a very big thank you from the crew. We work hard to put DDD together in the field and it's such a huge compliment to hear that people enjoy it.

"To answer the question, we shoot DDD on Panasonic AJ-HDX900 DVCPro HD cameras."

Thank you Anthony! The camera costs $30,235; Anthony writes, "that's just for the camera body without a lens... :) !" Yikes.

------------------------------------------

Elena of Santa Maria writes, "There are two things my four year daughter Ashli knows really well, President of the United States and her favorite cook. She will make it a point to watch every time Guy comes on and we can't pull her away from the television when he's on. Once Guy is on we sit and watch. She will be five in June and all I want to make sure of is she gets T-shirt and autographed picture."

Our answer: Five! Always glad to hear that kids are interested in food and cooking. :) For Ashli's birthday, I'd like to suggest that you check out this T-shirt? For information on autographed merchandise, click here. I hope Ashli will be thrilled! Keep in touch to let us know it all worked out. :)

------------------------------------------

Cody of Thief River Falls writes, "Hey Guy, so since you didn't show at The Anchor Bar and Grill they don't have a 'Guy Ate Here' sign. Is there anyway you could find it in your heart to help them out with that? Personally, I think they deserve it."

Our answer: There are a few Triple D joints that have been featured on the show, un-hosted. Since Guy wasn't there to eat, he wasn't there to paint the "Guy Ate Here" tag and sign the wall. Also, none of the restaurants from the first season have tags; that practice started late in 2007.

But I should think that if the Anchor Bar wants something, they could contact their on-site producer or contact at Page Productions' home office in Minnesota. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in with your support of one of our Triple D's. The Anchor Bar is certainly a fan favorite!

------------------------------------------

Joey in Batesville, AR wrote, "about a month ago I watched a show (I can't rember what one)Mr. Fieri went to a restaurant where young adults (kids) were the chef's. I say Kids, teenagers. Can you please tell me the restrant's name? all I rember that it is in cal. Me and my wife are going to visit there and i'm wanting to take her to the restaurant."

Our answer: I'll bet that was Worth Our Weight, known as WOW, in Santa Rosa, CA. It was featured on the Funky Finds episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

Worth Our Weight - website
1021 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 - map
(707) 544-1200
www.worthourweight.com
Facebook

Worth our Weight is a certified 501c(3) non profit. And if you'd like to review that segment from the show, follow this link for video on YouTube. I hope that was the one! And if you go, send our regards!

------------------------------------------

Edward, Allentown asks, "How did Guy Fieri start his career?"

Our answer: From Guy Fieri's official biography, Guy Fieri began his love affair with food at the age of ten, selling soft pretzels from a three-wheeled bicycle cart he built with his father named “The Awesome Pretzel.” ... attended University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management. He began his career with Stouffers, managing their flagship restaurant in Long Beach, CA. After three years, Guy became District Manager of Louise’s Trattoria, where he oversaw six restaurants and was in charge of recruiting and training.

In 1996, Guy and his business partner, Steve Gruber embarked on a Sonoma County, CA-based Italian restaurant, Johnny Garlic’s. They opened their first location in Santa Rosa in the fall of 1996. And Guy competed and won the 2nd season of "The Next Food Network Star" in 2006.

------------------------------------------

Italo of Belle River, Ontario writes, "Is Guy coming to Ceaser's Windsor Ontario Canada if yes when? thanks"

Our answer: Yes! He sure is. And as far as I can tell, this is Guy's first public appearance in Canada. Guy Fieri's Food Show at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, Windsor, ON is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2011 09:00 PM - tickets

------------------------------------------

Karen from Bedford writes, "On Guy's Big BIte, who's trophies and what are they for?"

Our answer: Although a huge fan of sports in general, Guy isn't a judo champion, slam-dunk master or wold-class golfer. All the trophies on Guy's Big Bite shelf are rented from a prop house. Shhh, it's a set secret! :)

More information about the set, visit Food Network Magazine's Behind-the-Scenes on Guy's Big Set.

Related Posts:
Fan questions, Mid-March 2011
Fan questions, February 2011
Fan questions, Mid-February 2011

-> more Frequently Asked Questions <-

Elizabeth Howes recalls Next Food Network Star, 2

Elizabeth Howes was one of the finalists in Season 2 of the Next Food Network Star, along with Guy Fieri. Our friend and fellow Fan of Guy Fieri, Brad at eatnlisten.com, has shared Elizabeth's guest blog post with us for a unique, insider's perspective on "The Guy I Knew Before He Took a Big Bite Out of Fame."

The Next Food Network Star, Season 2, was taped in New York City, December 2005, and premiered on March 19, 2006, now almost five years ago.

Elizabeth writes that upon arriving at Chelsea Market for the first time, "another black town car quickly pulled up behind me and the door swung open with force. Out came a platinum blonde, jewelry-clad, larger-than-life personality with his hands up in the air, mouth wide open and a laugh that was probably heard in Jersey. Who is this guy, I remember asking myself."

In the ensuing hours, I met all the other finalists, but was very drawn to the magnetic Guy Fieri. He was surprisingly personable, pure comedy and utterly eccentric – and unlike anyone else I’d ever met. In the same breath, I do have to admit that I was convinced he was not a threat. I had my eye on others as my primary competition, but certainly not “Guido”, as he called himself. He didn’t take things seriously, drank copious amounts of Jack Daniel’s, had an entourage of friends with names like “Dirty P”, “The Spaniard” and “Mustard” and found humor in almost every situation, appropriate or not. On the flip side, he had intense drive and, dare I say it, a very sweet heart. All traits I later learned, when combined, were his greatest asset.

Guy Fieri kept a blog during those days. On Day 4 of the competition, he wrote,

(Day off)
-Up at 11am....
-Out to dinner with Evette, Andy and Beth, to the Rocking Horse. Expensive and small portions, just what I hate but the food was good. Boy is it cold, feel like it might snow tomorrow.

And on Thursday 12/8, he continued,

-Everyone got called and Beth got taken out. Really sucks, at a time I should feel relieved, I feel sad - she is cool, sweet, focused, talented, wish the show could just be about all 8 of us and no cuts. I do NOT like this part, this emotional train wreck is like people slowing down to see a car wreck. Negative.
-Off to dinner. I'm gonna call Beth tonight - I hope she is ok.

Of course, Elizabeth Howes is fine. She is an accomplished chef, wellness enthusiast, food stylist and photographer. Elizabeth's private chef and boutique catering business, Saffron Lane, is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She stays in contact with Guy.

The last time I saw Guy was at a rather private and over-the-top birthday party thrown for him last year. There were VIP rooms, plenty of pulled pork and whiskey, and a collection of classic cars and motorcycles regally parked inside the venue. True to form, it was a sight to behold. He seemed happy, as he usually does, surrounded by the things he loves, the bright lights and people who love him.

When I was able to make my way through the crowd to say hello, I reminded him that he owed me a new pair of jeans – long story, but something only Guy could get away with – and gave him a big hug. “So great to see you, Beth Ann”, he whispered (long story about the odd nickname, too).

To read Elizabeth Howes' full blog post, visit eatnlisten.com.

Find out what Elizabeth Howes is cooking up now by reading her blog, following her on Twitter and liking her on Facebook.

Related Posts:
NFNS 6 - Guy Fieri featured on episode 3
Guy Fieri's Rhode Island Calamari
Guy Fieri guest hosts Next Food Network Star 5, episode 4

NFNS 6 - Guy Fieri featured on episode 3

So have you been watching? The Next Food Network Star: Season 6 (index page) premiered last week with a two-hour episode. Last night another finalist was eliminated - two down, nine to go. Next week, the remaining ten meet Guy Fieri on the 3rd episode, "Inspiration."

*link to video*

The Grammy After Party with Colbie Caillat, a pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu CA, was filmed on February 1st, 2010. It was the evening after the 2010 Grammy Awards, where she and Jason Mraz had won for Best Pop Collaboration, and Caillat also won a Grammy as a featured artist on Taylor Swift's Album of the Year, "Fearless."

This episode is scheduled to air on the Food Network, Sunday, June 20 2010, at 9 pm / 8c.

Think you have what it takes to be a Food Network Star? The Food Network will give you a chance to meet casting executives.

"Send us a short video showcasing your culinary skills for a chance to meet Food Network Execs. Put together a video showcasing your personality and cooking skills, then submit your video by July 16, 2010."

Visit www.youtube.com/foodnetwork for more, or click here to submit your video.

Or, apply to be on the 7th season, The Next Food Network Star 2011. Click here for all the details.

Related Posts:
Guy Fieri hosts Next Food Network Star Grammy after party
Peek at NFNS filming, Guy Fieri's Grammy after party
Guy Fieri's Rhode Island Calamari from his season of The Next Food Network Star

pass it on - http://bit.ly/buAM31

Guy Fieri and "Dude Food," an article from Time.com

Josh Ozersky from Time.com recently wrote an interesting article, "Real Men Do Cook Quiche: The Rise of Dude Food"

Just about anyone over the age of 35 recalls the book, Real Men Don't Eat Quiche, an iconic satirization of typically male stereotypes, written in 1982 by Bruce Feirstein who coined the term "quiche-eater" as an insult to a man's very masculinity.

Ozersky examines male gender extremes in culinary celebrities and publications, past and present.

Make no mistake: Guy Fieri is the Dudai Lama. Nobody else comes close to manifesting effortless machismo the way he does on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives; no costume department could ever have come up with his look: spiky, bleached hair, bowling shirt and perpetual sunburn. Fieri's effusiveness, his trademark exclamations ("fierce," "kewl") — he's the guy whose house you want to be at for the Super Bowl. He's the guy you want to organize your bachelor party.

If he's into food and cooking, there can't be anything remotely metrosexual about it. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Fieri is the anti–Ted Allen. Fieri is not hip, he doesn't have good taste, classy women wouldn't approve of him, and yet he swaggers happily on his charmed path, oblivious to all his shortcomings. He's just himself, totally and utterly inhabiting his dudeness, in a way that could never be faked.

Guy Fieri just loves being Guy Fieri. Even his occasional self-mockery is a form of preening. What could be more manly than that?

I'll only correct Mr. Ozersky in that I don't recall "fierce" being in Guy's vocabulary. "Gangsta," on the other hand, has crept into several recent Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episodes, a compliment roughly equivalent to "killer," in a good way. :) Read the full article here.

Guy being Guy is the very definition of his brand. In December of 2005, when Guy Fieri flew to New York for the Next Food Network Star, like Polonius's last piece of advice to his son Laertes, Guy's father advised Guy to be himself. And it worked.

When Guy did his first shoot for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, he dressed as himself, spoke as himself, and surprised executive producer David Page that Guy's way of doing the show surpassed even David's initial vision of it. I think David was looking for another Al Roker to do the show. Instead, he got Guy. Thankfully! Haha.

In both cases, Guy was himself, and people ate it up. They're still eating it up, as you know.

The set of Guy's Big Bite exudes dudeness. "Guy Fieri now plays rock music in the background while cooking on Guy's Big Bite; this has made it more killer than I had thought possible!" - Clevelandjoe from Twitter.

Some of the initial criticisms of Minute to Win It centered around a LACK of Guy Fieri's dude-icious brand in the set. But things, they are a-changin'. BuzzerBlog recently wrote,

I’ve noticed they got away from their Millionaire clone set and now, accidentally, it looks like it’s taking place in a college gym with the wood floor everywhere. But regardless, it looks a lot brighter ... and they’ve ditched all traces and awkward edits from removing the models and mammoth smoke machines, so good on them. They’re really trying here.

Read BuzzerBlog's full article here.



Jonas Brothers Special - Cheered on by his family, Kevin Jonas goes all out to win big for his charity, Change for the Children Foundation. Video expires 6/4/10

Related Posts:
How did Minute to Win It premiere do?
The Guy Fieri brand is "the real deal"
Interview with David Page

Guy Fieri's Rhode Island Calamari

The Next Food Network Star Season 2, Guy Fieri's season, premiered on March 19, 2006. Just four years from tomorrow.

In honor of the ... anniversary? I've found a Guy Fieri recipe from the third week into the competition, the Giada Elimination, (which, btw, just doesn't sound like a good idea. Let us NOT eliminate Giada. Nice lady) aired April 2, 2006.


The six finalists find inspiration when they meet season one winners Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh (Party Line with The Hearty Boys) as they learn how to share the stage. Next, Giada De Laurentiis (Everyday Italian) dazzles the group with her multi-tasking skills. The finalists are then asked to prepare two recipes while setting the perfect table.

And for fun, click here to read Guy's diary during the Food Network competition.

Rhode Island Calamari - recipe

Ingredients:
4 cups canola oil
4 ounces olive oil
4 ounces butter
1 cup sliced pepperoncini
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup minced garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup clam juice
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 round loaf sourdough bread
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
12 ounces calamari, tubes and tentacles, cut in 1/4-inch thick
3 ounces diced Roma tomatoes
3 ounces chopped scallions

Directions:
Heat canola oil in a deep pot to 350 degrees F.

In a skillet over high heat, combine olive oil, butter, pepperoncini and onion. Saute until lightly caramelized, then add garlic and cook until tender. Deglaze with white wine and cook until slightly reduced. Add the clam juice, red pepper, and lower heat to a simmer.

Core out bread and lightly toast the bread bowl. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, seasoning salt and cayenne. Toss calamari in flour and shake off excess.

Fry calamari in oil until golden brown and crispy. Toss fried calamari with the sauce and pour into the toasted bread bowl. Garnish with Roma tomatoes and scallions.

Click here to read some comments from Guy Fieri, four years removed from his debut on the Next Food Network Star, season 2.

Related Posts:
Peek at NFNS filming, Guy Fieri's Grammy after party
Guy Fieri guest hosts Next Food Network Star 5, episode 4
Chefography: Guy Fieri

Peek at NFNS filming, Guy Fieri's Grammy after party

@michaelchyles caught my post, Guy Fieri hosts Next Food Network Star Grammy after party, last week and applied for tickets to go to the taping.

"just scored free tix to a taping of an episode of 'The Next Food Network Star' in Hollywood :) @chefguyfieri is hosting it! OFF DA HOOK!" - tweet

Here are a few pictures from the Colbie Caillat Grammy's after party with Guy Fieri.

Guy Fieri, Susie Fogulson and Bob Tuschman

Bob Tuschman, Susie Fogulson and Colbie Caillat (?) at the judging table

Colbie Caillat and Guy Fieri tasting NFNS contestant's food at the judging table

Guy Fieri with fan Michael Chilton

"Tonight's taping was awesome, especially meeting @ChefGuyFieri , now if @bflay would have been there also... That would have been CRAZY!"

Related Posts:
Guy Fieri at the Shoreline Amphitheater
Random tidbits from the last few months
Random pictures from this last week

Guy Fieri hosts Next Food Network Star Grammy after party

According to On Set Productions, Guy Fieri will co-host a Grammy after party with Colbie Caillat, a pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu.

The after party is scheduled for Monday, February 1, 2010 starting at 3:00 p.m. PT. The Grammy Awards will have been held the night before in Los Angeles, CA.


The event is in conjunction with the filming of The Next Food Network Star. As one of their challenges in the competition, the new contestants will prepare food for the guests at the party.

On Set Productions is looking for fans to be a part of the filming. Click here to learn how to apply.

For more information on Colbie Caillat, visit her website or her wiki page.

Related Posts:
Guy Fieri guest hosts Next Food Network Star 5, episode 4
Tickets for SOBE Wine & Food Festival on sale
Guy Fieri to emcee sustainability event at Montery Bay Aquarium

Guy Fieri guest hosts Next Food Network Star 5, episode 4

Guy Fieri makes his appearance on Episode 4 of The Next Food Network Star, Season 5. The episode is called "The Ultimate American Meal."

Bobby Flay tests the remaining seven finalists by having them put their culinary point of view on a classic American dish – the burger! The finalists must whip up their ideal burger while sharing personal stories and their connections to their dish. The best burger lands a place on the menu of Bobby's new restaurant venture Bobby's Burger Palace (www.bobbysburgerpalace.com).


Then, Guy Fieri and USA WEEKEND Magazine associate editor, TJ Walter, surprise the finalists on the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (www.intrepidmuseum.org), challenging each of them to create a dish using a basket of ingredients that represent a specific state or region of the United States for a group of returning American soldiers.


The winner learns that his or her recipe will be featured on the July 3-5th cover of USA WEEKEND Magazine (www.usaweekend.com), and another finalist is eliminated.

This episode airs on the Food Network
Sunday, June 28, 2009 - 9:00 PM ET/PT
Monday, June 29, 2009 - 12:00 AM ET/PT
Thursday, July 02, 2009 - 9:00 PM ET/PT

Sneak peeks of upcoming episodes and recaps of past episodes are found here, www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-food-network-star4/video