The Good ...
Well, last Wednesday was the final day of shooting Cooking for Real until I go back in late December to shoot 13 more episodes. You might say to yourself, why not do all 26 in a row instead of breaking it up? Well, there are probably a few reasons. Let's start with the Food Network schedule. Boy, are they busy!! They only have 2 in-house studios. One is Studio B, that's the one I auditioned in and I also shot some interstitials there as well. It's tiny and doesn't fit my Cooking for Real set or all the other things and people needed to tape the show. Then there's Studio A, this is a bigger studio and many other shows shoot there. It's actually where I made my Food Network debut back in 2005 on Emeril Live! It's the workhorse studio that is home to, Guy's Big Bite, Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Iron Chef and my joint. Thing is, they are on a crazy tight shooting cycle, as soon as one show packs up it's time to load in the set for the next show. Before I began this run of 13 shows, I could only do 6 acts a day. There are 4 acts in a half hour show, which means we'd end the day sometimes on one episode and then have to pick it up the next day. This can account for repeated stories in the early runs, it's hard to remember what I say from day to day because I talk so much. So, this time around my producer asked if I thought I could handle 8 acts, or 2 shows a day. I didn't know if I could, but I know I can do things when people believe I can and I can also do things when I try. So, believin' and tryin' is what went down.
Here's Clark fixing one of my newest cooking scars. I have a few ... my favorite is the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake scar. But here he is touching up a scar I'm very proud of as well ... a Frying Donut Holes scar!!! This is after ...
this is before ...
I have no problem showing the scar, I actually like all of them because they remind me of food, but it was a bit distracting according to the team watching behind the camera. So, we doctored it up and I don't think you'll even notice, but just some behind the scenes I thought you may enjoy. I kept forgetting there was makeup on my arm and every time I went to wash hands, or lotion up ... I had to wimper back to Clark and apologize for messing up his masterpiece. It'll be back to normal skin tone in a few weeks ...
Here's Santos cooling off a dish I put in the oven that got too hot to handle. Thing is, the oven turns on automatically because every time I prep something on the counter above it, my chunky leg bumps into it and turns it on. Sometimes we'll put something in the oven and say it's on when it isn't because we need to re-shoot close up shots of it going in before we cook it and lose what it looked like uncooked. Why waste food with a swap when you don't have to, ya know? So we were about to prep for close up shots when we realized the oven was on courtesy of my genetic code for big thighs lol. Look close and take a guess at what he pulled out to cool the handles down ...
The second reason we did half now and will complete the rest in December is, quite like the Food Network studio schedule, my schedule has been crazy lately as well. With shooting specials and being on the road for How'd That Get On My Plate?, I was booked soliddddd. Which brings me to the next ...
The Bad ...
Well, I got news that How'd That Get On My Plate will remain a 13 episode series and will not go into the next season. I really like the show for the content and enjoyed working on it. I met some great people across the country and look forward to working with the network to find another show to work on for the night time audience. The show will continue to run, so catch them! They aren't done yet, just actually did a voice over for the apple episode last week. Thanks to everyone that watched it and sent me comments about it. The support is appreciated!
The Not So Ugly ...
I'm sick, I think it started that last day of shooting and then got worse. So I met up with one of my girl friends Monday and we had lunch at The Clinton Street Baking Company. Wow, on a Monday, there was a 40 minute wait! No problem for me, I hadn't seen my girl in forever and I love a meal you have to wait for. Feels like it's gonna be good ... and it was. Although a wait, doesn't always mean a great meal. Here's my plate ... Huevos Rancheros with the usual suspects plus, Jalapeno Cream and Chorizo.
I think it may have put me on the road to recovery. That's sugar-cured bacon in the top right ... yummified! (yum - eh - fyd) Take it easy and stick around for some more posts now that I'm feelin' better.
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14 comments:
First, a scar for the most noble of causes, doughnuts! I'm gettin' misty eyed again.
Second, that blows that they won't continue the H.T.G.O.M.P. series. I was getting into it, there's more to food than just the end result, there's marketing, production, distribution, etc...people should see how it ALL unfolds, but that's just me.
Third, spicy food is king when conquering allergies/colds/flu, I'm convinced of that. Glad to hear your feeling better, keep the good stuff coming.
complaint dept. mgr., ein, my fave three scars are, pineapple upside down cake on arm, mac n cheese on hand, donuts on fore arm. :-) zwei, yeah i liked it, but i gotta say from experience, the end is always only the beginning. something will come up and maybe there is another show on the way that will give some insight to food like you crave. thanks for watching it, i had fun doing it! drei, yep, i heard the same thing ... sweat it out via your tongue, and i've been piling it on, but i usally do anyway ... maybe i've built up a resistance.
I liked How'd That Get On My Plate because it reminded me of Unwrapped but with a host who was charming and entertaining as opposed to cheesy and annoying. I truly hope that better things will come in the future of your career and I wish you the best of luck.
-Josh
joshua, awwwww thanks, i like unwrapped to, i used to always say that the show was like unwrapped and modern marvels mixed into one. i too, hope i find another show to do, but boy am i happy cooking for real didn't get cancelled. that's the one i worked hard to get for years and it brings me great joy doing it. thanks for the support.
That looks painful. Although it is for cake.
You need some of those leather cooking gauntlets. I've got a red pair and they're styling.
As one of my buddies says, "I know it's going to be good when you're wearing industrial protective equipment."
Looking forward to the show!
What up Sunny? Yea, I agree with the others - I actually liked how'd that get on my plate. It really did remind me of unwrapped and in a very strange way that other show with sandra pickney - um...the one where they'd go around the country and find products that can be shipped to your door...it's like the show that the Neely's do now, Road Tasted - well, like I said, it reminded me of it.
I'm hoping more things come along!
I also think CFR will be around for a long time. You've done a great job and there isn't another show like it - really there isn't. It's a great product and I DVR it all the time. Can't wait for the new episodes to come out!
t2ed, i gotta find sumthin like a second skin, cuz my prob is not thinking, i am so much in a hurry or in the zone i will actually try to grab something hot bare handed, but the long gloves would help the "getting a pan out of the oven" angle marks i have on my left forearm ... i'm a mess .. gimme a link to look at these leather gloves ...
dtdub, i know what show u r talkin about, can't remember the name (i bet that's the fate of plate lol), but i gotta agree, i liked the show too. and not cuz i did it, i was a fan of the animation and seeing regular people working hard to make the foods we love. hopefully the next venture will have the same heart. and man, thanks for the dvr action! it allllll counts and i know for sure people just like you are the reason i still have a show. i am so happy and i'm working on the next 13 menus now. what a dream and a reality at the same time. word.
Love “What On Your Plate” as I watched you in the wheat fields last Saturday. I knew I had seen your face before. It took my awhile to connect the name to the face. We meet about 10 years ago at a family reunion in S.C., I’m one of your New York cousins. Congratulations on all of your success and we will continue to watch you on the Cooking Network. When your feeling better and have some free time maybe we can have a New York reunion. My tips for the cold and flu a lot of garlic, habanera peppers, and “Airborne.”
P.S. Any catfish recipes
Shelly Matthews
"How'd That Get On My Plate" was so much better than Unwrapped,Your show had you actually going to those different places and Unwrapped was just Marc Summers doing voiceovers and sitting in a diner..Plus you're way cooler than Marc Summers.. I think I am still bitter that I never got a chance to get on Double Dare as a kid and win a pair of those British Knights sneakers they always gave away lol.
But seriously.. maybe it wouldve been a better fit on TLC or Discovery because your show had more of a scientific element to it.
Really love the show and how comfortable you are with the audience! I also love how you are "real" in life and giving us sneak peeks about stuff and you! Really makes us appreciate someone who although is doing great for their selves, they haven't forgotten the people who stand behind them too! KUDOS!
shelly matthews, haven't been to a reunion in more than 20 years lol ... maybe your math is off, or your sight? i do have ny family somewhere though, so you are probably on point. thanks for the support! and yes, plenty of catfish recipes but the best is season, dredge and fry!
eric, awww don't be mean, read marc summers' autobiography and you will have a different view on why he may sit in a diner as opposed to going into a factory. it's a quick, funny read and you learn about people with ocd. he has it, bad ... it'll make you wonder how he even did the nickelodeon show, but that is explained in the book as well. ita, i think plate would've been great on discovery or tlc, i'm a modern marvels person. 2moro night there is a new show on called time warp i am dvr'ing ... can't wait!
april- strong and true, thanks for the compliment! i didn't come up with the show name cooking for real, but it kinda has fit into place nicely. i have no problem being myself and telling the inside stuff, i found it interesting before i was here and wanted more, so now that i'm here, i can give more insight for the person like me that is scouring the web for info, wether for fun, to waste time, or because maybe you one day want to be here and want a look behind the kitchen door. glad you found me :-) and the blog, welcome! and ahem, you don't stand behind me, you stand with me, foodies unite!!!
My goodness, I never knew he suffered from that disorder.. He did like two shows on Nickelodeon that dealt with what would be an OCD patient's nightmare! As a kid of the 80's and early 90's I grew up on his shows.. Tonight I might have to check out Time Warp as well ,I always found high speed photography amazing to look at.
hi sunny aka i make cooking look good...sorry to hear that....(how'd that get on my plate)isn't coming back...as we all no everything happen for a reason....you no that old saying...when one door closes another always open up....the show was really good...i like knowing how things work from behind the scene....thats why i went back to school...to learn all aspect of the music biz from behind the scene....i see that food network has a magazine now...there youuu(go girl)...your very own sunny aka i make food look good....column...you're not a real cook until you have at lease one to or more scars...god knows i have my fare share....ok my sleep is call me now i'll check back soon...i'm ken and i approve this message....ken aka have a good weekend...
eric, yup ... i caught wind of it years ago and just read his book last year. it really is a quick read if you are in to that kind of thing. i grew up on him too, he was the maaaan! sliming all over the town! teeheehee ... i haven't seen the dvr of time warp. can't wait.
ken, you are funny. love the aka's ... check the mag, i like it. very user friendly. thanks for all the love man! hope you have a good weekend too!
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