Catch Me Hawkin My Product, Rachael Ray Style!

Hey there!!!
Well, last week started off on Monday as my first of two kitchen sessions to finalize recipes for the next 13 episodes of Cooking for Real. I posted some pics and stuff and have a few more I'll put up early this week from Wednesday's final day, but I wanted to tell you how my week ended! Tuesday, while in the kitchens I got word there was a possibility that I'd get booked on the Rachael Ray Show!! At first, it was put to me like, "what are you doing Friday?". I knew with an open question like that it meant something biz-wise and even though I learned early on in basic training for the Air Force to not volunteer for stuff, I said I was free. Happily, it had better results than my time at Lackland AFB in the summer of '93. I volunteered myself into everything, not fun in basic training teeheehee. Back to 2008, turns out they were thinking of putting together a panel of sorts for a Thanksgiving-themed episode. I was totally into it and had to wait until later that day to get more word on it. I can tell you as soon as I was asked about it I was nervous and still had plenty of food to cook for the show, so I just put my head down and got to work trying to forget there was a possibility I'd get to guest on her show. By the end of the day I was scheduled for a pre-interview with her producers the next day, Wednesday, and if everything went well, a live-to-tape taping of the Rachael Ray show that Friday!! The reason for the pre-interview is for the producers to figure out what you would say if on the show and what I, personally, would bring to the discussion if it were all about Thanksgiving.

So, Wednesday I went in to work ready to talk turkey and more and had a cool pre-interview with her producers. There were questions about gravy, turkey cook-time, mashed potatoes, I mean everything you could think of concerning the holiday. During the call I got the news of everyone else that would be on the panel and then got a bit sick to my tummy ... lemme tell you why. Remember I told you how I went to Ed Lover's Morning show the other morning to talk turkey with him? Well, a food stylist I work with was there and we had a quick discussion about cookbooks and which ones we liked and such. I told her one of I think the best layouts and best concepts was Rocco Dispirito's Flavor. She surprisingly told me that she actually had worked on the cookbook with him and that he'd love to hear that I said that. So, how is it a week later, to the day, that I'm going to be on a panel with him???????? CRAZY. So, it's me, Rocco, Ming Tsai and Aaron Mc Cargo Jr. on the panel along with of course, Rachael Ray.

The show airs November 19th at 10a.m. est, THIS WEDNESDAY!!! Check at The Rachael Ray Show for local listings. Here's the episode page with all the details. It's a full hour of Thanksgiving talk, recipes, quick fixes and even decorative stuff from viewers. I got to demo a recipe and we all took part in answering questions. It was over before it even began, how time flies when you are nervous and having fun. Here are some flicks ...

Ok, so this is the food in the first green/conference room ...

At first, I was put in a conference room and there was just a fruit plate (right), then after a few minutes two nice people brought in the two plates on the left. I was already full of chocolate soy milk that I brought. The little single serve ones are my fave treat these days, so when the two plates on the left came in the only reason they got action is because they were fried lol. Goat cheese balls and balsamic-glazed veggies on the left and soup, spinach pie and custard pie in the center. Ok, so the funny thing is, I ate the three balls in like 2 seconds and thought, where can I get some more of those. Like 5 minutes after that they moved us all to the green room area that was occupied by the previous shows' guest, Harry Connick Jr. and there were some more balls in there ... I thought to eat one, got called to get my microphone put on and when I got back, the balls were gone ... thank goodness. I would've eaten them all. Don't we need someone else to stop us here and there? Well, anyway ... the show was fun and before we went out I got a flick with the guys, minus Ming ... he was chattin' it up elsewhere.


Ok, then right after this, it was show time. We all entered the stage in a neat way and if you are a viewer of the show, you know how the audience moves on a turntable, so it was fun to hop on the turntable. Then we all sat down at the dinner table and got to answering the audience questions. We were there for the whole show, then at the end we left the stage and Rachael Ray finished off with a recipe as she usually does. Here she is from the green room as I gather my things and head out the door... (my best shot of her lol ... way too nervous to ask for one. but we did all take a press flick)


She looked bananas! The skirt, is a must have ... look for it when the show airs. She was so nice and her staff was the tops. I even saw some familiar faces. Heck, I forgot to tell you the crazy thing ... remember how I told you about the food stylist and our conversation about Rocco only to meet him a week later? Well, when I met him back stage I told him of the conversation I'd had about him just a week before, then we all went into that room to get ready for the show and on that television screen was a camera focused on the set before the show. I saw the back of someone that looked familiar and would you believe it was the very food stylist that worked with me the week before and told me about her work with Rocco???? Turns out she was asked to come in just for that day to fill in on the Rachael Ray show, she didn't even know I was there or that Rocco was there!!! CRAZY. It was great seeing her there. Life is super crazy sometimes with the coincidences it throws at you. Anyway, back to the pic above of Rachael Ray cookin' away at the end of the show. She looks great and for a woman that did a show that morning, then our show right after with just as much energy ... it blew me away when I pulled off and saw people lined-up to see her tape yet another show...

Now, that's a hard day's work. On a Friday no less. I gotta tell ya, I've heard stories of her work ethic. One show can really take the energy outta ya, but 2 .. then 3???? She's puttin' in work and I told her as much, gotta respect that. I really look up to people that are willing to put in the work. So many are ready to judge, but never see how hard someone works at their dream. You gotta say to yourself sometimes things are projected inward when complaints surface, cuz if they knew how hard you worked at your dream, the detractors would go elsewhere. So, if you are working your dream and it doesn't seem everyone is aboard your train, or even sees the work you are putting in, don't worry ... it isn't you, it's them. I believe you can do it, if you do. :-) Have a great Monday and look for more kitchen pics this week and soon the interview with the graphic artist that re-labels all the products on Cooking for Real.