Friday, November 20, 2009

My Big Bite

Hey there! I think this is the first time I've posted in the wee hours, but it's for good reason. I just got back home from joining Guy Fieri on The Guy Fieri Road Show in Wallingford, CT! Sorry I didn't tell you in advance, but it was a surprise and I wanted to be a team player :-). If you check the link and are close to a venue, it is such a fun experience. Here are some flicks ...
That's us backstage before the show. He invited me to join him a month or so ago and until just about two weeks ago I didn't know exactly what state I'd visit with him. When I found out it was in Connecticut, I was pretty happy, haven't been to the state in a few years. Back in my radio days though, I took the drive regularly to host events and sometimes just to hang out with friends. Another big treat??? The kid in me loves to pass by the WWE (formerly WWF) building on the highway. The sign is so big and bright, and every time I drive by I think of Hacksaw Jim or Andre ... those were the days. Can you believe Hulk Hogan is back at it?! I digress ... Ok. Here's a crowd shot, it was packed!
I took this right before I went out on stage with him. The big machine in the middle of the stage is a margarita maker. Yes, it's huge. I had to tip-toe to pour tequila in it. When the mixing was all done, I served some to the guests on stage and then had a full pitcher left to myself.
That's us from the back. We're just chatting while our feet are pumping the mechanism that makes the margarita machine blend. It was really a pretty neat contraption. While waiting on drink to mix, Guy and I had a good time joking about work and he told some really funny life stories to the audience. His show is so much more than just a cooking demonstration, it had the feeling of a concert with food ... and audience participation. I won't tell too much, but there were laughs, cheers and plenty of great surprises.
After the drinks, I stepped behind the counter and helped make the night's menu. That's Guy's right hand man, Kleetus in the foreground. On the menu was a cross of his Hong Kong Noodles mixed with his Pork En Fuego. See the people sitting in the background? Those are the people we fed all night and even served drinks to. It was such a good time and everyone was so nice. If you were there tonight, thanks for all the smiles and yells :-). I don't want to give away the entire show, but this is a teeny peek at my visit. It was so much fun. Catch it when it rolls into your area. Ok, nighty night. :-).

13 comments:

jen @ one curly fry said...

Oh it sounds like so much fun! Guy was just here in Philly (right down the street from my office), but I couldn't make it :(

But we got to attend a taping of Guy Off the Hook last year...so that was fun. If you ever do a show with a live audience let me know. I'd LOVE to attend! :)

Sunny Anderson said...

jen, it soooo was! cute cat btw, i have a black one and a calico, lil rescue cats! one's a dogcat and the other a predator! i saw the venue in philly a few weeks back! lucky you, livin in philly. i had like a jillion calories from max's on s.broad and erie in the span of 2 days. yummmmy!!! i don't have a live show, but if it ever arises, i'll announce here and surely give tickets out in an easy manner, no red tape involved. stick around!

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

I had no idea that Guy had a road show - nothing down along the coastal south it looks like though. Looks like y'all had fun! That pork sounds killer.

I love cats too, I have 3 who all showed up at my door - one is a long haired calico, the other is a grey & white tabby and the newest kitten, well I actually found him in a neighbor's tree & nobody claimed him - he's an all grey tabby with a little white mark on his underbelly. I hope God doesn't send me anymore because three is enough!!

Have a great weekend!! It's a perfect, sunshiny, warm, and GORGEOUS day down here in South Mississippi right now, but I think we have some rain on the way for the weekend. Hey at least its not a hurricane!!! :)

Monique a.k.a. Mo said...

Ha! That sounds like an awesome time. Mmm...margaritas.

Anonymous said...

Went to the show, it was GREAT ! ! ! VERY Surprised when Guy said he had a special guest and Sunny came out. The place went nuts. It was so much fun. So not only did we get to see Guy but a bonus to see Sunny. So So So glad we went..Love watching both Guy and Sunny on the Food Network.
Anyone who is able to go to Guy's show should GO ! ! !
Again, I was just as excited to see Sunny Anderson as I was to see Guy Fieri. Both really down to earth and fun fun people....

Stephanie said...

hello sunny! :) just stumbled across your blog by mistake-- great find! just a quick comment to let you know i appreciate your work and i am looking forward to more posts! have a great day!

ck11w said...

I love your show, but I have what I hope is a helpful criticism, because I really want you to succeed there. I work in television in Los Angeles and was very excited to see you'd gotten a show. After watching you for several days, I realized there was something draining about it and I couldn't figure out what it was. I watch a lot of the shows on the Food Network and hand't had this reaction. Then I suddenly realized what the issue was. You speak too continuously on the show, without interruption. I think it's from your days in radio when all you had was your voice to entertain and create a mental picture for people and you could never have dead air. But tv is different. There is a lot of stimulation in tv, both visual and audial and those few dead air breaks of you chopping and slicing and "cooking" are relaxing to a viewer, but even more so with your show because you bombard (hope that isn't too harsh) the viewer with too much information - stories and side stories and jokes and recipes and tips, etc - and never let the viewer's brain relax and enjoy what you've just said or you've just done because you've quickly moved on to the next story and topic. You could cut back on your dialogue by 15-20% easily. You are SO pleasant and friendly that I'm always hooked in the beginning but then about half way through I turn the channel because I'm tired and can't keep up. I hope you take to heart my thoughts. I actually have some expertise in television and watch this network bc I love food and like the relazation it provides me, but even more importantly I really want you to do well there and think you bring a fresh and diverse voice to the network. Good luck to you. And I hope you take my suggestion in the spirit it was intended

Sunny Anderson said...

ck11w, well thanks so much for the comment!!! i totally take it with the spirit in which it was sent. hopefully posting it, you will be able to tell :-). i get your comment plenty about my rate of speech not that it's too fast, but sooo much. i grew up with the nick name motor mouth, so i can fill dead air like nothing. you are in tv, so you know, sometimes it's hard to be who you are not, therefor, it's hard for me to shut up. teeheehee, when i do, we go into montage or there's some music to fill. i take your advice with open ears and mind, but also want you to know, i'm only me and what you see is me, with edits :-). i bet i left in a few dead spots there, but they got filled. in the end, boy am i happy to have you as a viewer! thanks so much, enjoy turkey day!

anon, YAAAAAAAAY!!!! i was hoping someone from the show would check into the bog and see the pics from the show! what a great time huh??? he's a rock star! the stories were funny and that guy singing was grrrrreat! good stuff, glad you enjoyed it!

mary, yup, check the links his show is pretty fun. i'm gonna add a few more cats and a dog or two before it's over!

monique a.k.a. mo, ok?!?!? i had a pitcher to myself i was drinking out of lol!

Pryncesa said...

Sunny, you have a beautiful spirit! Thanks for sharing your experience with Guy's road show. And, thanks for being who you are, and sharing yourself with us. Love your show! Take care and happy holidays to you!

MyMacaroniPie said...

Looks like you guys had a blast. You have fans in Canada too and we LOVE your show - keep it up :-) Those oxtails you made a while back made me a believer LOL.

Sunny Anderson said...

pryncesa, thanks! i try ... just living my life and enjoying the time! thanks so much for allowing me to share! i get the whole system and really i only do this as long as it works for many, not the few. so thanks for being one of the many! happy holidays!!!

alexlind said...

Heya Sunny,

Saw Guy's show last night. Guy was cool and professionally cordial. Couldn't ask for more than that. Kleetus wasn't there! (big, huge, epic bummer). But Dirty was, and he called up Kleetus so I could talk to him on the phone. LOL, such a hoot. :-D

Really, we had a lot of fun. Met a few DDD guys, Panini Pete, Stretch and Gorilla. Had my pic taken with them, should be on Guy's site in a few days. Also visited with Woody. What a nut (in a good way).

Glad I went! And they said you might be at the L.A. show. Yes? or ?

Sunny Anderson said...

lana, yup, i'm headed out to join him for another show 2moro! i'm checking now to see if i can blog about it or if it's a surprise like last time ... i guess i'm blowing it here, but i don't really think too many ppl read all this, this feels behind-behind the scenes :-). his show was fun huh? i gotta get one of those drink machines!