Ok, on to today's business ... I'm back in the studio!! I am so happy to be back with the crew cooking and eating for real :-). This is my 8th season and it still feels brand new. I get just as excited to go to work as I did on the first day back in February 2008. What a joy to work with the pros that I do and it's been a great ride these couple of years traveling and meeting you. I'm nostalgic a bit, but the funny thing is life never let's you forget. For example, during taping various media outlets ask for permission to visit the set an get an interview. This time around I have a few visits planned, but the first one put every thing in perspective. Take a look ...
That's SSgt Bates, SSgt Ofiara and TSgt Davis from Airman Magazine. The cool thing is I knew Airman Magazine was on the the schedule to visit the set, but I didn't put two and two together until we chatted in person. Turns out they work in the same building with the some of the very same people I worked with while in the Air Force! Many departments have moved around since my time in the military 13 years ago so I guess I didn't think some things would remain the same and it's cool that they have. I still call and keep in touch with my former commander and immediate supervisor and actually just talked to them a couple of months ago. The crew from Airman Magazine work right across the hall from where my cubicle was and they reminded me so much of my time there. I found out my favorite taco place right next to base is still open and just received a Blue Ribbon award from the city!! I could've told the judges that years ago!! We also had some of the same stories and jokes and SSgt Ofiara actually was sent to South Korea for her first assignment just like I was as a radio broadcaster, so we had plenty in common to talk about. I talked and talked and talked to them, all the while I was thinking in the back of my head, wow ... I can't believe I made it through the military and how life is pretty amazing when you choose to truly experience all it has to offer. I grab it every day and it hugs me back. The military was a great time filled with plenty of travel, but plenty of hard work. It really set me up for everything to follow and I didn't even approach it for that. Life is pretty cool. So suffice it to say it was great going waaaay down memory lane my first day back in the studio. Here's my view from the set as the crew from Airman Magazine blend in to the background in their camouflage ...
Can you see them? It was pretty cool to chit chat between acts and we all exchanged information because I plan to get back to San Antonio soon for some good food and friends. Can't wait! Well, as I mentioned it was my first full day back today, but yesterday we shot one episode to kind of shake off the cobwebs and work out new elements. Today was full steam ahead with 2 shows to shoot. So far we've taped episodes I call "Wonton Be Startin' Somethin' ", "I Have an App for That" and "Chow Down". I can't tell you what I made, but I try to be descriptive and fun with my titles, so hopefully that'll help. :-) It's all easy comforting food for the late summer early fall and winter, so I hope you tune in when they start airing! What I can show you from today is my favorite plate so far ...
It is soooo pretty to me! I almost didn't want to cover it! Our set designers Wendy and Jamie are the best. I just watched Aarti's Party and LOVED her set, I LOVE Guy's set and I really love my set as well. They do them all and find a way to let the dishes and things surrounding us look like us. Wendy delivered this plate to the set for my first show today and I instantly fell in love. I took a closer look and noticed it was signed by "Andy Warhol". I thought ... nooo couldn't be, could it? Then, I flipped it over to check it's provenance ...
It's truly an Andy Warhol collection! I don't even know how old it is or where she got it, but that's another part of Wendy and her team's brilliance. Have you ever seen the video about her on FN's website? Take a look at the video on FN Dish
It is soooo pretty to me! I almost didn't want to cover it! Our set designers Wendy and Jamie are the best. I just watched Aarti's Party and LOVED her set, I LOVE Guy's set and I really love my set as well. They do them all and find a way to let the dishes and things surrounding us look like us. Wendy delivered this plate to the set for my first show today and I instantly fell in love. I took a closer look and noticed it was signed by "Andy Warhol". I thought ... nooo couldn't be, could it? Then, I flipped it over to check it's provenance ...
It's truly an Andy Warhol collection! I don't even know how old it is or where she got it, but that's another part of Wendy and her team's brilliance. Have you ever seen the video about her on FN's website? Take a look at the video on FN DishHope you enjoyed the video, that was from a few seasons ago. Ok, time to study my shows for tomorrow and call it a night! Stick around, I still have a couple of pictures to share from my stint co-hosting with Betsy on Martha Stewart Radio. I had such a great time and look forward to returning in the future.
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10 comments:
Can't wait until the new episodes start filming. Do you do 2 or 3 seasons a year then?
Congrats on your 8th season! You know I'll be watching. Love that plate too - so feminine. I'll be interested in see what kind of dishes that Aarti does for her episodes. Being a southerner, I just don't know if it'll be things I'll want to make, but we'll see! Anyway, knock 'em out girl - I know ya will!! ;)
Soooo, when you are heading to Max's for Best Thing I Ever Ate Philly edition?! :) How much fun would that be??
We're moving in 17 days! Apartment living here I come. I'm so afraid all of my cooking stuff and appliances won't fit! But I guess I could always kick the guy out to make room for them, right? LOL! The hard thing is going to be to avoid all of the wonderful restaurants in the city and actually cook!
And I need Wendy to come and find me some really fun plates! LOVE that plate!! Can't wait for the new shows to air. I love the titles - right up my alley!
Welcome back to the set! How cool is it that Airman Mag. was on the set for interviews :) As for that plate, love love love! I can't wait to see what Wendy finds for you this season (however, if you see an extra Simon Pearce pitcher that Wendy is about to toss out, can you let a gal know :) *LOL*)
Sunny,
Love the names of the new shows! I've got an App for that...LOL! So, funny story for you..I was watching your show the other day with the black forest cupcakes and you told a story about how you got your mom chocolate covered cherries every year for Christmas cause your dad said she liked them but she really didn't....well I did the SAME thing! I guess once as a kid I picked out the chocolate cherries and red socks to give my dad and he must've said he loved them, cause for the next 20 years I gave him the SAME gift. After a while I realised what was going on, but kept up the runnig joke. Boy, finding red socks wasn't always easy though! :) Anyways, thought you would enjoy. I know I really had a trip down memory lane listening to your story!
Can't wait to see the new shows!
Heather
"Wonton Be Startin' Somethin' ", "I Have an App for That" and "Chow Down" - I love those names, and can't wait to see what you are making!! Already started counting down to NYCWFF - hope to see you there - it should be a blast!
tamilyn, yaaaay! same here, i am always like an athlete, watching the tape to see what i can do next. i don't really have a specific amount of seasons i tape a year, but it feels like about 4.
mary, thanks! can i say something corny? i am just so happy to build a repore with you, it is so neat to know a face that will be there for some foodie fun with me. your picture is so happy and inviting! speaking of arti i caught her 1st ep and she did an ice cream pop quite similar to a recipe i do on an upcoming paula deen ep, so i think you'll see her show and enjoy plenty of the stuff she does. what she is so good at is putting a spin on it that isn't too far to take you out of your comfort zone. she featured her version of sloppy joe's with garam masala and other indian influences and it looked really yummy!! give it a try, you never know ...
jen, i have pitched them and pitched them and pitched them, it's all up to the producers to choose what "best" fits where and who's "best" works best, lol, if you can follow that. when and if they choose max's, we MUST get you to come join us!! And don't stress about the apartment living, cool thing is if something breaks, you don't have to fix it! aaaaand usually lower heat because you share walls. aaaaaand like you said a new place means new restaurants to explore! you'll be fine. and keep the guy if he helps you be you and supports all that you want in life. those r the best ones. and as for wendy, as soon as i buy my first house, i'm stealing wendy for a few days to help me decorate it. her eye is priceless.
lys, thanks! yeah, that airman mag meeting was pretty cool. and the plate ... i LUV! like rachel zoe on her show "I DIE ... I DIE!" lol. i'll ask wendy about that pitcher and see if she can fish one out for an ep :-)
heather, hey girl! glad you like the titles, i try to give all of myself right down the the recipe names and episode titles. i am really happy that food network is like that. i guess i always assumed the talent didn't write portions of shows or something, so to be able to have such creative control is pretty cool. i told my parents about your story today and we all had a good laugh. i mean my mom would eat allll those chocolate covered cherries! lol too funny. hope you like the new shows!
lindsey, :-( ... i too, adore michael jackson. so so very sad all of it. i saw him at madison square garden sept 7th, 2001 ... i was in the very top row, no seats behind me ... when he came out on stage i acted like one of those people you see in the videos getting carried out on stretchers. i don't know where it came from, i mean i have always counted him as my fave, but i cried his ENTIRE set. it was that unbelievable. what a talent. so many songs based on healing people and life's circumstances. such a prodigy, a pioneer. we'll never know the truth about much more, so we are just left with his art. sad. ... hey, so about the festival, don't stress about the grand tasting if you have a schedule of nyc spots to see. i can surely make some suggestions. i'll email. (p.s. i pulled your comment because i realized you had your email in there)
holly, teeheehee, like my corny titles? i have fun with the show all the way around! no grilled cheese left un-turned! :-) can't wait to meet ya in nyc!!!
Ok I'm really curious which Taco place is your favorite right by the base? I lived right in that neighborhood for a few years. They have some really great tacos around there. Of course, my hubby joined the USAF and we've already moved from Biloxi to Tucson. The mexican food is verrrrry different here. I miss SA tacos :/
Hello,
My name is Thomas,28, I reside in California, The Inland Empire...more like The Inland Inferno,lol. Anywho, I started, really getting into cooking for friends, family, relatives. And I love watching your show. You've giving me some wonderful recipes, and some ideas for new ones. I really enjoy the energy, charisma and humor you bring to the show, with a twist of beauty and zest as an added measure(being cheesy,lol)but, seriously... best of luck in your future endeavours, keep up the good work. Gooday, Tom.
ness, i can't remember the name of the taco place! lol. i have the worst memory. i'm going to look on google maps and see if i can find by looking at the street view. i'll post if i find it! i know how it is to miss sa tacos, tex mex is the best there! thanks so much for watching and tell your hubby thanks for his service and thank you for supporting him!
thomas, guess what? i used to live in the inland empire! in rancho cucamonga. i worked in san bernardino, but i only stayed out there for 6 months. i like it, but had a broken heart there so i had to leave. what a cool area ... it's just close enough to los angeles to make you feel like you are there, but far enough away that you don't get the smog :-). i miss mount baldy! thanks so much for watching! i really appreciate it and it's cool to see "inland empire" from someone here! :-). take care and keep in touch here!
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