Flynn McGarry is 14 years old, has his own pop-up restaurant, Eureka, and has been featured in several major media outlets, including NBC’s The Today Show and the Huffington Post. Not bad way to start one’s career.
He started venturing into the wonderful world of cooking at the age of 10, starting slowly, with recipes out of cookbooks, cooking only for his family. After he became comfortable with some of the recipes, he began experimenting and doing variations on some of his favorites.
The more he played around with recipes, the more he began to enjoy the creative part of cooking. At the age of 11, he took his culinary hobby to people outside of his family. With the help of his mom, Flynn started a dinner club, called Eureka, where they would have monthly dinner parties for small groups of people at their house.
[Beets with berries, goats milk and black pepper]
With the support of his parents, Flynn turned his bedroom into a test kitchen and decided to ... [Continue to full article >>]
Joanne Weir has a career that most people can only dream of. On top of having her own cooking series on PBS, several published cookbooks, and a restaurant, she travels around the world to places like Tuscany and Seville, showing people where to dine and find unique cultural experiences.
It started about 15 years ago, when she was teaching cooking classes. A friend of a friend from Italy asked her to help teach her culinary classes in the United States. Then with an ‘aha!’ moment, this friend told Joanne she needed to teach the classes in Europe. Her program exploded, and Joanne’s European excursions were ... Read more >>
Paula Deen’s former house keeper pleaded guilty to charges of theft on Monday, December 20, 2010 for stealing $100,000 worth of men’s and women’s jewelry from the Food Network star’s home in Wilmington Island, GA.
Charged with theft on May 5th, 2010, for attempting to pawn Paula Deen’s $18,000 earrings, Mary Alice White will now be spending the next 18 months in prison, followed by 6 years on probation.
White was considered “part of the family” by Paula Deen and her husband, Michael Groover, during her nine-month employment. Way to pay back the Queen of Cuisine for her kindness…
Gordon Ramsay's “World Kitchen: Recipes from the F-Word” has topped 2010's unhealthiest cookbooks by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. And while this watchdog committee maybe down on Ramsay’s latest publication, one has to wonder why the media is echoing their review. If you take the time to look through the book, nowhere does it say “recipes for every day eating”, nor does it allude to healthy food. The book is actually described as a composition of Gordon Ramsay’s favorite recipes from around the world (hence the title).
Moreover, can you remember the last time you picked a cookbook based on a PCRM review? I know I can't. If you are going to ban Ramsay’s cookbook for its fatty contents, then you might as well rule out Julia Childs’ cookbooks as well, since most of her recipes are saturated in butter. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a creamy buttery dish now and then, as long as it’s in moderation.
We know Gordon Ramsay hasn’t done much to earn our love, but in this case, it seems the media is just reaching.
It looks like Gordon Ramsay’sKitchen Nightmares isn’t just about the restaurant anymore. According to The Daily Mirror, the Kitchen Nightmares’ star and executive producer has added a number of irrelevant questions to the Kitchen Nightmares contestant application. How much a contestant weighs, as well as their height, eye and hair color are just a few of the questions that have been added. But my favorites of all of them are these:
Have you ever had a restraining order filed against you?
Does your family have a history of depression?
Are you easily upset?
Actually, the one regarding a history of depression seems to be fair.
A friend of mine had filled out an application for Chef Ramsay’sHell’s Kitchen (as a joke) and told me that they had similar questions on the application he filled out, which he thought was strange. Considering that Kitchen Nightmare’s is supposed to be focused on the restaurants and not the contestants, asking such personal questions doesn’t seem right.
Moreover, ChefGordon Ramsay should be focused more on cleaning up his muddied image instead of adding to his laundry list of drama and evil doings.
Are those questions even legal? But then again, does he really care?
Do any of you struggle with a certain addiction? Just the thought of it makes your mouth water? Yes, we’re talking about… “The Food Network”.
This season’s finale of South Park, “Crème Fraiche,” was a ridiculous and sexual-innuendo-filled take on the dynamics of a family trying to cope with a father’s lust for gourmet food. His obsession with the Food Network causes problems in the home and his passion for cooking turns into a longing to be a celebrity chef. Cartman does a very entertaining impersonation of Gordon Ramsay. And Bobby Flay, Jamie Oliver, Mario Batali, Paula Dean, and Giada De Laurentiis make appearances in the “Hell’s Kitchen Nightmares Iron Top Chef Cafeteria Throw Down Ultimate Cook-off Challenge.”
Food Network is taking over mainstream media and making a big impact on how we cook and eat. That’s why we foodies can really relate to this episode. The celebrity chef appearances are a blast, but just a warning: the episode is overflowing with blatant sexual references. If you’re not a prude and you do love food check out the latest episode of South Park.
According to sources, Chef Juan-Carlos Cruz is all about creating "job opportunities" for the homeless!
On May 13th, Cruz was arrested for paying three homeless men to take the life of his wife, Jennifer Campbell. Fortunately, she wasn't harmed, but Cruz is now pleading “no contest” to the charges against him and facing up to 9 years in the state pen. Since he submitted his guilty plea before the trial began, Cruz’s motives and details of this grisly murder plot have yet to be made public. I'm sure we're all wondering what this jackass trying to hide...
Rumor is that Cruz paid the men $1000 in cut hundreds to take out his wife. After a “throat slitting” plot was interrupted (by loitering charges) the homeless men informed authorities of the murder conspiracy before the grisly plan was executed. Cruz and the three men were then secretly observed by the police as he walked them through the ins and outs of breaking into his house.
The chef once starred in two shows on the Food Network and was known for helping people "lose weight without losing the taste". His new "show" about trying to "lose a wife without losing freedom" doesn’t seem to be working out for him.
One of the homeless men, known as “Little Dave”, told media that Cruz needed "dirty deeds done dirt cheap." This shady situation is even more surprising because only four years ago he was giving his wife public praise in his “Calorie Countdown cookbook” acknowledging her by writing, “First and foremost, I thank my beautiful wife for her belief in me and her encouragement.”
Juan-Carlos Cruz and Jennifer Campbell were high school sweethearts, but it’s rumored she was having trouble getting pregnant. 20 years of trying to conceive had left them both tired and depressed. Could fertility problems have been his rational for a murder plot? What other secrets could have driven this clean cut Catholic to such psychotic extremes?
The Olive Way Starbucks in Seattle just made my “top 10 places to visit” list. This store is testing out an “after 4pm mood menu” that’s sporting craft beers, wines, and local cheeses. They keep locals amped up with espresso by morn and then transform into a suave, relaxing café by night. Starbucks thrives because of the “home away from home” atmosphere they provide. I expect that by extending this new menu their customer traffic will multiply by 10 (at least).
The United States has put such a negative stigma on alcohol consumption that just doesn’t exist in other countries. If Starbucks adds wine and beer to their roster of fabulous drinks across their nation-wide establishments and portrays the new additions as a classy social affair, maybe it’ll start a new trend that allows café-goers to unwind a bit, without creating a booze-slogging atmosphere. After all, how many partyers feel the magnetic pull of a café?
And think of the impact it’ll have on the singles scene! We all know it’s a bit passé to meet a first date at a bar, but mingling at coffee shops is practically second nature. The new ambiance that Starbucks is aiming to create is said to be more reflective of community spirit that will gain back that local feel that has been long lost from this coffee giant.The question is: how steep will the price of a Grandé amber ale run? Starbucks is well known for dipping deep into customer pockets. The novelty may be fun for a while, but the cost of double tall lattes, fine cheese and Merlot will jack up the tab pretty fast. That said, I would be quite content to live in a world where great coffee and great beers can co-exist in the same location.
Why are McDonald’s Happy Meals causing a major ruckus??
Alright, so we’re all well aware that decomposition of McDonald’s burgers has been put to the test and the mold-show is a no-go. But to put this nastiness on display?? WTF!?!
An artist from the Big Apple decided to take her talent and put it on display by putting a bun, meat patty, and fries on her shelf and photographing their (lack of) mold over a 6-month period. The set up and concept actually disgusts me more than the concept of consuming a McDonald’s burger. My Guess? She must live alone... I wouldn’t tolerate any burger experiment in my apartment, let alone one that involved the use of my cupboard over a 6-month period.
That said (and to add to this nasty tale), curiosity has been sparked: More and more peeps are starting their own fast food collections… And in my opinion, all of this is WAY more disturbing than chemicals used to keep these buggers… errr… I mean “burgers” alive.
In a recent interview with the Guardian, our sympathy falls to the interviewer, Decca Aitkenhead, whose approach to Jamie Oliver’s incessant whining seems almost saintly. He insists that no one understands him and seems to have diarrhea of the mouth, when he states “God, why do I give interviews to the Guardian? They always try to dissect you..." I’m surprised that Decca remained sympathetic to him and his cause.
And when it comes to his Food Revolution, I actually do think we’re getting it. Yes, there are Americans that love their fast food and are going to fight for their right to raise fat children. We label these people as “Stupid Americans”. You have to be a complete idiot to not realize that meals made up of chips & candy is the primary cause of America’s health problems.
Jamie, this isn’t news to most of us – major campaigns opposing the junk food epidemic have been ringing out loud and clear for decades. We do understand your mission and would love to see a change in the average child’s lunch box. No one wants government control over what schools feed their students, but the people who feed our children need to have brain cells when selecting meals. Instead of campaigning for healthier food, why not campaign for smarter school employees and school lunch vendors?
Then there’s the cost factor. It’s a known fact that there’s a higher price tag associated with fresh and healthy food. And with the unemployment rate being what it is, it’s no surprise that Middle America is taking a more economical approach to feeding their children. I’d get into the taste-factor, but why point out the obvious (kids will always appreciate a Happy Meal to over-cooked/under-seasoned food).
That said, based on the rising popularity of farmers markets, we are actually seeing some traction in the daily diets of the average American. And look at the celebrities that are endorsing your Food Revolution: Heidi Klum, Paul McCartney, Kim Kardashian, Ellen Degeneres, & even Justin Bieber, who is still just a kid himself. Yes, there are some people who will resist change, but that isn’t reason enough to think that everyone is against you. People are trying to change and all your effort is appreciated by those with brain cells. Maybe you’re just spread too thin to take notice. Take a breath, play with your kids, and while you’re doing that, we’ll eat some vegetables in your honor.
Spaghetti Tacos are blowing up the internet, everyone is talking about how their kids are obsessed. The New York Times did an in-depth look at the little lovers of these pop-culture creations. Modifications and new recipes are all over the place. It’s a dinner from the Nickelodeon show ICarly that the older brother Spencer came up with. Simply put some spaghetti in a crunchy taco.
What? I love how it’s taken up such popularity. I’ve never eaten one, but if I was 10 again I wouldn’t say no. Maybe we adults can start a trend cooking up lasagna in a tortilla shell… maybe. When it comes to kids you have to be able to have fun with your food. You may love gourmet food, but your kids will not have anything to do with it. If you can allow them to be creative with their food, they'll be open to trying new things. Picky children need be a thing of the past. This craze really shows how big of an impact television can have on kids and maybe even American dining as we know it. [Fade to Black]
Just in time for Halloween: Genetically modified salmon are becoming the topic of conversation. We’re now questioning safety, morality, and taste. Salmon is my favorite fish. It brings back childhood memories of sitting on the river and fishing with my dad. And when I found out it was healthy I couldn’t have been happier. Lately, the world’s supply of salmon has been dwindling, threatening fish houses and sushi restaurants alike.
Aqua Bounty is the company that has been developing genetically modified Salmon that grow twice as fast. And it’s said that this mix-and-match of genetics wouldn’t be labeled differently in stores. The only way I could go for that is if they tasted the same – exactly the same. Which, let’s be real, isn’t be possible. A wild salmon that was born and raised in the rugged Alaskan terrain is going to have more of a kick than any test-tube salmon baby. People are also concerned about potential allergens and the possibility of these “Frankenfish” getting out into the wild and wreaking terror on the wild salmon population.
It’s one thing to mess with our crops, but putting the meat we eat in the hands of scientists is a little scary. I think as long as this “new salmon” is separated from the real salmon I’ll accept it (but I still won’t eat it). How much worse can it be from the hormone filled and potentially diseased meat that already tries to creep onto our plates?
What’s next? An engineered pig that will produce less harmful phosphorus waste? NooOo - not my bacon!
Skyy Vodka is serving a shot of controversy with its new ad campaign. Strong, tall, blue-bottled Skyy can now be found between long, red latex’d legs. Would you call it pornography? That’s a pretty big stretch. Skyy ads have always been lips, legs, and lingerie -- and keeping wholesome people gawking. I don’t see anything so different in this provocative ad. They’re not even showing skin this time around. Skyy is selling vodka – and not the high end type. Just like their consumers they’re trying to have a little more fun. Skyy has been selling sexy for years and I’d have to say “Really?” to anyone who’s just now offended by Skyy’s not-so-risqué ad campaign. Many of their ads are blatantly exaggerated, to the point of being humorous. This not-so-new ad, features a filthy rich woman with a man crawling all over her and the vodka is placed in the foreground, I’m sold!
Joseph Cerniglia, a New Jersey Chef that had once been featured on FOX’sKitchen Nightmares, was found dead in the Hudson River Friday, Sept 24th. It is confirmed that Cerniglia had committed suicide and now Chef Gordon Ramsay is taking an abundance of heat from the media.
In 2007, Gordon Ramsay paid a visit to Cerniglia’s restaurant, Campania, and found the kitchen in complete disarray, sporting an unruly/juvenile wait staff, precarious management, and the New Jersey restaurant's rapidly mounting debt. Ramsay, in his famously acrimonious style, castigated Cerniglia and staff for their "boring" cuisine and wasteful ways. But what caught the media’s attention was Ramsay stating to Cerniglia: “ Yourbusiness is about to swim down the fucking Hudson”, after Cerniglia admitted to losing approximately $120k in restaurant expenses. A phrase the media seems to be endlessly echoing and labeling as “harsh” and “haunting”.
But if you actually pay attention to the Kitchen Nightmare's episode (s01e04), Ramsay and Cerniglia’s interaction wasn’t so volatile, as the media has portrayed. Ramsay’s signature speaking style is all about the abrasiveness and profanity – that’s been his secret sauce to fame. Yet, unlike many other chefs, whom Ramsay has driven to tears, Cerniglia never cowered, nor disregarded Ramsay’s feedback or guidance. In fact, their rapport was actually amiable. Ramsay was almost patriarchal and even went so far as to defend Campania’s re-vamped cuisine against the “old bag” on their re-opening night.
And while I'm nowhere near a fan of Gordon Ramsay TV – his speaking style grates on me like Freddy Kruegar’s nails on a chalkboard – I actually feel for the guy. It’s clear that he had a soft-spot for Joseph Cerniglia and it’s very likely that he’s feeling a loss for the much-loved New Jersey Chef.
It looks like Gordon Ramsay’sKitchen Nightmares isn’t just about the restaurant anymore. According to The Daily Mirror, the Kitchen Nightmares’ star and executive producer has added a number of irrelevant questions to the Kitchen Nightmares contestant application. How much a contestant weighs, as well as their height, eye and hair color are just a few of the questions that have been added. But my favorites of all of them are these:
Have you ever had a restraining order filed against you?
Does your family have a history of depression?
Are you easily upset?
Actually, the one regarding a history of depression seems to be fair.
A friend of mine had filled out an application for Chef Ramsay’sHell’s Kitchen (as a joke) and told me that they had similar questions on the application he filled out, which he thought was strange. Considering that Kitchen Nightmare’s is supposed to be focused on the restaurants and not the contestants, asking such personal questions doesn’t seem right.
Moreover, ChefGordon Ramsay should be focused more on cleaning up his muddied image instead of adding to his laundry list of drama and evil doings.
Are those questions even legal? But then again, does he really care?
"Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking" is a six-volume cookbook being developed that strives to intermingle beauty and simplicity. Science and learned techniques are shared to better understand the method behind the madness of meal preparation. It isn’t scheduled to come out until spring of next year, but the pictures I’ve seen are stunning. Instead of just satisfying the readers’ stomach, the authors are working to engage the readers and revolutionize cooking technique. This seems to be a cookbook set that has gathered the information of the ages and is sharing it gorgeously.
The founder of Heart Attack Grill was just interviewed and considers himself someone leading the pack against the healthy food movement. He has given courage to other establishments who want to put items on the menu with absurd amounts of calories. With all the hype about salads and eating your fiber these guys are making a stand, if they can.
What is the Heart Attack Grill? It’s a fine eating establishment in Arizona where you are no longer a customer, but a patient-hospital gown and all. The waitresses are sexy nurses who weigh you and if you’re over 350 pounds, you eat for free! The biggest burger you can get is the Quadruple Bypass Burger at a lovely 8,000 calories. Everything boasts to be greasy and bad for your body. Once you’re done with your burger, shake and bottomless fries they can wheel you out with a packet of unfiltered cigarettes- also on the menu.
Food trucks are all the rage, but the city is getting fed up-and not full of Kebabs. The rules are getting strict in NY & DC, by piling on the fines to trucks that have gotten 3 tickets. “The Man” is trying to pass a bill that will not allowing them to park for more than 30 minutes in one location or within 100 feet of a restaurant. Yes, we don’t want only food trucks to dominate the city, but those poor guys are racing and slaving hard for our quick lunches and drunken munchies. We need to give them a break after all the breaking they’ve done for us. The laws are not passed, so represent for your favorite food on the fly. In the mean time check out these apps you can download to find the most delish food trucks in your big city. [Image from OC Weekly]
Today’s Special is a new movie about the struggle of a chef determined to get the recognition he deserves, but his plans all change when the family Tandoori Restaurant goes bankrupt. Aasif Mandvi, from the Daily Show, stars in this Independent Foodie film. This comedy comes out October 8th, so Curry up and make Naans to see it!
Inflight meals are a virtual rarity nowadays - B.Y.O.S. (bring your own snacks) should be written on the passengers’ plane tickets. There are just a select few airlines left that still provide meals to their passengers and they’re going the extra mile to do the right.
But the leader of this culinary-mile-high-club is Singapore Airlines. Singapore being the latest destination for Bravo TV’s Top Chef DC finale, it’s no wonder Singapore Airlines took the time to make their own cookbook, titled “Above & Beyond, A Collection of Recipes from the Singapore Airlines Culinary Panel”. The airline not only has its own panel of chefs, trained by the world’s top 10 culinary geniuses, but they also offer a service that allows children to pick their favorite meal before their flight. These guys don’t mess around.
Over the years they’ve featured many great chefs on their flights, and now they’ve taken an appetizer, entrée and dessert from a select few. If you don’t have the opportunity to fly Singapore Air anytime soon, you can still have a somewhat virtual experience and try the “Above & Beyond” recipes at home.
Punk Rock has just gotten much saucier, now that Marky Ramone has his own red sauce on the market. The flavor is Brooklyn’s Own and you really can’t go wrong with that. The rocker has decided its best that profits go to benefit the US troops and their families. If this made you hungry for more celebrity snacks check out this oldie: Frank DeCaro must have made this page in the early days of the internet, but I couldn’t stop laughing at the ridiculous pictures and off the wall celebrity recipes, from John Travolta's Dover Sole Meuniere to Boy George's Chick Pea Corruption. It’s a kitchen time trip visiting some of America’s faves.
Gordon Ramsay's
