MasterChef Review: Gordon Ramsay Displays a Softer Side

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Food & Home, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, Gossip,

FOX premiered its third show featuring Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef, Tuesday night. The series had a strong lead-in: Ramsay’s first FOX show, Hell’s Kitchen. He’s the chef known for his tough exterior and passionate, some might say vulgar, insults. Ramsay routinely screams in the faces of the chefs under his tutelage on Hell’s Kitchen - so fans were no doubt expecting to see a tough, fiery chef during the MasterChef premiere.

What they got was a gentler, kinder Gordon Ramsay. He slipped into the role of motivator for MasterChef, sitting at the head of a panel of three judges (the other two are tough-as-nails restaurateur Joe Bastianich and four-star chef Graham Elliot). Talented home cooks came before the panel to present their dishes. Some dishes were met with disdain, but Ramsay didn’t scream “donkey” at a single contestant. He dispensed hugs, smiles and encouragement with ease - far removed from the furious chef mien he wears for Hell’s Kitchen, which aired the same night.

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Preview: Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Food & Home, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Video,

“I thought there was only miserable bastards like that in England.”

On March 26, famed British chef Jamie Oliver will attempt to bring one of his passion projects to America. Unfortunately, his idea to introduce healthy meals to the schools of Huntington, West Virginia will come with resistance. Lots of it.

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Cookalong with Gordon Ramsay: Heaven or Hell?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Prime Time, Reality, FOX, News, Video,

Hell’s Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay will be hosting a new special on FOX. Set to air December 15, Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live will teach viewers how to create a three-course meal for four - in one hour.

The live broadcast will air at 9pm EST, pretty late for dinner time. The menu includes angel hair pasta, steak Diane and tiramisu to finish. Ramsay is known for his sharp tongue in the kitchen, but he’s also world-renown for his delectable dishes.

Read More | LA Times

Food Network’s Next Big Reality Twist

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Food & Home, Prime Time, Reality, Cable, Gossip, Video,

Imagine how delighted seven seasons’ worth of contestants would be if Simon Cowell stepped onto the Idol stage to sing - and, subsequently, be judged. On Season 2 of Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef, a hard-to-please judge will most certainly be on the set…but not to offer her critique.

Starting Sunday, Chopped‘s Amanda Freitag will be stepping out from behind the big table to stand under the harsh glare of criticism herself. Freitag is bucking to be The Next Iron Chef, the second the series has picked through reality TV competition. Michael Symon was the first to win the honor; he has gone on to enjoy a 7-2-1 winning record in Kitchen Stadium.

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Read More | LA Times

Food Network Star in the Making: Chef Jeff Project

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Reality, Cable, Editorial,

I’ll admit it - I gave a little eye-roll when I saw the first promo. Chef in the kitchen mentors six young ‘uns, talking about a “life-changing experience.” Sounds like the usual reality show hype, right? But after the fourth promo, my appetite was whet. So I set the DVR. And I watched the Chef Jeff Project. It’s about to become the biggest thing on the entire Food Network - it’s a good idea to start paying attention now.

Jeff Henderson, one-time guest on Good Morning America and author of “Chef Jeff Cooks,” is the driving force behind the Project. He’s definitely got the kitchen cred - he’s served as executive chef to both the Café Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace, and now owns the up-and-coming Posh Urban Cuisine. But Chef Jeff isn’t your average culinary connoisseur, because he’s also got the street cred.

Jeff Henderson spent almost ten years behind bars for pushing cocaine in and around his hometown, South Central L.A. For his inspiring Project, Henderson installed six inner-city kids into his upscale catering business, hiring them on as employees.

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New York Times

The End of Emeril Lagasse?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Food & Home, Reality, Cable, News,

The Food Network was hardly more than a blip on cable when it began in 1993, with chefs like Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse rounding out the programming.  Batali and the network have since parted ways, and now Emeril Live is coming to the end of its reign.

Live, which began 10 years ago, quickly brought attention to the little-known network and turned the host into a household name.  Although the show stops production on December 11, 2007, Lagasse will still be part of the Food Network family.  The Essence of Emeril will continue to air and while the chef himself - who’s still working on new ideas - will remain on hand to take part in food-related specials and shows.

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CNN