Global Search

taste

Let's talk food, from restaurants and recipes to farmers markets, food issues and wine. Lee Svitak Dean, Rick Nelson, Kim Ode and Bill Ward will start the conversation.

Posts about TV food shows

Around the world with a video camera

Posted by: Lee Svitak Dean Updated: August 14, 2012 - 12:59 PM

  • share

    email

Photos provided by the Perennial Plate. Daniel Klein, center, and Mirra Fine, right, produce the web series.

Photos provided by the Perennial Plate. Daniel Klein, center, and Mirra Fine, right, produce the web series.

Photos provided by the Perennial Plate. Daniel Klein, center, and Mirra Fine, right, produce the web series.

 

Daniel Klein is happy -- make that ecstatic -- as he should be given his plans for the next year and a half. He's the documentary filmmaker who has chronicled stories of sustainable and adventurous eating for the past two years through a weekly web series called the Perennial Plate, to wide acclaim.

For the first season, he and his partner Mirra Fine, who is the camera gal (as she calls herself), explored food around Minnesota, beginning with killing a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. For the second season they traveled around the country, telling visual tales of dining, from frogs to catfish. The two edited the videos in their ad hoc studio -- on a laptop in their car.

The third season, which begins in late October, is what has them so thrilled: They will head overseas, first to Japan and China. They've paired up with Intrepid Travel Co. in Australia, which will provide a translator/guide while they explore the world on video. They are hoping to have a little help back here in the Twin Cities as they continue the weekly schedule.

"We feel like this is a dream job. The last versions were dreams. This is over the top. Everything will be downhill from here," said Daniel.

They will travel to two countries per trip, filming for about a month before coming back to the U.S. to edit, with their series continuing to be posted on a weekly basis. After traveling in the Far East, the two will head to India and Sri Lanka in December, followed by Spain and Morocco for the next leg of the trip, with a total of six trips over the next year.  "South America, Africa and more of Europe are likely. We're trying to get a smattering of countries. Obviously, we're just touching the surface of geting a taste of these countries," said Daniel.

Their connection to Intrepid began with an episode on Vietnam that reached a large audience. "It's a great partnership because they're a travel company and part of travel is getting to know local culture and local food. Our videos will focus on different aspects of sustainable food and culture and beauty that makes people want to travel," said Daniel.

"This is more of a partnership than a sponsorship because they have people on the ground, like translators. We've found it really challenging to find stories in these countries when we don't speak the same language. On a big expensive trip like this, we need to know in advance what we're doing. It's harder to wing it," said Daniel.

See a cartoon video of their plans for the third season below.

Bon voyage, Daniel and Mirra! 

 

Real Food World Tour from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.

Next stop, Wheaties box?

Posted by: Rick Nelson Updated: June 11, 2012 - 4:03 PM

  • share

    email

 

 

He’s a winner!

Kevin VanDeraa, owner of Cupcake in Minneapolis, took top honors in Sunday night’s broadcast of the Food Network’s “Cupcake Champions,” beating out three other bakers. The prize: A cool $50,000.

VanDeraa (pictured, above, in a photo by Tom Okins) said that the day-long contest, which was videotaped at Food Network HQ in New York City and edited into an hour-long episode, was a touch-and-go experience.

“I was convinced that I was going home after round one,” he said. “I thought they were going to play up all of my mistakes in the edit. They didn’t capitalize on that drama, at least as much as I was expecting.”

VanDeraa was under contractual obligation not to reveal the outcome of the pre-recorded contest — the penalty was a stiff $500,000. He kept his mouth shut, but I have to admit that I wasn't fooled by those first-round stumbles. The news had to be good because, two days before the show aired, a local publicist made the media rounds on VanDeraa's behalf. You don't spend money on P.R. when you come in second.

VanDeraa first appeared on “Cupcake Wars” last summer, when he was awarded second prize for a Bollywood-themed episode. His first win was in April, when he interpreted a "Yo Gabba Gabba!" theme into the winner’s circle. That led to an appearance on the all-stars-style “Cupcake Champions” semi-finals in May, when he sailed to victory during a “Glee”-themed challenge.

Sunday’s contest required bakers to riff on Food Network personalities, so VanDeraa conjured up a honey almond cake, filling it with pears poached in grape juice and topping it with a butterscotch-bourbon buttercream icing, an homage to “Iron Chef America” talking head Alton Brown. Another was a s’mores cupcake saluting grillmaster Bobby Flay. All the cupcakes featured on Sunday’s episode are available at the Prospect Park restaurant/cafe.

“If we can keep them in stock,” VanDeraa said with a laugh. “We’ve already run out several times today.”

Minnesota’s newly minted TV reality star and his prize-winning baked goods will also make an appearance in the rotunda at the Mall of America on Saturday, meeting-and-greeting and selling all the cupcakes featured on the championship episode. Why the megamall? VanDeraa is in talks with mall management about opening a branch of Cupcake.

As for the winnings, he has plenty of ideas.

“When you own a small business, any chunk of change gets gobbled up,” he said. “We’re expanding onto Grand Avenue, so this will be a big help with that.”

Chef Pampuch hosts TV series

Posted by: Lee Svitak Dean Updated: April 12, 2012 - 3:38 PM

  • share

    email

 

 

Scott Pampuch on set of "In Search of Food." Photo provided by Ovation.

Scott Pampuch on set of "In Search of Food." Photo provided by Ovation.

 

Move over Andrew Zimmern. There’s another star in the neighborhood.

Scott Pampuch, executive chef at the Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington and formerly of Corner Table in Minneapolis, is host of a three-part TV series on Ovation that will be broadcast next week, Monday through Wednesday, at 7 p.m.
Scott Pampuch with Ann Cooper. Provided by Ovation.

Scott Pampuch with Ann Cooper. Provided by Ovation.

 “In Search of Food” visits Boulder, Colo., on the Monday episode, where Scott meets up with activist lunch lady, Ann Cooper (right),  who has been a vocal supporter of improving school lunch. She challenges Scott to prepare lunch for 1,000 kids on a budget of $1.15 per child. Can he do it?
On the Tuesday show, Scott heads to Virginia and meets with Joel Salatin (below), the farmer at Polyface Farms, who offers a different kind of test for Scott: to show a busy family how to make a day’s worth of healthy meals from local produce.
Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms with Scott Pampuch

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms with Scott Pampuch

In the final episode on Wednesday, Scott goes to San Diego and faces another kitchen dare: to make a raw vegan meal at the avocado farm of musician Jason Mraz (below).
Scott had appeared as a guest in an episode of last year’s “In Search of Food,” with then-host Barton Seaver.
“When the show was renewed, they asked me if I was interested in putting my hat in the ring, and the next thing I knew, they said they would be sending me a contract,” said Scott.
“Quite honestly, after the initial shock, I called Andrew Zimmern and said ‘I think I need some help’. He was a great help in navigating this, a bit of a mentor.”
In addition to the site visits for the three shows, Scott headed to New York, where the production company is based, to do some voiceover work. “Standing in the recording studio for a good six to eight hours and watching myself was all very strange. It was fun and an amazing opportunity,” Scott said. “I’ve seen the final product and I love it.” The shows cover the big topics in the food world, from childhood obesity, schools, busy families, local foods, vegetarians and vegans. “It’s a good way to have a conversation,” Scott said.
With Jason Mraz.

With Jason Mraz.

He’s planning a viewing party, open to the public, for the final broadcast on Wednesday. The event will be held at Saga Hill Cooking & Events, 2400 N. 2nd Street, from 6 to 9 p.m. (the show airs from 7 to 7:30 p.m.). Though the event is free, Scott asks for attendees to register at Eventbrite. However, donations (cash or check) can be made at the event to Laughing Loon Farm.
For more information, email him at scott.pampuch@gmail.com or see http://scottpampuch.com/.
 
  
 

Lorena Garcia to upgrade Taco Bell menu

Posted by: Lee Svitak Dean Updated: January 13, 2012 - 3:38 PM

  • share

    email

 

 

Photo from Lorena Garcia

Photo from Lorena Garcia

 

It's a small world in the universe of food, and that's especially true in TV land.

Bloomberg News reports that Lorena Garcia, the Miami-based chef and restaurateur who gained a wider audience as judge in the NBC TV series "America's Next Great Restaurant," has been hired to put a little Chipotle styling into Taco Bell's food - the "think outside the bun" company. That would be the Chipotle from founder Steve Ells, also a judge for "America's Next Great Restaurant." Taco Bell has been hurt, says Bloomberg, by the popular, more sophisticated menu of Chipotle.

Lorena Garcia and Steve Ells were two of the four judges who determined that Jamawn Woods would win "America's Next Great Restaurant" (which he would lose eight weeks after opening). Lorena's signature phrase during the show was that she was looking for "passion" in restaurateurs. Steve's trademark was his demand for "healthier" foods. In one episode of "ANGR," the contestants disastrously worked the line at Chipotle, until Steve Ells showed up to correct them and take over.

At the time of the Mall of America opening of his restaurant Soul Daddy, Jamawn said of Lorena:"Lorena is like a mother [to me], Curtis [Stone] is like a brother, and Steve [Ells] is like the brains." As for Bobby Flay [the fourth judge], he said, "It was a great experience working with Bobby Flay. I look up to him. I watched him all the time on TV." 

The nine-week TV show also served to broaden Lorena's image nationally. Her cookbook, "Lorena Garcia's New Latin Classics," was published in September, several months after the show was over.

 FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE of "America's Next Great Restaurant," see startribune.com/nextgreat

To follow me on Twitter, see StribTaste
To follow me on Facebook, see Star Tribune Taste
 

 

 

 

'Good Wife' tackles food politics

Posted by: Lee Svitak Dean Updated: November 22, 2011 - 10:14 AM

  • share

    email

Used with permission of CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

Used with permission of CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

 
Food politics hit “The Good Wife” on Sunday in the episode "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" when Eli Gold (played by Alan Cumming, below) advocates for a new version of the USDA MyPlate food icon. Eli, who in the television drama represents the cheese industry during a crisis, suggests an easy-to-read diagram that includes a larger portion of dairy – and everything else. His diagram? MyBody (referred to as TGW Food Pyramid at CBS),
shown above. Note the ear of corn where the heart would be -- and that sweets have as much status as any other type of food.
At one point, Eli says at a hearing, “What food has most sway over Congress? Corn. Always considered to be a vegetable, it could be called a grain.” His diagram shows corn surrounded by a variety of grains.
The episode pits the fruit lobby against the vegetable, dairy and grain lobbies. And the winner? Well, not the consumer. Kind of like real life. Couldn’t have been more timely with Congress calling pizza a vegetable last week.

from the homepage

ADVERTISEMENT

recent posts

Post By Category

Holidays (42) Deals (1)
Farmers markets (62) Baking (50)
Chefs (84) Cookbooks (36)
Cooking at the cabin (3) Farmers and foraging (26)
Healthy eating (31) Locally-produced food (55)
Minnesota newsmakers (94) On the national scene (85)
Openings + closings (26) Recipes (97)
Restaurant news (181) Restaurant reviews (10)
Beer (1) Food, beer, wine events (13)
TV food shows (12) Wine (9)

ADVERTISEMENT

Connect with twitterConnect with facebookConnect with Google+Connect with PinterestConnect with PinterestConnect with RssfeedConnect with email newsletters

Links

ADVERTISEMENT

inside the StarTribune

lifestyle

Best of MN 2013: Guide to state's finest

projects

ST100: 2013 ranking of Minnesota's top companies

sports

New Vikings stadium section: The game plan

home

Map to Twin Cities farmers markets

minnesota topics

Minnesota Topics: People, places and companies

sports

New: Guide to Minnesota's 18-hole public golf courses