Alton & Gang Going Upriver
Thursday, July 12, 2007 | posted by Mike
As you might know, we were big fans of the last Feasting on Asphalt. It have us Grizzly Alton (the beard was fantastic), some interesting stops and a show that actually felt like it was a road trip. Most of those other travel shows just feel like the host parachutes in for the taping. With Feasting, you actually felt like you were taking part in a cross-country journey. It also gave Alton a chance to flex his cinematographer muscles, which is always a good thing for the viewer.
Well, August is going to bring us a second road-trip and we got a little bit of additional information over the past few days. We already knew that they were going to be following the Mississippi this time, but now we have some more specifics about their route, thanks to an article on Broadcasting & Cable:
The motorcycle trip takes Brown and his gang (the "Hell's Angel Hair Pastas" of TV travelers) through Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, stopping at alligator farms, donut shops, and barbecue joints along the way.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also has a short blurb announcing that Alton will be making a stop in Wisconsin. I wonder if there will be cheese involved.
Speaking of travel shows, Glutton for Punishment debuted this week. I started to watch it...and my cable completely wigged out. Oh well. I did see enough of it to confirm one thing: Bob Blumer certainly has energy!
Wow...he certainly dives in with both feet. You can tell he's an old television pro, and his presence on camera is something that should be shown again and again to the eventual The Next Food Network Star winner.
Oh, and his hair deserves its own show.
Labels: Alton Brown, Bob Blumer
Gluttony: Every Foodie's Favorite Deadly Sin
Friday, June 29, 2007 | posted by Mike
The Surreal Gourmet was running at a time when I wasn't quite the food TV junkie I am today, so my memory is a bit fuzzy. I think I remember that my dad liked it, thought. It jogged my memory a bit when I saw the video here. Sorry, I'd embed it here and make it easy for everyone, but the jackass who posted it to YouTube disable embedding. Thanks a lot.
Why am talking about this now? Because The Surreal Gourmet himself, Bob Blumer, is returning to the Food Network with a new show, Glutton For Punishment, which will debut on Tuesday, July 10th at 9:30 pm (ET/PT). What's the word?
Fun, fast-paced and full of practical information, viewers will watch as Blumer proves there is no distance too far and no challenge too intimidating for a genuine glutton for punishment. By relying on his knowledge of food and spirits, his physical stamina and his competitive spirit, Blumer attempts to triumph in new culinary arenas: whether he’s oyster shucking at the world shuck-off competition, wielding razor-sharp knives during a Benihana chef crash course or juggling bottles in a national Flair bartending contest, Bob undergoes intensive training as he attempts to face a daunting food or spirits-related challenge.
Upcoming episodes include Bob mastering the skills of a professional waiter in only five days to take part in the annual New York Waiter’s Race, flipping (and dropping) his way through numerous bottles to bartend against the world’s best in the NATIONS International Flair Challenge, getting a crash course in the cutthroat world of professional oyster shucking to hold his own in the Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival and trying to beat the heat that New Mexico has to offer during their world famous chili pepper eating contest.
OK, OK...that's all well and good Mr./Ms. Press Release Writer. But what does TVFF's Favorite FN Exec® Bob Tuschman have to say about it?
“We are thrilled to welcome Bob Blumer back onto Food Network,” said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. “He takes on ridiculously entertaining culinary challenges in his new show and our viewers are going to enjoy going along for the ride.”
Lest you think that press releases don't contain interesting facts, I did come across a neat little piece of info in Blumer's bio. It says that his cookbook, The Surreal Gourmet: Real Food for Pretend Chefs
That's pretty cool stuff. Anthony Bourdain also talks about listening to music while prepping his mise en place. Despite my love of music, I have to admit I don't listen to anything while I'm cooking (unless you count Jeopardy! coming from the living room television).
Do you have a "kitchen soundtrack?" Or do you have a great "pairing" of food and music? Maybe Sticky Fingers
Let's hear about it in the comments below! The most creative album/song and dish pairing will receive the usual TVFF prize (i.e. a brief mention in next week's Crumbs.)
Labels: Bob Blumer, Bob Tuschman
