Second Season of "Shopping with Chefs" Starts May 3rd
Monday, April 14, 2008 | posted by Mike
Sorry for the long break this weekend. Life has been busy and I spent a good portion of my free time convincing my new Macbook to play nice with my wireless network. I thought I had it figured out, but then it had problems today. It's looking good for now, but we'll see...Anyway, you all know that I'm a big fan of Shopping with Chefs. My admiration for the show goes way back, and I can assure that it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they also fed me very well. But, hey...that didn't hurt.
When I first got my DVR, I added SwC as a subscription and was able to quickly catch all of the episodes. Looks like it's time to fire up the DVR once again:
Beginning Saturday, May 3rd at 2pm ET, FINE LIVING NETWORK will present all new episodes of its original series Shopping with Chefs (series airs weekends at 2pm ET). Co-hosts David Myers (chef owner of Los Angeles’ eateries Sona and Comme Ça and the patisserie Boule) and Jill Davie (chef de cuisine at the Santa Monica hotspot, Josie and a former competitor on FOOD NETWORK'S The Next Iron Chef) employ their culinary expertise as respected chefs to help viewers navigate the vast world of kitchen essentials. Each weekend, the two help the time-starved, chef-at-home cook better by shopping smarter.Check out that original review for my full take on the show. After having seen all of the additional episodes, as much as I get a kick out of the gadgets, gizmos and appliances that they cover, the ingredient shopping trips are what really sets the show apart for me. Few other shows (Good Eats being one of them) go to the trouble of educating the viewer on perhaps the most important part of good home cooking -- the fine art of choosing quality ingredients.
The newest batch of episodes served up by FINE LIVING will cover kitchen gadgets and food that ranges from the obvious to the obscure including, shopping for scallops, cauliflower, asparagus, pies, olives, gelato, chile peppers, mushrooms and home herb gardens. Viewers will learn how to choose the right crepe maker, slowcooker, food processor and milkshake mixer and get tips on picking out the perfect refrigerator and cooking range. And just in time for summer, Myers and Davies will share their secrets on what to buy in order to fire up the grill and have a sizzling outdoor entertaining experience, from outdoor "smokers" to margarita makers!
On so many cooking shows, there seems to be an aura of perfection when it comes to the ingredients. World-class vegetables and fantastic proteins just "appear" in the celebrity chef's kitchen. Being able to see how to separate the wheat from the chaff goes a long way toward your and my ability to recreate these dishes in our own homes.
Labels: Shopping with Chefs
TVFF Field Report: "Shopping with Chefs" Event
Sunday, December 09, 2007 | posted by Mike
Last week, we told you about an exciting opportunity to attend an event at the brand new Sub-Zero/Wolf showroom in Manhattan featuring Chefs Jill Davie and David Myers of Shopping with Chefs. We were also thrilled to be able in include a couple of TVFF readers for a fun night of wine, food and cooking demonstrations in an impressive setting.
Perhaps the most interesting moment of the evening was what I saw when I arrived. As I entered the showroom, I could see in the main demonstration area that Chefs Davie and Myers were doing their own prep work for the evening. That’s dedication to craft! I was introduced to them briefly, but figured it was best to leave them to their work.
The showroom was quite impressive, with state of the art ovens, refrigerators, ranges and wine cellars arrayed around the room and integrated into a number of different decors. I had a tough time imaging many of the appliances in my own kitchen, mainly because a couple of the appliances were actually as large as my kitchen. A number of the gadgets that had been recommended during episodes of Shopping with Chefs were also displayed around the room.
The crowd grew and the beginning of the demonstration grew closer, so we headed for a seat up front. The display area had a long bar with stools, but we headed for a counter a few feet behind that where you could stand and watch. I regretted not grabbing the stools because the chefs went without microphones and it got a bit difficult to hear them.
The demonstration itself was fun, with both Davie and Myers showing that they’re as adept at talking their way through a recipe as they are at executing it. The display area featured two large flat-screen monitors that took the place of the more common overhead mirrors. The menu for the evening was:
- Chef Myers – Butternut squash soup flavored with cardamom
- Chef Myers – Seared tuna au poivre garnished with dried olives
- Chef Davie – Chicken liver pâté
- Chef Davie – Chocolate fondue flavored with spices and cognac and served with dried fruit (leftovers from a gift basket, she suggested)
Servers brought around samples of each of the dishes, which were very good. The demonstrations themselves were loose and interactive, with people asking questions along the way. I had a chance to ask Chef Davie how to test the doneness of the chicken livers that she was searing, and she demonstrated the commonly-used “palm technique” for testing doneness of meat.
The real treat of the evening, however, was after the demonstration when I had a chance to chat with Chefs Myers and Davie. Upon introducing myself, Chef Davie confirmed my biggest worry of the evening…she had, in fact, seen the “fun with screen captures” post I had a few weeks ago. She was tremendously good-natured about it, although the fact that I turned bright red may have had something to do with it.
The two have a fantastic and playful rapport with one another, which is funny considering that they’re rarely on screen as the same time during the show. They downplayed their “TV celebrity” status and seemed genuinely down-to-earth. They also passed along some great news when they told me that they’ve just begun filming new episodes and that the chefs will have even more input into the recommendations this season.
The chefs were good enough to pose for a photo (which you can see up there on the left) and then the TVFF group (including NY Bureau Chief Jessica) headed over to enjoy some of the fondue. As we were hanging out and dunking dried dates into the chocolate, Chef Davie came by and chatted with us for about fifteen minutes, filling us in on her recent appearances, including Martha Stewart’s radio show and Tyra Banks’ talk show.
It’s clear, both when watching the show and seeing them in person, that Chefs Davie and Myers are polished food personalities with the potential for success in a wide variety of television formats – be it food lifestyle or cooking demonstration programs. Throughout the evening – whether it was while prepping their ingredients, interacting with the attendees during the demonstration or during relaxed conversations towards the end of the evening – they showed the easy likability and serious cooking chops that elevate Shopping with Chefs above most cooking shows out there.
(Check out the rest of the evening's photos in the slideshow below. Click any of them to see the larger version.)
Labels: David Myers, Jill Davie, Shopping with Chefs
Still Recovering
Friday, December 07, 2007 | posted by Mike
The definition of "wise planning" very well may be the fact that I put in to take a personal day on the day after last night's awesome Shopping with Chefs event in NYC. I'm still recovering from the festivities (which included a few drinks after the event, as well), which is not surprising since I didn't get home until after 2 a.m. on a day that included me getting up at my usual time (5:50 a.m., in case you're wondering) and working a half a day down in Philly.So...there won't be any posts about the event today. But I do promise you a full write-up and some awesome pictures some time late this weekend, so it will be there to kick off your new week.
In the meantime, go check out endless simmer, a great "all things food" blog that has been filling up my reader with all kinds of fantastic stuff ever since I discovered it when Brendan, one of the contributors, wrote to give me some tips on my DC Dining Dilemma. Their site has bunch of posts about food TV, but you should go ahead and just check out the whole site...otherwise, you would have missed out on this photo.
Great, now I'm hungry...
Labels: Shopping with Chefs
You're Invited: Sub-Zero/Wolf Event in NYC with "Shopping with Chefs" Stars Jill Davie and David Myers
Tuesday, December 04, 2007 | posted by Mike
I'm sure you all saw the "TVFF Field Report" of the Rachael Ray appearance that we posted earlier in the week. What we didn't mention was the fact that it was the first in a series of a couple of reports that we would be filing in the coming week or two. I'm proud to let you know that I'm also going to be covering an event featuring the stars of a show that regular readers will know that I really enjoy, Shopping with Chefs. The event that I'll be covering is an appearance by Chefs Davie (also of Next Iron Chef) and Myers at the opening of the new Sub-Zero/Wolf flagship showroom in midtown Manhattan this Thursday evening, December 6th from 6-8pm.
Well, it just got even better. Thanks to the generosity of the demonstration's organizers, I'm thrilled to offer the opportunity to attend this exclusive, by-invitation-only event free to TV Food Fan readers! That's right...you'll have the opportunity to check out high-end kitchen equipment, see live cooking demonstrations from the stars of Shopping with Chefs, enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and meet Mr. TVFF himself. (If that last part doesn't get you there, I don't know what will.) According to the invite:
To celebrate the showroom’s debut, there will be lots of food (of course) from Traditional Home magazine and cooking demonstrations by the Fine Living Network’s “Shopping With Chefs” stars Jill Davie (Josie in L.A.) and David Myers (Sona in L.A.).
Here's the deal. E-mail me ASAP at mike@tvfoodfan.com and send me your name and I'll have it put on the invitation list. Tickets are limited, so these will be on a first-come-first-served basis. I will respond to your e-mail and let you know that you have the tickets, and you will then receive an invitation and directions via e-mail from the event folks.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Labels: Shopping with Chefs
The Iron Eight
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | posted by Mike
I made a couple of short mentions recently about the upcoming The Next Iron Chef, but I've been a bit negligent in giving you the goods on any of the details. Sorry about that.
A press release from the Network has the lowdown (That dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty lowdown. Sorry, I love that song and couldn't resist.):
The title of Iron Chef is synonymous with the world's foremost culinary masters; and with the announcement of eight finalists, Food Network has begun production for The Next Iron Chef, the newest reality competition created to identify the next master to join the existing exclusive club of superstar chefs Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. Representing some of the nation's best culinary talent, the finalists will battle for the chance to be crowned the next Iron Chef America. Hosted by Alton Brown (Good Eats, Iron Chef America), The Next Iron Chef will premiere Sunday, October 7th at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network.
Hit me with the good stuff, TVFF's Favorite FN Exec® Bob Tuschman!
"We have chosen a group of chefs who we believe to be at the forefront of the culinary landscape, each of whom could stand proudly beside Bobby, Mario, Morimoto and Cat as a new Iron Chef," says Tuschman. "In our quest, we are looking for an individual to complement the current group and bring a unique blend of innovation, creativity and passion to the show, which is currently the highest-rated program on the network."
So, who are the contestants?
- John Besh (New Orleans, LA) Executive Chef, Restaurant August, Besh
Steak, Luke and La Provence. - Chris Cosentino (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef, Incanto
- Jill Davie (Santa Monica, CA) Executive Chef, JOSIE
- Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef & Co-Owner,
Jardiniere, Mijita and Acme Chophouse - Gavin Kaysen (San Diego, CA) Chef de Cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho
Bernardo Inn - Morou Ouattara (Washington, DC) Executive Chef & Owner, Farrah Olivia
- Aaron Sanchez (New York, NY) Executive Chef & Owner, Centrico and
Paladar - Michael Symon (Cleveland, OH) Executive Chef & Owner, Lola and Lolita
Wait a second...that wouldn't happen to be the same Jill Davie that's currently appearing on Fine Living's Shopping with Chefs, would it? Why, yes it is!
You already know that we're fans of SwC, but maybe you don't get Fine Living in your neighborhood. Or maybe you're just too good to watch shows on your full screen television (well la-di-da!, Mr./Ms. Fancy Pants). If that's the case, you can actually get a couple of clips of the series as a podcast on iTunes (don't bother clicking unless you have iTunes installed). Hey, you have to justify the $599 you spent on that iPhone somehow, right?
Also, you can check out Jill and her cohost David Myers on the video below.
Labels: Bob Tuschman, Shopping with Chefs, The Next Iron Chef
Review: "Shopping with Chefs"
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 | posted by Mike
Despite what you may think, the Food Network isn't the only member of the Scripps family of channels to feature quality culinary programs. Shopping with Chefs, which premiers July 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (it will run regularly on Weekends at 1:00 p.m. ET beginning July 28) on Fine Living provides useful information about how to buy equipment and ingredients in a fun, energetic format.
We were lucky enough to catch an early peek courtesy of a screener from the folks at Fine Living. The disk was accompanied by a very cool and handy reusable shopping bag and magnetic shopping list. The giveaways were not only a cute gift, but they also had a good tie in with the tone and content of the show itself. Shopping with Chefs features Jill Davie and David Myers, two chefs who have previous on-camera experience thanks to appearances on Food Network Challenge and Iron Chef, respectively. The viewer gets to accompany Jill and David as they go to the farmer's market, supermarket and restaurant supply store, where they provide their insight into how to pick fresh herbs and fish and what immersion blender would be the right choice for the home user. Both are extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, with Jill approaching Rachael-esque levels of perkiness from time to time.
The show seems to revolve around themes for each of the segments, which begin and end with each of the commercials. The first was a trip to the farmer's market for greens and herbs. The second act had them helping a couple entertain guests, explaining how to choose fresh salmon, the best kind of indoor grill pan and the right fish turner for the job. Segments on peppercorns and pepper mills and how to choose and care for knives and mandolines rounded out the episode. Occasionally, little "pop-ups" will occur during the show, providing insights. They'll also pause for a "Chef's Tip du Jour," where they offer a "secret of the kitchen" to help you get that restaurant taste at home. Both examples provided in the "du jour" were new to me, and sounded like good ideas. The show also has a cute method of letting you know what's coming up next by providing a list of the segments in "shopping list" format along the side of the screen, accompanied by the sound of a cash register as they move on to the next segment.
The selling point of the show is that you get the feeling that Jill and David really know what they're talking about when it comes to the equipment and ingredients. Other shows that have tried to use this format seem to go with a generic "host" type who offers bland assessments of the products, sounding as if they're reading off the package itself. Not so with these folks. Check out David's assessment of garlic presses, an item that Mrs. TVFF and I don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on (hint: I'm with Dave on this):
The one other show that does this sort of thing well is America's Test Kitchen, and the reason for the success of each is that they take an honest look at the products. They'll tell you when you're wasting your time and money on a lousy product. They'll also tell you when you're spending too much on features that would only make a difference in a restaurant setting. The end result is that you really get the feel that you're learning some valuable lessons. It does move a bit quickly at times, and it might have benefited from slowing down just a little bit, but they do a good job of actually demonstrating the tools.
The only thing that missed the mark was the "real couple" they use to demonstrate the salmon segment. They seem nice enough, and they were a believable couple, but it felt a bit tacked-on and unnecessary. The photo of them entertaining at their dinner (which was given authenticity because it looked like it was taken with their own digital camera) didn't do much, and the whole thing was superfluous. They could have couched the segment as a hypothetical dinner party scenario for the home viewer and it would have worked just fine.
The show is at its best when it relies on the charismatic hosts and the real life experts with whom they interact as part of their shopping. I got a lot more from David's talk with a knife shop owner than I did from the couple. It also reminded me that I need to get my knives professionally sharpened (the show said it should be done every six months), since my 8" Wüsthof can't slice peanut butter these days.
Ultimately, Shopping with Chefs succeeds for the same reasons all good food shows succeed: It presents information that is useful to the home chef, and it does it in a way that doesn't dumb it down for the viewer. Davie and Myers provide expertise without being intimidating and the show provides insights that will benefit everyone from the beginning cook to the master home chef.
Labels: Shopping with Chefs
