#Foodgram

How does Virginia Willis keep a spoon in so many pots with just two hands? Five cookbooks. Food Network. Cooking Channel. Mega-magazine contributing editor and food writer. Missionary to the word that Southern food can be healthy and easily prepared. Help yourself to a “square” meal from her buffet of Instagram pics (https://instagram.com/virginiawillis/). Inevitably, you’ll hunger for more. Her blog awaits. Y’all come.

Too Sweet To Miss: Taria Camerino “Sweet Genius” Viewing Party at JCT. Kitchen & Bar on January 3

 

When it comes to “sweet geniuses” around town, Taria Camerino is one of our favorites! This Thursday, January 3 at 9 p.m., head to the upstairs bar at JCT. Kitchen & Bar (or stay if you’re already there) to watch Taria on Food Network “Sweet Genius” during a special viewing party! Camerino is the pastry program creative director for JCT. Kitchen & Bar, The Optimist and No. 246 and she’s also the one responsible for those amazing European pastry windows at No. 246. She will surely be whipping up some episode-inspired bites to nibble during the party for the episode that airs at 10 p.m. Even better, JCT. beverage manager, Eduardo Guzman, will be doing the same with cocktails. What a sweet event!

Check out Virginia Willis Tonight on "Chopped"

As exhilarating as the experience was, Virginia Willis says being a "Chopped" chef-testant was one of the hardest things she's ever done. This coming from one of the South's grand dames of cheffing, a hard worker who has worked her way up through the culinary world since age 16! We're sure Virginia handles the challenges of this high-pressure competition with true southern grace and some fast-thinking chutzpah. We hope you'll join us in cheering her on to victory! The episode premieres tonight at 10 p.m. on the Food Network. 

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @JeffMauro

No Earl of Sandwich, Jeff Mauro is the "Sandwich King" on the Food Network (11 a.m. Sundays EST), and he brings a royal treasure of fast and easy meals to the table. Instead of loafing around the kitchen, Mauro is out and about gathering fodder and proving "you can turn any meal into a sandwich and any sandwich into a delicious meal." His culinary/comedy background translates to a heavy slathering of humor on the side. Brown baggers eat thetweets (@JeffMauro), and there's a lot to "like" on Facebook.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @mbuffardi

Music is not her forte, but Food Network Editor Michelle Buffardi is right in tune with the foodie circuit of yummy shop-spots, recipes, cocktails, food conferences and way more. Park yourself in a lounge chair with a tall tumbler of iced coffee or tea and your internet cruiser of choice to check out Buffardi's tweets (@mbuffardi) or the mothership of food links on FoodNework.com.

Lights, Camera, Action! Food Network Heads to Town

Are there stars in your eyes when you see a camera nearby?  Do you love to educate friends and family on your newest cooking technique discoveries in your kitchen?  Maybe you aspire to see your name in Food Network lights?  Well, your moment to shine might be coming! 

With your personality and pans in hand, you can show Food Network you’ve got the perfect ingredients required to be The Next Food Network Star when they come to Atlanta on Monday, August 9.  Details are below – good luck!

The Next Food Network Star

 is NOW CASTING Season 7 in Atlanta!

Do you think you have what it takes to host your own show on the Food Network?

Calling all Chefs, Line Cooks, Home Cooks, Caterers and Culinary Enthusiasts!

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Strong Culinary Skills                             Personality that Pops

Passion for Cooking                              Food Knowledge

Lots of Energy and Enthusiasm

Atlanta Open Casting Call

Monday, August 9, 2010

Time: 10am-3pm

Location: W Hotel Midtown

188 14^th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

What to Bring:

1. Two recent photos

2. A copy of your resume

3. A COMPLETED application (found at www.FoodNetwork.com/star)     

For more information or questions please e-mail us at nfns7atlanta@gmail.com or visit www.nfns7casting.com.

Calling All Disastrous Cooks

It was Thanksgiving and my mom was visiting. She brought all the fixins' for a proper traditional meal to my little apartment in Buckhead. That morning we turned the oven to pre-heat and waited, and waited, and waited. Oops. It didn't work. And I had no idea how long it had been broken. A helpful neighbor with oven space to spare saved the day and my landlord quickly replaced my oven with a brand new one. Fast forward one year later to the next Thanksgiving. Same scene. Mom turns the oven to pre-heat and, after a few minutes, a weird smell fills the air. A quick inspection turned up the melting plastic-covered instruction manual inside. Yeah. Oops again.

I was reminded of this true story when we got an email from the Food Network about their new show for "hopeless home cooks" and those who are "totally incompetent in the kitchen." Details are below if you, or someone you know, want to apply. Please note that I will not see you in line although I qualify!

Food Network is looking for the most disastrous home cooks in
Atlanta to participate in a very different
culinary competition show!


This is the opportunity of a lifetime—to work with the best chefs in the country and learn to cook like a professional. Seeking people with a genuine inability to cook, but a need and desire to improve!

NOMINATE YOURSELF
Has your wife told you it was probably better if you ordered take out?
At the big potluck dinner, are you always asked to “just bring the napkins?”

NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW
Is someone you know constantly offering you food that you have to turn down?
If you know a dad/mom who can’t scramble an egg, a colleague who can’t convince anyone to try their culinary creations, or a guy friend who tries but can’t seem to get it together in the kitchen, this is your chance to get them the help you BOTH need!
OPEN CALL ATLANTA
W Atlanta
188 14th Street NE, Atlanta GA 30361
Saturday, May 1st
9am – 3pm
*Please bring a dish that represents your cooking

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY:
WE ARE CONDUCTING CASTING PHONE INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK, SO PLEASE APPLY ASAP!!!
Email us at worstcooksatlanta@gmail.com
Tell us why you (or the person you are nominating) is the most disastrous cook in the country
Include name, age, hometown, occupation, contact phone number, and a recent photo of the hopeless cook
Additional information & application available at worstcookscasting.com

Atlanta’s Up & Coming Restaurateurs – TV is calling you!

Get cookin'!

If you follow the Atlanta culinary scene, then you know that it is a hotbed of constant new activity! What bad economy?? Here comes a march of delicious new burgers, piping hot new pizzas, new pubs to check out, new fine dining for date nights – you name it, and Atlanta’s hopeful restaurateurs will give it a try to see if it sticks.

If you’re one of those hopefuls with pipe dreams of making it big with local food lovers, it could be your chance to shine in the spotlight – we just heard about a new Food Network Atlanta based restaurant reality TV show that will feature just such folks called “The Openers”!

You must be a first time restaurant owner (with an award winning personality and fantastic team, naturally) that will be opening within one to six months from now, and your new hotspot cannot be a chain or franchise. If your restaurant will be full service and serves alcohol with at least 30 seats and needs or wants the help of a restaurant consultant, then make sure to click on over to We Sell Restaurants to find out more information about the opportunity to be a big star on the small screen!

Are You A Food Network Star?

The Food Network is hitting the road to look for their next batch of contestants for The Next Food Network Star. The hit show will be airing its sixth season and is looking for both professional and amateur chefs that think they have what it takes to host their own show on the Food Network.

Luckily for those of us in Atlanta, there will be an open casting call this Monday, August 24 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the W Atlanta Midtown. To apply, Food Network is going to need the dish on you, so bring: two recent photos, a copy of your resume and a filled out application that you can download here.

The W Atlanta Midtown is located at 188 14th St. NE Atlanta, GA 30361. Questions on the casting can be directed to nfns6atlanta@yahoo.com.

Scoop Alert: Dinner with Paula

I just got off the phone with the organizers of Atlanta's second Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show (coming up April 18 - 19), and I got some fabulous scoop. They have just put tickets on sale for a special VIP book signing and supper with Paula Deen on Sunday, April 19 at 4:15 p.m.

This year's luncheon with Paula sold out in a matter of minutes so adding a second event is huge for Paula lovers. The event is limited to 160 people and tickets are $100 per person.

This year's event (and dinner with Paula) will take place at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

If you aren't a huge Paula fan, several other Food Network stars will be at this year's event. Tyler Florence will be doing a limited book signing on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Stay tuned for more scoop as we hear it!