George's Food Network Blog

I am in Paris enjoying the wonderful cheeses as your are ready to enjoy the wonderful awards ceremony. I am so jealous that you will all be watching it before me, but thats how things work out when you spend most of your day to day life traveling.


I cant type too much now as I am typing with a French keyboard and its driving me nuts. So, I would to like to know what you all thought of the Food Network Awards. Please feel free to post...

George

Well folks,

In just a handful of days you will be experiencing a show like no other. No, I'm not talking about the premiere of me hosting "The Secrete Life Of..." (Monday, April 23rd). I'm refering to the Food Network Awards! A night I will never forget because it's pretty much like the Oscars for food.

Get ready for a spectacular host (Emeril!) and watch how all of your favorite Food Network hosts are up on stage strangling each other in a pit of chocolate pudding.

Ok, I made that part up...but wouldn't it be great to see me and Giada chocolate wrestling. Oh, such wishful thinking!

Either way, the show is entertaining and full of surprises (yep...Catherine Zeta Jones!). And most importantly I will be hosting the red carpet with my new best friend...Marc Summers! Remember, it's this Sunday, April 15th!!!

GD

Back in February, all of the Food Network stars got together to celebrate a weekend of fine food and fabulous fans. Everyone keeps asking me what I loved most about being able to hang around other Food Network chefs, and the truth is that they are nicer and kinder than you could ever imagine!

I know South Beach pretty well (we had filmed about a year ago for the Exotic Foods episode for "Ham on the Street") and I remembered this spectacular Cuban diner called Puerto Sagua that made the best Cuban sandwiches and coffee. It was good home-made Cuban cuisine...fast and cheap. So this year during the Wine and Food Festival I decided to head there with my friends to show them what it was all about. I had this new dish called "Vaca Frita", which literally translates to "Fried Cow". It was pure beef heaven. Pulled beef that had been marinated in garlic, onions, and lemon juice, and then seared to perfection. I couldn't get enough, and neither could my friends.

Anyways, the next day was the shoot for the Food Network Awards and I was on my way from the hotel to the Jackie Gleason Theatre for rehearsals early in the morning. So was Bobby Flay and Cat Cora, so we all decided to share the same car service. "What did you do last night?" seemed to be the topic, as Bobby mentioned dining at Nobu ($$$$$) and Cat Cora was visiting her friend's restaurant ( I think it was Pearl-$$$$$), and all I could think about was Puerto Sagua (1/2$), and how much I enjoyed my fried cow. I think if I admitted to them where I had dined, they would have laughed pretty hard. But I did learn throughout the FN Awards that nobody is cooler and more supportive than the hosts at Food Network, and next time I head to Miami Beach I will be eating at Puerto Sagua, and letting everyone know where they can get the best fried cattle!

Cheers!

GD

Hi, folks!

It's an absolute honor to work with TVGuide.com and begin a blog destined to all of you Food Network junkies out there!

I'm especially excited about interacting with viewers and answering any questions or even gossip about shows. For example, did you know that I am now dating Paris Hilton? OK, maybe not, but at least now I have the medium in which to start these rumors!

Speaking of rumors, the big buzz at FN this week are the Food Network Awards (April 15 at 9 pm/ET). The first time I heard about the awards I wondered things like, "What type of awards are being given out?" and "I want one, too!" Unfortunately, I don't qualify for these awards as they honor the people, places and products that are making a delicious difference in our world today. As I said, I don't qualify.

Nevertheless, I will be host on the red carpet and playing around with Emeril Lagasse (the host for the evening) during the ceremony. What you don't know is all of the secret stuff that was said behind the scenes before and during the event.... And I've got it all! Stay tuned!