Food TV
The most welcome hour of programming on the Food Network recently is a show called Bringing Back the Bayou, an inspiring story about how the historical mainstays of the New Orleans restaurant industry are struggling to get back on their feet post-Katrina. Hosted by TVFN megastar Emeril Lagasse, the program reveals the damage done to his stable of restaurants (Emeril’s, Nola, Delmonico Restaurant & Bar, Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House) by both nature and vandalism, as well as the legendary Crescent City eateries owned by the venerable Brennan family (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Mr. B’s Bistro, the Palace Cafe, and others), Paul Prudhomme (K-Paul’s), Leah Chase (Dooky Chase), the Gustes (Antoine’s), and the Rodrigues (Galatoire’s). Some of these places were able to reopen in time for February’s scaled-down Mardi Gras, while others are still recovering. TVFN is bound to rerun this show, so keep an eye out for it… The newest reality cooking show is a competition to name America’s Top Chef. The show debuted on Bravo three weeks ago, featuring a group of 12 working cooks from around the country who compete in a series of weekly challenges designed and judged by New York chef Tom Colicchio, a representative of Food & Wine magazine, and a different guest chef each week. Along with the title, the winner gets a feature in Food & Wine, a performance spot at the upcoming Aspen Wine & Food Festival, a kitchen completely equipped with Kenmore appliances, and a check for $100,000. Two cooks had been eliminated at press time, and there are actually a few contestants who show some promise. The prizes look a lot more enticing than the restaurant jobs offered by other programs.
New Around Town
Kelly Ann Hargrove has returned to the post of director of the cooking school at the original Central Market (4001 N. Lamar, 456-3168) after a two-year stint in Fort Worth coordinating marketing for chef Tim Love and his Lonesome Dove Bistro. Welcome back, Kelly!… The most recent class at the Culinary Academy of Austin (6020-B Dillard Circle, 451-5743, www.culinaryacademyofaustin.com) celebrated their graduation concurrently with an open house designed to show off their new campus to the public and potential new students. CCA founder Steve Mannion and his staff began teaching in the new facility at the beginning of this year, leaving the school’s original location, a fully equipped commercial kitchen on Hancock Drive, available for lease… Congratulations to local chef Jeff Liu, owner of Bistro 88 and Noodle-ism, for being one of the Asian celebrity chefs who placed recipes in a new compilation entitled New Asian Cuisine, complied by Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa. The $14.95 paperback is available in local chain bookstores, on Amazon.com, and at Bistro 88.
This article appears in March 24 • 2006.