The Big Reveal: Introducing The FN Dish
Today's my birthday--I'm 29 today--and though I'm usually a birthday junkie, exhausting friends and relatives with desperate cries for attention, presents, phone calls, etc--my focus is not on my own birth today. Instead, it's focused on the birth of something that's been gestating for the past three months; a project so big, so exciting, it's been almost impossible contain it. And now I finally--finally!--get to share it with you. Are you ready America? Are you ready Lithuania? Here we go... I proudly present to you: The FN Dish!
What's The FN Dish? What's going on? What are you talking about?
Settle down, reader! Allow me to explain it. The FN Dish is my very own show on Food Network's website (hey look, my mug is on the main page!), a show that will allow me access to Food Network's stars, kitchens, events, and giant cookbook collection. But even more than that, this is a platform for me to share my love and passion for food and cooking: with Food Network's blessing, I'll get to steer the show into the kitchens of my favorite chefs, authors, and people--celebrating all of the food-related ideas, recipes and stories that excite me, excite you and that make you check this blog every day.
I can't tell you how ecstatic I am about this show. Maybe I should stop yammering on and let you watch the first episode--click here to do that.
Wasn't that fun? And now that you've seen that, watch longer versions of my interviews with Alton Brown, Bobby Flay, The Neelys, and Rachael Ray. And then join me as I watch and comment on Ace of Cakes and The Barefoot Contessa. Finally--and best of all--you've got to watch these 23 Awkward Seconds with Rachael Ray. See, they sat her down and I introduced myself and then it got weirdly quiet. The discomfort, as you'll soon see, is palpable. I love it.
Actually, that last clip captures best what I love about this whole thing: I get to be me--strange, uncomfortable, nervous, anxious, excitable me--I get to ask the questions I want to ask, I get to react naturally to whatever circumstances they put me in. And I feel that my loyal readers--and I count you among them--will be grateful that the "me" they've grown to love, won't become a different "me" just because there's a Food Network stamp on it.
It being "me."
What was I saying? Oh yes, The FN Dish. Isn't this exciting? As you can tell, I'm stoked. And you have no idea how much awesome stuff I've already done for future episodes: there's a trip to Cleveland, a California wine tasting, an intern cook-off. It just gets better and better and this Thursday I leave for South Beach to cover the Wine and Food Festival.
I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally get to share this with you. Of course, once the excitement dies down I'll be happy to answer questions about meeting the stars, where the show is headed, incorporating your ideas for what you'd like me to cover. But in the meantime, let's wish a happy birthday to The FN Dish. It's going to be a great year.
