The Best Show on TV

Originally posted at Edible TV on July 28, 2008.

With all respect to Good Eats and Smallville, I now have a new favorite show. You see a few months ago I was given some advanced copies of the new season of a food/travel show from the HD network MOJO. MOJO is a network geared towards affluent males 18 – 35 and they have churned out some very innovative programming like Beer Nutz and Three Sheets. The latter features comedian and TV host Zane Lamprey traveling the globe getting drunk.Their shows are beautifully shot and their approaches are novel. And nowhere is the MOJO style better represented than in After Hours with Daniel. World renowned chef Daniel Boulud has long had a history of traveling to various cities visiting with old friends in the food industry and then throwing lavish after-hours dinner parties in their restaurants. MOJO sends a camera crew along to capture the fun.

After Hours is the best “food porn” on TV. On one episode Boulud shows up at Susan Spicer’s Bayona in New Orleans with a freshly killed goose – head, feet, and feathers still intact. On another he makes a dish using baby eels and then cons everyone at the table into trying a few of the little critters live. The guest lists are impressive, too. Sissy Biggers (whose web site features a vid of her eating the live eels), Eve Salvail (model, actress), and others from the entertainment world mingle with world class athletes, food writers, and chefs like Norman Van Aken.

The cameras capture a real experience – this is a genuine dinner party where many of the attendees are strangers or with only mild familiarity. The dialog is fun and unscripted and the food is absolutely mind boggling. The settings aren’t bad either as it is shot in some of the hottest eateries in cities like New York, LA, New Orleans, and Miami.

I now have a new food fantasy to add to my list. Somewhere between being a judge on Iron Chef: America and trying the tasting menu at El Bulli lies joining Daniel and gang for dinner, after hours of course. Season one of After Hours with Daniel is available on DVD and you can now download individual episodes from season two.

Tailgate Season is Upon Us

Football season is just around the corner so I will start giving you some suggestions and what not to make your tailgate experience as cool as possible.  I did a series for Current Magazine last year about tailgating in the SEC and I will revisit some of those articles to make sure you know where to go to get a bite to eat when following your team around.  I will also offer up the occassional recipe for your dining needs.

How about we start with a healthy Meatball sub that doesn’t taste healthy?

Everyday Gourmet Episode 1 $7 Dinners – pt.2 Meatball Subs:

First Weekend in August Food Festivals

Here’s a list once more compiled from the data at foodreference.com.  Pay oparticular attention to the ick factor festival, the Rocky Mountain Oyster Festival:

July 26-Aug 3, 2008  Baltimore Restaurant Week
Baltimore, MarylandJuly 30-Aug 3, 2008 

Maine Lobster Festival
Rockland, MaineJuly 30-Aug 3, 2008 

26th Annual Testicle Festival
Clinton, Montana
Rocky Mountain Oyster festival, serving deep-fried bull testicles.

August 1-2, 2008  45th Annual Old Time Harvest Festival
Jordan, Minnesota
Scott-Carver Threshers Association presents the 45th annual Old-Time Harvest Steam & Gas Engine Festival.August 1-2, 2008  13th Annual Bluesapalooza & Festival of Beers
Mammoth Lakes, California
An energetic lineup of blues talent and a grand tasting of microbrews from around the country.

August 1-2, 2008  Vintage Ohio
Lake County, Ohio
Vintage Ohio is a two-day festival in Lake County, Ohio which will feature Ohio wineries, many food vendors, arts and music. Wine will be available to taste, by the glass and by the bottle. There is a designated driver program and all ages are welcome.

August 1-2, 2008  Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
Olathe, Colorado
All the ‘Olathe Sweet’ sweet corn you can eat. Free contests, games, over 150 food, arts and crafts, carnival games, commercial, ride and novelty booths. The Agricultural Center features informative and educational exhibits.

August 1-3, 2008  Natchez Food & Wine Festival
Natchez, Mississippi
Royal Wine & Cheese Tasting, British High Tea, Brews on the Bluff, Tastings Along the River. Includes 5th Annual Martha White/Great River Road Biscuit Cook Off.

 

August 2, 2008  Brady’s World Famous Oyster Feed
Westport, Washington
Oysters served every way you love them!  Proceeds benefit clean water and scholarships.August 2, 2008 

Cortland Arts and Wine Festival
Cortland, New York
Amid glowing reviews and excellent survey results from the first event, the Cultural Council of Cortland County has decided make the Second Annual Cortland Arts and Wine Festival even bigger and better.

August 2, 2008  Blackberry Harvest Festival
Nelson County, Virginia
Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery. Family festivities including live music and crafts. Pick your own blackberries or taste wine. Bring a picnic or purchase food. Live entertainment.August 2, 2008  Kiepersol Estates Harvest Festival & Grape Stomp
Tyler, Texas
Come and celebrate the grape harvest with food, wine, music, and fun for the whole family. Old world grape stomp,children’s activities, unique vendors.

August 2-3, 2008  16th Annual Garlic Festival
Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan, New York
Like grapes, some varieties of garlic do better in certain places. Such a place is the Finger Lakes, where at present between 70 and 100 strains are cultivated.

August 2-3, 2008  Weekend Of Fire
Fairfield, Ohio
This year promises to be even better as people are already calling about the ‘close-to-home’ show featuring hundreds of fiery foods: hot sauces, salsas, barbecue sauces, mustards, snacks, ketchups, snacks, and more.

August 2-3, 2008  9th Annual Rocky Mountain Tea Festival
Boulder, Colorado
A wonderful opportunity to learn in a hands-on atmosphere from some of the leading experts in the field! Classes include workshops about Tea Basics, Exotic Teas, Blending Teas, Tea Leaf Reading, and more!

August 2-4, 2008  Louisiana Foodservice EXPO
New Orleans, Louisiana
The Louisiana Foodservice EXPO is THE premier foodservice event for the Gulf Coast. The 2007 EXPO drew 13,300 people who shopped 530 booths.

August 2-6, 2008  World Brewing Congress 2008
Honolulu, Hawaii
Five great brewing associations are coming together once again as an international brewing community to discuss product advances, state-of-the art technologies, and the latest research results.

August 3

, 2008  Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation
Salt Lake City, Utah
Savor the finest dishes and drinks prepared by the nation’s hottest chefs and mixologists, enjoy the best wines and bid in exciting live and silent auctions. All this to catch the more than 12 million children at risk of hunger and surround them with the nutritious foods where they live, learn and play!  100% of ticket sales help ensure no kid in America grows up hungry.August 3, 2008  Taste of Dorset
Dorset, Minnesota
‘Restaurant Capital of the World,’ food fest, family entertainment, music, games. Dorset is the Place to Be! One day food extravaganza.

August 3, 2008  Raspberry Festival
Cottonwood, Idaho
Come enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family with an arts & crafts festival, car show, quilt show, raspberry shortcake and more!

August 3, 2008  Vermont Fresh Network Annual Forum
Shelburne, Vermont
The Vermont Fresh Network will host a celebration of local agricultural and culinary heritage.