Chris Cognac

I have said it once aand I will say it again, they know exactly what they are doing, Scrips is looking like the are pushing Fine Living network for the "higher end" type stuff and food is more generic....its a smart move if you ask me....they can really go after specific advertising money on each network...why have 2 of the same thing....they are creating "brands" and I think when you look at both networks when they go into full swing, they will cover most of the spectrum of what people are looking for....and for the record, Juan Cruz is Dominican and speaks fluent spanish....and he has 2 shows on Food TV....but I do see where you are coming from...My wife will be getting a good look at the whole thing this weekend as she is going to be on Juans show this Saturday.

Since its being done by a city, I have full use of all the facilities....problem is there is no place that has 2 kitchens in the same room....but other wise I have a million kitchens to use. I will be using the outdoor kitchen at the new police station for the most part. I actually have a pretty well known L.A. chef that has agreed to come on...I should "challenge" him and let him take me to school in a cooking battle. I am also thinking of a cooking contest between the kiwanis and the rotary folks...that could be great...yea, that would work well, not to mention that those guys all run the city and various businesses inthe area...which couldnt hurt!

Yea I am all over that one...I just need to find a place with 2 kitchens in one room. I guess I could film in seperate kitchens but it wouldnt be as good. Finding Granny's would be no problem, I have my Cuban "Mother in Law" and one of the local prosecuters has offered up his Iranian Mom.....that would be a good start....battle chicken I am thinking!

I kinda like that....but I think it would be hard to get the recipes from all the shows in 1/2 hr! I am doing the low budget show for cable and working on a few other things now for a larger market...but its in the early stages, and again...with no money!

We add some good salsa to ours for a California kick...My moms from Alabama so I grew up eating it every new years day

Tony is going to be shooting a 1 hr show for fine living in the next 2 months that should be really great. Its going to focus on great drinks and people who make them across the country...I had the producer up in my helicopter last night! Thanks $50...wish the photos were in the online edition, oh well...cheap newspaper!

No I have not done that yet. I am tempted to go to Tijuana to get some though....have to wait till my next san diego trip!...great avatar!

I just wrote an article on Tony, nice guy and he makes great drinks! Here is the link if anyone cares...there are a few of his recipes in the article. http://www.dailybreeze.com/rave/articles/1161657.html

well...it was good...really good, one of if not the smoothest rum I have ever tasted.

Only a few more hours till we open it. I think I will drink it neat, since I will be drinking with my Cuban in laws.

This is a rum from Guatamala which is the same place that produces Zaya, my absolute favorite. I also purchased a few good cigar's to go with it, gonna crack it xmas eve. Anyone ever tried this rum before and any thoughts?

does a burger like this exist at the beer barrel pub? Could be worth a trip to PA to consume that bad boy!

It's a long drive but Chitza Nitza is incredible and something I will never forget! My friends have all said Xcaret is a must as well.....Enjoy that blue water....

Skillet filled w potatoes, topped with poached or over easy eggs, sausage, cheese then covered in salsa or enchilada sauce and baked till good and gooey..oh yea!

I will be checking first to see what the deal is of course in fact I am having breakfast this weekend to discuss it. I have to mention this...why the hell am I defending myself for wanting to eat some dinner and share it with my friends from e gullet whom get together to share dining experiences in the L.A. area. We only gain by our open mindedness and willingness to experience other cultures through foods.

My wife loves Ina Garten...I am begining to like her as wel...I want to be her husband Jeffrey...man that guy must eat well! Thanks Foodie52...did I mention that Texas rocks and I would live there in a second!

The bottom line for me, is the food network allows me to sit in my chair, watch some TV and enjoy myself at the end of a 10 hr day. It makes me happy and relieves some pent up stress. I am not a big mark summers fan, but my son is cause he is the guy on "double dare" on Nick TV. Its also better than watching the death toll from the days events on the news over and over....I dont like everything on food network (Dwezil and Lisa) but I like most of it....I would rather be easy to please and happy than hard to please and pissed off at everything!

Well...we could not be crashing any party and we will show the utmost respect for being allowed to eat there. We will also be dining with Japanese nationals who are my friends that go there. You seem to think that we are just going to find out where this place is and bash the door down, come on give me a little credit I am not a complete bumbling moron with no sophistication or etiquite.

Giada is great, her show is simple and well done. I had the pleasure of hanging out on her "set" a few weeks ago and she is the nicest person, way down to earth, and let me tell you, the food I ate was really good..she made donuts from pizza dough rolled in sugar cinnamon...I could have eaten 1000! She is also prettier in person than on TV. I went that day with another one of the "favorites" Calorie Commando Juan Cruz, he is also a really nice guy, a good friend and pretty good chef (I have eaten his stuff a few times). He found his "thing" and is running with it...I can also say that he was upset by the comments left by the cruel people on the old Food TV boards... We wonder why people like Alton, Bobby, Mario and the likes dont hang out and post on the net more....Well if you had to endure all the cruel post and other stuff, just because you are doing something you love...would you post?..Yea I know Boundain posts but he has a pretty thick skin!

I think we want to eat there because "its there"..plus its supposed to be pretty darn good...and for me at least...its beef, cause if it was a fish place...I wouldnt go in a million years....there is also the journalistic element to it, althought I dont think I would write about it unless I had permission from the owner...but the bottom line....is its cool...I mean how many times do you really get to go to a "secret" place!

The more expensive one is 400 bucks....man that better be some pretty damn good food for 400 bucks....I can get a short trip to Hawaii for that!

L&L is average at best when compared to family run place like TnT cafe, Gardena Bowling Alley, Bruddah's and Bob's Ohana....its like the McDonalds of Aloha style food....it will do in a pinch, but only then.....but then again I live right next to the border of Gardena and have a multitude of places to choose from.

I think that might need to be looked at as 2 seperate items...Has the "Halal" movement of food had any influence as far as ingredients and what have Islamic food recipe's and chefs done to influence the trends in our food. I think that Islamic and arab food preperation has had a serious impact. The Shwarma, the Kabob or Skewer...flat bread...cooking with yogurt, in a tangine etc....all have affected modern food preperations....I would be remise if I did not add the Indian and Pakastani influence as well..

Bottom line is Food Network is a business like any other and it needs to make money for its shareholders. It seems to be doing well with the formula its using and has used Fine Living for the higher end stuff. I guess if people want ultra snobby fancy sophisticated food programing they are going to have to stick to PBS.. and speaking of PBS...the first Iron Chef is Flay vs Bayless..Food Network Vs PBS!

I just had an "Iowa" Maytag blue that was pretty good...what a suprise...Iowa!