Chris Cognac

I just got back from filming the great turkey test for my new TV show...We set up a blind tasting of 2 buck chuck vs a 30 dollar bottle of the same wine.... Muffin210 was on the tasting panel along 4 others.....the 2 buck chuck won 4 to 1...one of the ladies on the panel was mortified she choose the 2 buck chuck it made for classic TV!...and both myself and Muffin210 chose the chuck as well....doh, so much for our wine knowledge!

MTA....you took the bus? (sorry JFinLa)....wow that was brave of you!

Those are some cool pics...yea vending machines baby!

Check out Julia's for the view and fine dining..its in MoBay...and 3 dives is a must!...Also the patties at Country Country in Negril are good.

It doesnt! I used taco bell..mmmm tons of hot sauce!

Whatss the story on the PB and J thing, it looked interesting.

Wow..that looks like its worth a trip up north. Do they have the dinners often?

Dammit...I wish I knew of this place when I went to Memphis!

I heard from my sources that the Flay/Tsai match was the best one, I am looking forward to it...

Flay is going to take Tsai to school....but Bayless is another story...I think he is even worrried about him!

that is going to be interesting...If it is a desert theme, Mario is in for a run for his money!

Wow...amazing photos, nice job and thanks!

I could not imagine going on a 62 day cruise, you are my hero!..heck I have been on a few 7 day cruises and thought I was going to explode from all the good food....62 days!...Will you be able to give reports on the local food and places you try while on the cruise?

I think its a combo of alot of things, rushed production scheduales, lack of proper camera equip, not allowing the chef creative freedom all create a situation thats difficult to work in. Up and coming chefs with a first show dont have much say in how things are done or what things happen. When they get more popular, they get creative control and are able to relax. In Altons case, he produces the shows himself, thus eliminating alot fo those issues.

I know with Juan's show, he was told to stick to a script and it was really hard to do...He just finished filming the new season, this time at Food TV studios and supported by Rachael Ray's production crew from 30 min meals...He said it was awesome, he was allowed to improvise and chat....he also said that there are 5 camera's instead of only 3 when it was a Film Garden production....We will have to have a "viewing party" at a local place out here when it debuts just for fun

I talked to one of the chefs today, he said it was great and Pucks people really had it together. I was invited but had to work..what a bummer!

if you have a choice....there is a specific battle that should not be missed, it will be obvious which one I am talking about....go to that one!

i "think" I have seen this show....cool, but I cant tell what the giggling women are saying, so I dont know actually how cool it is...But it does not even come close to the spectacle of Iron Chef...

Its a way to keep my sanity and a distraction from my everyday life, I also feel that food is like art you can eat.

you are not going to believe who some of the challengers are....there is no way I am going to miss it!

I just did the low roller trip and wrote an article that will be out the 7th....I might roll high, but am still guessing, I dont even have a room and its 5 pm....I am going to be by myself, but with camera.....I will look for some inspiration!

I think I am going to Vegas in the morning for some soul searching and eating...thinking of Mesa Grill, but also some others...Will report back...Still debating low roller trip vs high roller trip..

Cheap, but good food at Ellis Island casino just off the strip...I was going to upload a photo I had on imagegullet prior to the new .org site, but cant get to it! There is a shot on my web site though...

If you want german meats and sausage's try Esbachs in Torrance around the 17700 blk of Western. La Espanola Spanish market as also amazing...its 25020 Doble in Harbor City.... lots of imported stuff... Victor's...if thats the one in Hawthorne he has been there for ever...in fact we shot that place up a few years back! Great meats!...but its not really a "deli" but you can order custom cuts

I was at the county jail today and just had to make the "detour" to Phillipes...I tried the cream of chicken and wild rice soup and a beef dip w swiss...pretty damn good, but hot as napalm(the soup)!...Phillipes is a must try for visiters!