Chris Cognac

PM andew babar about Boston, I will not be logged on much as shooting is really chaotic and I live out of a suitcase stuffed with my shirts! I am glad they put it on at 930 this week...its (1030 tues night) is just really late for my audience I think as most of us have jobs and have to go to sleep...I would love to get a permanant 930 slot...good new though, ratings are up 17%...and the network has told me they recieved a ton of e mails...so thanks! and remember the Chicken...no sound effects....damn it was good...' Look at the guy in the blue shirt eating in the chicken place.....its Rod the BBQ cop from the earlier segment....we needed to use him for background and stuck him in one of my shirts...he was a trooper...but its kinda a neat story...there are a ton of those things in the show

Kim, its a lot like pork...but just a bit more intense, withi a hint of gameyness to it....Yea I lucked out as every dish kicked ass!

sheena, Andrew Babar will know where we are shooting....I think thhey want a chocolate segment so he is helping us....we will be shooting all day...at least 12 hrs.... David....dont know yet, wanted to do Anchor Line, its closed down...wanted to do the wreck....closed on Sundays....so its up in the air...

It was as real as it gets...no sound effects, it was that crunchy...after the shot was over, I stripped off all the crunchy stuff and just munched away....the crew got to eat it before but I had another dish since I wanted my reaction on camera to be tru and honest... We arive in Boston thursday the 9th and shoot the 10th...then fly to Charleston SC to shoot in place of Bowens Island which burned down a few weeks ago....everyone is welcome to come watch and be in the background....

I really liked Atlanta as it showcased food from many cultures....Mary Macs was amazing....it was huge, and yea the yeast rolls were fluffy and wonderful...Panahar is great, Alton eats there and loves it...it was a diverse program....thanks a ton...NYC is next week....and lets just say there is some serious BBQ porn!

I was wondering it myself....but none fell off while we were filming....although we took too long on a few takes and some got fried pretty bad on the inside....it was really good...so was that Chicken Tikka!

That was show #4 that we shot....they are not in order per se...we have to reshoot a segment in Charleston and boston 2 weekends from now..so those will air last....we shot NYC around #7 and DC just after that....the last shows are L.A. (finishing next weekend at Ragin Cajun and a killer taco stand) Chicago/Houston was the last trip we took and that was a few weeks ago.... Glad only 1 awesome made it in!....whew! so what did you think of the Panahar segment? We had to push to get that one in the show... Chris

Sandy this is making my hungry...and I just ate a really bad "california" cheesesteak, man what I would give to be in Philly now!

I really do try to get people to follow thier instincts....I mean how many of us have thought "man I bet that place is just great, but I dont know it doesnt look like much on the outside" and then kept on going.....If there is one thing I want people to get from the show, its to go out and try something new!

Egg Pizza...as in a topping? Is it scrambled or hard boiled...interesting! We did deviled eggs in Charelston, they were tasty! Now for the Gnocci...I prefer the red sauce but the white sauce is a must...but really rich...the crew was pretty evenly split among the 3 sauces....Asides from the cheesesteak, I would hit Mezzaluna again if/when I get back to Philly...its a must!

I give all the credit on the cheesesteak to Holly Moore and his help, he was a valuble assest for the production in Philly... Holly, Sandy and Katie....thanks again for everything...

The Gnocci was amazing... my fav was the red pomodoro which just burst w flavor....that was not a fake tasting, with the exception of the white sauce, I had not tasted the others prior to the camera turning on....my crew made short work of all 3 plates when the lights went off after the shot....

You know I had an "awesome" talk w Bob Tuschman in NYC....it wsa pretty funny, I didnt realize till I saw Vegas that I used that word so much....I was told "No Awesome" by the execs....

Thanks Jody, I wouldnt mind some Langers....have not been there since we went. Buzzdraft...oh yea...its the Whiz that makes it special....i am sure there will be plenty of debate about that.....but I prefer it....its all gooey and warm and cheesy....damn...too bad I live in L.A.!

Its not a bat man thing ..."its an independant thought and creative idea from our music guy"... Was the steve prince of steaks guy not Joe Pesci! Those were damn good steaks...Katie and Sandy....I did spot you guys in any of the shots...were those from when you guys were over in the corner? Oh, you guys have to try the gnocci at Mezzaluna...unreal....I would go for the tomato again...the gorganzola is incredible but really really rich....

I cant wait to see it....that show always makes me so hungry....

quick update, we are going back to Charleston to reshoot a segment since the tragic loss of Bowens Island restaurant where we had shot a fantastic oyster dinner scene....gonna be there around the 12th of nov for 2 days incase anyone wants to watch or hang out... Bowens Island was a big loss...one of my fav's of the entire series! Chris

Eldereno, the shoots take about 6 hrs per restaurant....I used to try and help w equipment etc...but ended up getting inthe way more than helping...but we have to decide on what dishes to order, how they will look etc...plus I pre interview some people and coordenate a lot of stuff w Sean Omalley the producer, film the enterances and stuff like that...clues, etc while a lot of the B roll food porn is getting shot.... cool thing, I got a call today from Geo the guy at Nora's in Vegas..he told me that on Weds night 4 people came in and told him they flew there from North Carolina, were going to eat dinner and then fly back home.....wow....didnt know anyone liked the food shots THAT much!

WE have some great cops on the show including a great detective in chicago whom I used as my chicago guy on a few criminal cases...we ended up putting a kiddy porn guy in federal prison on one case....it was really cool as we had never met, but talked on the phone a lot....he is my "informant" for pizza in chicago....we end up getting in his unmaked unit and going to eat....it was fun.... one of the points I wanted to show in the hungry detective is that there are a lot of good people who are in police work....and they like to help people and are really nice people...we get a bad wrap in the media so this is a nice nod to my brothers and sisters working 24-7 out there...in the snow, rain, heat...whatever...there is always someone on duty....and...that person knows where to eat! just did the voice overs for atlanta and nyc...nyc is looking nice....

In2Pastry....yea those places are a must....do order the coupon book from Las Vegas Advisor....its good as gold, I have gotten it the last few yrs....and Frank....Austin is on the short short list for any other shoots....even though many in the city dislike me and think David Bull was robbed on the Iron Chef I judged...

I just have to say that I love Target, I love the Archer Farms products they have, I think that anytime a big store tries to raise the level of the food and products being offered, more power to them. I intend to check out some of Mings stuff as soon as I get time to cook again. by the way, my wife Martha is going to target in a few mins....and they have a wine section now!

I respect your opinion, its not for everyone, but we did our best to make a show most people would like. Next week is the Philly show, its a bit grittier (since philly is not flashy Vegas) and the food is great...Riccotta Gnocci (yum)...but I guess if you are not into food/travel shows then you wont like it. PS I was looking at my avatar...I really miss flying in the helicopter..damn it was fun!

Daniel, Binions is pretty good...serious steaks..the night before the shoot we all eate dinner and I had a filet and a tail...both done to perfection...it is as OLD SCHOOL as it gets...great view, good service...and not nearly as expensive as on the strip....if you are planning to take a group, let me know and I will call Margie (the woman from the show) for you...she has taken good care of the people I send there... I can only say, go for the lobster...if you can cook it yourself...do it...it really was amazing and not at all a waste of lobster....as you will learn in the show...I eat a lot of lobster...speaking of....we found this place in Miami for Lobster Thermidor....in a fish market..with a killer patio on the Miami river....it was called Garcia's ....quoting myself it was "Awesome"!

Yep, I was on that other board and was offended at the meanness. It made me think, though. I wondered if my being offended had something to do with 'knowing' you from here. I am not sure if I've ever made a personal attack (as opposed to a real criticism) on line, but I have laughed at and enjoyed snarkiness at other's expense. But the targets weren't people I 'knew' and considered 'real', if you know what I mean. Hmmm. I have to do some soul searching, I think. ← I left a reply stating how I felt about it to the poster...I think they did not expect me to see the post let alone defend myself.... I guess it just makes some pathetic people feel good to put down others....thats pretty sad....I have always been and always be, about lifting up others and pointing out the potential in everyone....except the scumbags that I have to put in jail...they can rot in hell... People have often wondered why most TV personalities never come to internet sites, message boards and the like....my question is, would you?...I have a friend who had a TV show (not Alton) that was so excited and wanted to be able to answer questions and see what people thought....but people were so cruel to him he said he would never do that again.....

Pinched....yea, we have a set time for each act...they get shorter each one till the last, which is pretty short...so we try to fit all the stuff we can in....its pretty hard actually as we have to really figure out what is worth it.....its hard when you have so much good stuff as we did in several shows..