Hungry Detective Premieres!

[Chris Cognac]

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!

Edited October 20, 2006 by Chris Cognac (log)

[Carolyn Tillie]

PS I was looking at my avatar...I really miss flying in the helicopter..damn it was fun!

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But, Chris -- are you at least trying to keep up in maintaining flying hours so that you'll be able to go back in the air?

[In2Pastry]

Fantastic show Chris! I just caught the Vegas episode. My husband and I can't wait to visit a few of those places when we go in December!

Keep up the great work.

[franktex]

Enjoyed the show Chris, and I appreciate the fact that you read post, and I think most here do to. Looking forward to the rest of the season!

FM

[Chris Cognac]

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...

[Jaymes]

Interesting that one guy said the show was a "yawner." I suspect that the quality he didn't like is the exact same quality I liked so much. And that is that it was easy and comfortable and friendly. I found myself smiling often.

I, too, liked the 'shirt' thing, and also hope you really play up the 'cops' aspect. I can't tell you how enjoyable it was seeing our boys in blue on an informal, 'human' basis. I'd even like to see you open each episode with a visit to a local police department. There you are...and there they are...and where do you guys eat?

It's a great angle. On so many levels. For one thing, there's lots of opportunities, I'd think, for humor and inside jokes, and the cops kidding each other. Like, "Ask Pete over there...you can tell by looking at him that he knows where the good food is."

[Chris Cognac]

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....

[Kim Shook]

We will be on our way to NC to visit my folks Tuesday night (Philly night), I've already told them that we want to watch the show (our first night there). They are ok with it! Kim

[eldereno]

Sorry I missed the show the first airing but caught it this afternoon. Good job, Chris. You looked mighty comfortable for it being the first episode! You were very engaging and seemed to be enjoying yourself immensely (though....were you really when you have such long shoots and so much waiting?) What I mean is...even though television shooting is so tedious and hard, you still came across looking like it was totally fun and were having a great time with those your met and the food you ate. Looking forward to future episodes.

[Chris Cognac]

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!

[Joann]

Chris,

What a pleasure-the show is original, a first-rate production, and thank goodness, you're not showcasing mail order goodies from each location. The shirts are destined to become the topic of their own thread as well as show "markers" (Chris wore that on episode X identifier) You'd have to be in season 20 to get to Augusta

[Varmint]

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!

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We North Carolinians are crazy like that!

[markabauman]

Just got back from a week in Las Vegas and am kind of bummed out that I missed the show. Could have used some advice while out there! Not that I'm a huge FoodTV fan, but like probably a number of other eGulleters, probably have a selective love/hate relationship with the network. There was no FoodTV on my hotel tv, despite it being a fairly upscale place. Someone told me, and I don't know if this is true- they don't want to make certain activities like watching TV in your room too accessible, so that you'd be more likely to get out of the room and into the casinos, etc. Looking forward to future episodes! By the way- spotted Emeril while out there- at a party, not at one of his places.

[Chris Cognac]

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

[Holly Moore]

Hope somehow you can still give Bowen's its props on the segment. They'll be back.

[BuzzDraft]

Just watched the Philly show...

I really enjoy this premise and format. Who else but a detective could walk the beat and dig up clues that lead to the best hidden food places in these cities? And who has a better reputation for appreciating mom-and-pop neighborhood places than a cop?

One thing only a late Eisenhower-era child like me can appreciate is the scene transitions - the music and spinning graphic is borrowed right from the original Batman series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. That show was right in my wheel house, and I appreciate the tip of the cap. It's like Chris is solving a crime by the Riddler. "WHAM!"

"Holy Cheese Whiz, Hungry Detective!"

P.S. Do you have a marketing deal for the shirt line yet?

P.P.S. When are you going to introduce me to Nigella?

Edited October 25, 2006 by BuzzDraft (log)

[Chris Cognac]

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....

[BuzzDraft]

I'm re-watching it as I type here, and you're right. That guy is a more than Joe Pesci, he's a characature of Joe Pesci like the old SNL skits. At first I had to check I wasn't watching "Easy Money". Is the Cheese Whiz part of the legit Philly cheese steak? Everyplace around here uses melted cheddar.

No disrespect to the "Any rebroadcast of this event without the expressed written consent of major league baseball is strictly prohibited" thing, but the independent thought and creative music from your music guy really makes me re-live my Batman days. I even had the cowl and cape. Chick magnet it was... well, for an 8 year old. If I wear that stuff now I get a free night in jail.

Can I use my one call to reach you as a character reference?

[JFLinLA]

Hey Chris -- Congrats, man from one of your original So Cal eG friends. When do we hit Langers again for some great pastrami? Actually, I'm having lunch there tomorrow. BTW, my new Langers standard is that I get soup or something else for lunch and then have the counter pack me some great sliced rye and pastrami to take home for the family for dinner that night. Warm up the pastrami in the oven, wrapped to keep moist, their fresh rye and we're in business on a hectic week night.

As for the rest of you, Chris is one of the originals. A regular guy who just loves food and has a great attitude. He's one of the early e-Gulleteers. I'm just thrilled that he got discovered. Wherever this takes him, I'm happy to watch it unfold.

Jody

[Chris Cognac]

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.!

[tejon]

Chris, you can make a respectable cheese steak at home, too. Get some sliced ribeye at your local 99 Ranch market (they have a great selection for shabu shabu), grab some onions and cheese wiz, and hunt down a decent roll. OK, that last part will be hard, but you'll find something decent. Cook the sliced ribeye just like you saw, adding the grilled onions at the end and scooping all that goodness into a roll. Then slather with warm, melted wiz. Not exactly the same, but pretty damn good to this ex-Philadelphian.

I realize these are fighting words. But I stand by them

Great show. Brought back a lot of good memories and made me want to fly back and eat!

edited because I cannot spell

Edited October 25, 2006 by tejon (log)

[srhcb]

Okay, how many l's in Phil(l)adelphia?

SB

[Kim Shook]

Chris, We really enjoyed the Philly show. Now another reason to travel up. Is the gelato place the same place that all the Philly egulleteers have talked about on here? Mr. Kim made the Joe Pesci connection immeadiately ! I said he was scaring me a little. Kim

[moosnsqrl]

Katie and Sandy....I did spot you guys in any of the shots...were those from when you guys were over in the corner?

I strained to see Sandy (I'm afraid I wouldn't know Katie if I saw her) but, alas, no luck. I guess your 15 minutes are still intact.

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 hope you know I went to bed and dreamed about those gnochi! I think I'll have to make some tonight, if I want to get some shut-eye. I was just glad the S.O. turned in early - if he'd seen that apricot sorbetto, I would have been sent to an all-night grocery ISO decent fruit and spent the night trying to recreate it.

That, to me, is what is making the show work. Yes, there are lots of similar shows on, some might well argue too many. But despite all the yumming, oohing and aaahing, I have rarely seen anything that makes me want to either jump on a plane or at least run to the kitchen because I HAVE to have some of that RIGHT NOW. It's fairly clear Chris is actually enjoying what he's eating and and not just faking a food orgasm for the camera. Oh, and congratulations - I listened carefully and don't believe I heard one "awesome" in the whole Philly installment - your shock/aversion therapy must've worked.

[Chris Cognac]

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....