TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Filled Up On Food Network Holiday Programs Yet? Let Us Indulge You

ADVERTISEMENT

By JEFF HOUCK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

If you missed the first wave of holiday programming on Food Network, check out these upcoming specials:

"Rachael Ray's Holiday Feast," 9 tonight. Rach puts down her IV Dunkin' Donuts coffee long enough to prepare a holiday supper, including Orange Balsamic Cornish Hens and Pepin Potatoes. Whatever those are.

"Paula's Party: Holiday Party," 10 p.m. Saturday. Part-time St. Pete Beach resident and "Dinner: Impossible" host Robert Irvine joins Paula Deen for a special "Christmas: Impossible" brunch challenge. Deen's son Jamie helps Mom make an eggnog custard pie. The Rockettes drop in. So does Amy Grant. I'm not making this up.

"Throwdown With Bobby Flay: Gingerbread," 10 p.m. Sunday. Flay challenges nationally recognized gingerbread artist Johanna Rosson of Macomb, Ill., to a throwdown. Because when you think gingerbread, you think Bobby Flay.

"Ace of Cakes: Charm City Christmas," 10 p.m. Dec. 13. Yes, it's another Rockettes-themed show on Food Network. (They're everywhere!) This time, Duff, Mary Alice and Geof design a cake in honor of the 75th anniversary of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular." No word yet if Duff joins the chorus line.

"New Year's Party," premieres 8 a.m. Dec. 22. How best to ring in 2008? If you're Emeril Lagasse, you do it without a new contract to do "Emeril Live!" We're sure he'll have plenty of fun doing this show, though.

GOLD RIBBON TIME: Speaking of Irvine, he'll receive the Culinarian of the Year award on Jan. 12 during the Cordon d' Or's Culinary Academy Awards at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg. It's the 22nd year the awards have been handed out but the first year the academy will do so publicly. The event, which will feature wine pairings with dishes prepared by local chefs, benefits the Abilities Foundation.

The Cordon d 'Or -Gold Ribbon Awards Program recognizes international culinary achievements. Nominees are selected by the Culinary Academy members, who cast votes to determine winners. You can see a complete list of award winners on my blog, The Stew, at TBO.com, keyword: Stew.

Tickets to the black tie-optional event are $150. For information, call Sandy Liberatore (727) 538-7370, Ext. 349, or to purchase tickets, go to AbilitiesFoundation.com.

MARGARITA MADNESS: Can someone please explain why there are so many margarita makers on the market? I counted no less than five in one department store when I went out on Black Friday morning to do some shopping.

Oddest brand name: The Margarator. Made me think I was getting a cocktail from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

MORE NOIR: The second Web edition of Cuisine Noir magazine is online at CuisineNoir .com (free registration required). The magazine covers African-Americans in the culinary industry. The bimonthly online zine is the work of chef Richard K. Pannell, who started the site.

"Because I wasn't seeing the representation out there, I decided to create our own vehicle instead of complaining about it," he said.

HYDRO HO, HO, HO: Santa Claus will visit Hydro Harvest Farms from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 16 and 23.

The farm, at 1101 Shell Point Road E. in Ruskin, grows food hydroponically. Folks there report there are big red strawberries ready for "U-pick," as well as potted Christmas trees that can be planted after the holidays. For information, call (813) 645-6574 or go to Hydro- HarvestFarms.com.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and six other locations are accepting reservations for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. To find out about hours and locations, go online to ColumbiaRestaurant.com.

Note to all restaurant owners: If your restaurant will be open during Christmas or New Year's, drop me a line at jhouck@tampatrib.com, and we'll include it in a listing.

WE TRIED IT, WE LIKED IT: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Boursin cheese, the company produced a creamy apple, cranberry and cinnamon flavor that is available through December. If you like those, look next year for bite-sized nuggets of garlic and herb cheese called Toppers.

Hungry for more? Read Jeff Houck's multimedia food blog, The Stew, at keyword: Stew.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT