Portland Public Library

From scratch, inside the Food Network, Allen Salkin

eng

contains biographical information

platesillustrations

index present

non fiction

From scratch

852488494

Allen Salkin

inside the Food Network

"The autobiography the Food Network would write if it could write one--a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how one network launched one of the biggest cultural waves of the last 20 years"--, Provided by publisher"Big personalities, high drama--the extraordinary behind-the-scenes story of the Food Network, now about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary: the business, media, and cultural juggernaut that changed the way America thinks about food. In October 1993, a tiny start-up called the Food Network debuted to little notice. Twenty years later, it is in 100 million homes, approaches a billion dollars a year in revenue, and features a galaxy of stars whose faces and names are as familiar to us as our own family's. But what we don't know about them, and the people behind them, could fill a book. Based upon extensive inside access, documents, and interviews with hundreds of executives, stars, and employees all up and down the ladder, Allen Salkin's book is an exhilarating roller-coaster ride from chaos to conquest (and sometimes back). As Salkin takes us inside the conference rooms, studios, homes, restaurants, and after-hours meetings, we see a salty Julia Child lording it over the early network performers; a fragile Emeril Lagasse staggering from the sudden public shock of cancellation; a very green Rachael Ray nearly burning down the set on her first day; a torn Tyler Florence accepting the Applebee's job he knows he can't refuse, but with a chill running down his spine; a determined Bobby Flay reinventing himself once again to survive. Paula Deen, Tom Colicchio, Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali, Jamie Oliver, Martha Stewart, Guy Fieri, Cat Cora: Salkin illuminates the people we thought we knew, and the ones we never knew about, in this irresistible story of the intersection between business, television, pop culture, food-and us"--, Provided by publisher

Preface: Roll Over -- Prologue: A Final Toast to Emeril Live -- Starting from Scratch -- CNN with Stoves -- "Chefs Are the New Rock Stars" -- Bobby, Sara, Mario, and the Too-Hot Tamales -- BAM! -- Changing the Recipe -- New Owners Again!?! -- "Allez Cuisine!" -- You Reap What You Sow -- Comfort Food -- Noodle Roni with Blue Eyes : A New Kind of Star -- Competitors Sharpen Their Knives -- Channeling the Soul of a Chef -- A Ten-Billion-Dollar Prize -- Epilogue: June 2013