My annual run in with a food network celebrity

It seems to be almost an annual tradition for me to run into a food network celebrity although my past encounters involved me being out of town and with other Roadfooders.

My first encounter was almost 4 years to the day at the Lexington Market in Baltimore when Signman and I ran into Mark Silverstein former host of "the best of" series

My next encounter was back in 2007 when the NYC Brooklyn Pizza Crew and I ran into Mario Batali at Totonno's in Brooklyn.

Then last year,  Travelin Man and I caught a glimpse of Guy Fieri at the College world series in Omaha

Well, this evening,  I was alone and it literally happened in my own backyard. I was on my way home from work, and stopped at a local Rhode Island Supermarket called Dave's Marketplace in East Greenwich, just across the street from my office. I didn't notice the line of people out the door and half way across the shopping center but what I did notice when I walked in was
Emeril Lagasse sitting down for a book signing.

Well, I guess I have to wait another year or so before I run into yet another foodnetwork celebrity.

Haha, that's great. Did you wait in line? I really like Emeril...he seems like such a jovial guy....now Guy I could do without but that's neither here nor there.

Did you get a word in with any of the other guys?

Now "foodnetwork celebrity" is a little bit of an oxymoron but I know what you're saying. I'd care only to run into Alton, Mario or Emeril....maybe any of the Deans or Bobby....okay and Giada....or Ina....I have a love hate with most of 'em....I'd even like to bump into Rachel if she had had a few to drink

Emeril Lagasse would be a good meet up. My daughter in northern Virginia was picked out not once, but twice, to be interviewed at a Whole Foods Market by Emeril Lagasse for some kind of show segment or promotion he was doing.

My closest encounter with a food celebrity was Anthony Bourdain friended me unsolicited on Facebook and sent me a personal email when he did it. Pursuing Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches was the first group he joined on Facebook.

Locally (Minneapolis/St. Paul) my best odds would be to meet Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel Bizarre Foods fame.

I have met Buffetbuster so what else do I really have to look forward to?    wanderingjew? 

Davydd that's a pretty awesome Bourdain story!

Guy Fieri was at a joint about two blocks from where I work about a month ago.  Didn't go.

I find it more exciting than meeting a movie or TV type star.

Here's mine:

Emeril at a Firey Food Show in NOLA

Guy Fieri when I went to Fab Hot Dogs and was locked out because he was inside filming

Martin Yan when I was at a prune cook-off in Yuba City, CA

Nick Stalino when he came in to my store!  That was the coolest because we talked for a long time.

ETR

Yes we did engage in a brief conversation with Mark Silverstein at the Lexington Market.

This should answer your question regarding Mario



I could have approached Guy Fieri, but I just didn't really have the desire, he was walking directly in front of us as we were watching the game and I was thinking "oh it's Guy Fieri, now back to the game".

Emeril was unapproachable- he was sitting down, the area was roped off and secured and the line as I said was out the door, I don't have his book and even if I did, I just wouldn't have the desire to wait in line.

Davydd

Since you were bestowed the privelage of meeting Buffetbuster, it's all downhill from there.
I know the Twins Schedule is out. I know I plan ahead but I'm already to pre-occupied with February's trip which seems to be in a holding pattern right now. For some reason June is sticking out as an ideal time period, I may decide to divide my heartland trip into north and south and do the North In June and then South, later on in the summer.

I would find running into a Food Network celebrity (or any celebrity for that matter) more of an inconvenience than anything else. It would be sure to cause some roadblock or large crowd in the store/restaurant when normally there would not be one.   

Wasn't I there?



Mario would like me.

I work with quite a few celebrities.  For the most part people are curteous and leave them alone.  

Speaking of running into celebrities, and I mean running into, I was in downtown Toronto when Muhammad Ali was there to fight George Chuvalo in 1966. I was pulling out of an alley way and almost hit Ali. His eyes lit up and started pounding on my car hood, making the smack talk, and going into his fighting posture. That was an act. He stopped, smiled and walked on. He had two body guards that dwarfed him in size. They didn't smile. Hey I was just a college kid making an across the border run.

mar52
Martin Yan when I was at a prune cook-off in Yuba City, CA

Aside from Alton, Yan would probably be the one I'd like to meet the most...I grew up watching him.

WJ, that picture is great!

Davydd that is an amazing story. I would have been terrified

wanderingjew


This should answer your question regarding Mario

Mario was fun.  I think we all noticed the neon orange Crocs and than figured out that it was him.  He was friendly and engaging - and...we waited until he was through with his meal (with his family and/or friends) before we bothered him for the photo.

I had a few good minutes of conversation with him while the flash bulbs were popping.  He was very interested in what we were doing (a tour of the pizza joints in NYC).  He thought we made some pretty good choices - and didn't seem upset that we weren't going to his place!

Mario was fun. I think we all noticed the neon orange Crocs and than figured out that it was him.

Haha, I can't believe he wears them even when he's out. Talk about an endorsement.