The Food Network's Sandra Lee is in Cresskill this week, taping an episode of her four-week special "Sandra Lee Celebrates" which will air on HGTV toward the holidays.
The episode, "Sandra Lee Celebrates: Holiday Homecoming" will air at 8 p.m. Nov. 28. Here's the desciption from her producers, who are taping through Wednesday:
Some of the ridiculous things I heard flipping channels the last few days:
"Popcorn artist is the equivalent of master chef," out of the mouth of a popcorn company's spokesman talking about the employees who add flavorings to popcorn.
The contestants for Season Six of "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox have been announced and two are from North Jersey. In fact, they're from a town away from each other.
Dave Levey, an executive chef who now lives in San Diego, is from Chester and James McGloin, a sous chef from Nashua, originally is from Mendham, according to FOX's publicists. The season begins in late July.
A few "Real Housewives of New Jersey" restaurant notes:
First, here's the infamous Danielle Staub giving Jersey restaurants a little love in the NY Daily News - mentioned are Varka in Ramsey, Sushi Lounge in Totowa and Cenzino and Portobello in Oakland (that's Staub dining there, above).
Second, I was curious just like the rest of you, so I called Lu Nello in Cedar Grove to see if their business had increased since the show came to visit and Teresa flipped a table there on national television:
How much should you tip the staff if you throw a huge tantrum in a restaurant and wind up shoving over a table?
Of course, I'm talking about the epic finale of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" that aired last night, and thankfully, Teresa's flip-out (which you can watch here) appeared to have taken place in a private room at Lu Nello in Cedar Grove. For those who can't get enough, the uncut version of the dinner disaster, dubbed "The Last Supper," will air at 9 p.m. Thursday on Bravo, along with "a shocking post-dinner gathering."
(If anyone else is counting, there was also an appearance last night by Cafe Amici in Wyckoff, but no table-throwing there.)
I've been enjoying "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" a little more than I probably should. The over-the-top antics are amusing, sure, but how fun are all the guest appearances by our local restaurants...
We've seen Marra's and Trattoria Fratelli in Ridgewood, the Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange, and Varka in Ramsey (which got probably the best exposure - a few "Oh I have to have that"-type comments regarding the menu, plus a long heated discussion in front of its sign).
Bazzini at 28 Oak Street's makeover from Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" television show is complete, or nearly so.
Outside, the restaurant now sports a silver and black sign that proclaims BAZZINI. The two large windows are emblazoned with large B's (although the one on the left still has a large crack in the bottom), which stand out when large, white shades are drawn.
The taping of "Kitchen Nightmares" at Bazzini at 28 Oak Street in Ridgewood will continue tonight with a "red carpet" for a "grand reopening," a crew member said today.
Who will be there? "Local dignitaries are coming," she said. "Some people who are celebrities from the area are coming."
Bazzini at 28 Oak Street in Ridgewood is already in the midst of its makeover from Gordon Ramsay, even though the restaurant's grand reopening for its "Kitchen Nightmares" taping isn't until Wednesday.
The restaurant has lost its Poconos resort look, with its wall of mirrors replaced by what appears to be a violet-colored wall with a faux finish. There are still two distinct dining rooms, and the floorplan looks unchanged.
BILL PITCHER is an editor in the Features department of The Record and Herald News and previously was a freelance food writer and restaurant reviewer. He was born in New York's Hudson Valley and was raised in the southern Adirondacks.
E-mail: pitcher@northjersey.com
ELISA UNG has been the restaurant reviewer and dining columnist for The Record since 2007. She's a native of Southern California and a graduate of the University of Southern California, and she spent eight years writing for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
E-mail: ung@northjersey.com
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