The Food Section: Appetizers

"Top Chef" Overload: Twitter Edition

The "Top Chef" premiere will be tweeted: "We def have a culinary boner about tonight's premiere."

Samantha Bee Cooking Up Chef Sitcom for CBS

"Daily Show With Jon Stewart" correspondents Samantha Bee and Jason Jones (who happen to be married in real life) are penning a chef-based sitcom for CBS.

According to Variety, "The couple would also star in the as-yet-untitled comedy, which will revolve around the behind-the-scenes world of a celebrity chef (played by Jones) and the two women who run his cooking empire (one of whom will be played by Bee)."

On a scale of 1 to 10: Samantha Bee's and Jason Jones' sitcom [ew.com]
'Daily Show' duo set for CBS sitcom [Variety]

Batali, Paltrow Italy-Bound

Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow, currently doing press for their culinary road trip through Spain, have signed on for a second series touring Italy.

Competitive Eating Coming to TV

A reality program in development for The Food Network is described as "a cross between an eating competition and 'The Amazing Race.' Two teams of contestants rush to various Los Angeles eateries and gorge themselves in face-stuffing challenges."

Iron Chef...Secrets

ABC's "Nightline" confirms that "Iron Chef" contestants are told of the episode's (not so) secret ingredient before the show.

Less Carbon, But All the Fat

The new Emeril Lagasse show, "Emeril Green," is low on carbon emissions, but high on calories.

I Spy Top Chef

Next season's "Top Chef" contestants have been spotted in New York City.

The Tele-vomitorium

On the new television series "Hurl!," contestants eat as much as they can in one sitting and then exert themselves in a strenuous physical activity. The one who eats the most and vomits the least is crowned the winner.

Top Chef for the Tiger Beat Set

Bravo has announced the development of "Top Chef Junior" (working title), a version of the "Top Chef" reality series for children ages 13 to 16. No joke.

Alibi: I Was Eating Local

On Law & Order, a deranged Robin Williams uses locavorism as an alibi. Also, there's a pillow fight with Mo Rocca.

Coming Soon: Donatella TV

According to a press release, a reality series about New York City restaurateur Donatella Arpaia is currently in development for Bravo. Oddly enough, her splashy web page, donatellastyle.com, which once looked like this, now points to "Pebbles Pub" in Baltimore. It's an obvious glitch, but we'd love to see a show about what Arpaia could do with this bar.

Fat Duck, Road Food

Renowned chef Heston Blumenthal (of Fat Duck fame) will overhaul a branch of Little Chef, a British roadside restaurant chain, for an upcoming television series. His ideas will then be implemented in all 193 Little Chef outlets, famous for their "Olympic Breakfast" of bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms, potatoes, baked beans, and toasted or fried "bloomer bread."

Rachael Ray, the Cartoon

The highly animated TV cook and talk show host will be, well, animated in a forthcoming cartoon.

Last Restaurant Standing

Ever wanted to open your own restaurant? A new BBC America reality show will follow nine couples as they compete to open an eatery within one week. Chef Raymond Blanc hosts the series and will provide financial backing for the winning team to open their own new restaurant.

Made in Spain

Washington, DC-based Spanish chef José Andrés will host a 26-episode Spanish cooking series, "José Made in Spain," that will debut on public television in February 2008.

Screen Cuisine

Television characters and the food they eat.

Richman on Bittman

Food critic Alan Richman approves of Mark Bittman's wardrobe, affable personality, and lack of "hard-core cooking" on his new PBS show, "The Best Recipes in the World."

Batali to Telemundo?

The Chicago Tribune reports that chef Mario Batali has signed with the Spanish government to create a bilingual cooking show that will eventually air on on Telemundo. Apparently, Batali also plans to co-author a book for pregnant women on "what to eat when you're expecting."

Freaky Eaters, the Show

TV: The BBC program "Freaky Eaters" profiles people with bizarre dining habits. Take, for example, this food phobic man who eats only Cheddar cheese (preferably grated, mind you) and has never consumed a hot meal in his life.

Top Chef: Cue the product placement.

TV: Top Chef: Cue the product placements.

Carr on Ray

TV: Media critic David Carr explains the Rachael Ray phenomenon: "Oprah taught us we can be better human beings. Martha taught us we can do better than is humanly possible. And Ms. Ray? She thinks better is overrated. Now, you want some nachos and a cold one to go with that?"

Buford on The Food Network

TV: In the New Yorker, Bill Buford on the current state of the Food Network.

Cat Cora v. Rachael Ray: Hot or Not?

Hot or Not? "Iron Chef" Cat Cora follows in the footsteps of former FHM pin-up Rachael Ray with her own cheesecake photo spread in the lad mag.

Rachael Ray Chats New Show

TV: Rachael Ray chats about her upcoming talk show, which she pledges will avoid typical daytime fodder -- "no makeovers of 20-year-olds, not a lot of experts, no finger wagging, and no deep discussions."

Empress of Domesticity

TV: Japanese "empress of domesticity" and mayo maven Harumi Kurihara visits with New York Times staff writer Julia Moskin. Plus: NBC's Celebrity Cooking Showdown -- "not a show for foodies."

Inside Iron Chef America

TV: Inside Iron Chef America: "The whole thing's a sham!"

Now Casting

TV: Do you enjoy eating live octopus tentacles and insects? Enter a CBS casting call and you could appear on an upcoming episode of CSI:NY.

Reichl TV

TV: Is a sitcom based on Gourmet editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl's memoirs coming to HBO? Via ah.

Rachael Ray to Host Talk Show

TV: The food media juggernaut that is Rachael Ray continues to pick up steam, as Oprah Winfrey's production company has signed a deal with the TV cook (and former FHM pin-up) to host a daytime syndicated talk show.

Jack and Tony Bourdain

TV: New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni reviews "Kitchen Confidential," the new FOX sitcom based on the book by Anthony Bourdain. See also: The real Bourdain goes from celebrity chef to professional eater.

Kitchen Confidential, the Series

TV: Coming this fall from FOX, Kitchen Confidential, the television series, based on the book by chef Anthony Bourdain. The show promises to explore the "deliciously crazy world of upscale restaurants" through lead character "Jack Bourdain" (played by Bradley Cooper). Also starring that dude from Buffy.

Kitchen Con?

Television: Is the reality TV series "Hell's Kitchen" a fake? "Sources who have visited during taping tell me it's not a restaurant at all but a production set, complete with security checkpoints, green room, and hair and makeup area."