Food Network hasn’t officially announced this yet
….so we’re leaking the news to you:

On Monday, Food Network will announce our nation-wide talent search for the 2010 season of The Next Food Network Star. But TODAY, we’re giving you a heads up on the yet-to-be-released audition dates on The FN Dish!

Phoenix, AZ – Wednesday, July 8, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Embassy Suites Phoenix/Scottsdale
4415 East Paradise Village Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Chicago, IL – Sunday, July 12, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Affinia Chicago Hotel
Chicago, IL 60611

Austin, TX – Friday, July 17, 2009 from 10am-4pm
Hyatt Regency Downtown
208 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704

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As Bob Tuchsman’s assistant my job is to manage his schedule (i.e. make sure he’s on time for meetings) and keep my eye out for the next big talent. Which is easier said than done since: A) Bob has a schedule that rivals that of President Obama and B) There is only one Rachael Ray. I’ve been his assistant for 2 and ½ years, and let’s just say that I’ve learned more than a couple of things:

1. Bob’s phone line is not the complaint hotline.
Yes, I know that your upset that Emeril was canceled, and I’m sorry that you’re having difficulty finding the latest Unwrapped episode, but calling the network and asking to be transferred to Bob Tuschman’s office isn’t the best way to getting your complaints heard. We have a complaint hotline, and the number is (865) 560-3663…for my sake, please use it.

CONTINUE READING

(image courtesy Marlene Ramirez-Cancio)

Continuing once again with the food pareidolia thing, a friend of Jonathan‘s snapped this picture over the weekend. While it’s hard to tell whether the popcorn is simulating something else or whether something else is simulating popcorn, I’m hoping for the sake of food safety that it’s the latter.* Which I guess would make it reverse pareidolia, or a simulacra of pareidolia? My head hurts.

(*That said, I have actually consumed an actual popcorn ball precisely once, about 10 years ago, at a bake sale outside a somewhat creepy concert, so for all I know they could all be like this, so grain of salt, people.)

Rupa Bhattacharya, Culinary Writer

(Ok, actually it’s beef.) And, though I’m grateful to El Pollo Loco (caution, sound) for digging through the 37-page ingredient document to reveal the hidden chickencow, gotta wonder what the motives were there, especially with this comment from EPL’s president and chief exec: “I can assure you that you won’t find any beef in El Pollo Loco’s fresh, natural, citrus-marinated chicken cooked over an open flame right in front of our guests.”

I mean, hey, always good to know there’s no beef in the chicken. (Or, for that matter, the fries.) And hey, it’s only been 152 years since the Sepoy Mutiny; there’s still plenty of time to learn a lesson from that.

Rupa Bhattacharya, Culinary Writer

[pickle url="http://my.foodnetwork.com/flshentrw.flash/cp20/VP/612966/1/15978360/15975519/1/1/1"]

– Read Episode 1 Viewer Questions
- Watch Ask Susie – Episode 2
- Watch Ask Susie – Episode 3

Want to know what The Next Food Network Star judge, Susie Fogelson, really thinks about Episode 2? Now you can ask her!

Thank you for all your submitted questions (both the rants and the raves are appreciated)! Comments are now CLOSED for this week’s “Ask Susie” Episode 2. Click on the links below to watch Susie’s Answers to your questions.

- Watch Susie’s Answers – Episode 1
- Watch Susie’s Answers – Episode 2

Noah Starr crashes a photo shoot with Sunny Anderson, Aida Mollenkamp, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Anne Burrell for the August/September issue of Food Network Magazine.

Knock over your television and climb right onto Ted Allen’s set. Fine. Not really to his actual stage spot… BUT, now is your chance to talk to the quirky food personality instead of begging the screen to respond.

Here’s the deal: I scored an interview with Ted this Monday to chat about hosting the new Chopped episodes premiering next week. So…. Ten, Nine, Eight step away and fire your questions to me for culinary guru Ted Allen, and I’ll pick a few to ask him. If you’re curious as to what top three Chopped secret ingredients Mr. Allen would choose, or what guest judges he’d like to see on the show – now is the time to ask. Send away. You have until this Sunday (6/14) at midnight.

Yours Truly- The SC

Here at FN, we’re all in favor of home-made popcorn, but you probably shouldn’t be trying this at home. And no, I have no idea why he’s not wearing a shirt.

[via]

Rupa Bhattacharya, Culinary Writer

It’s 8:00a, and there is a Food Network crew setting up a photo shoot in (Olympic ice skater) Brian Boitano’s house, and he’s not home. What does Brian Boitano have to do with Food Network? Well, as it turns out, not only is Brian Boitano an Olympic athlete, he’s also an outstanding home cook and an entertainer extraordinaire.

Enter Joanne Harmon, Design Director for Food Network, or actually enter me, into Joanne’s office to chat about hanging out with the star of our newest show, What Would Brian Botaino Make. Here’s the skinny from casa de Boitano:

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