Bobby Flay has been cast to play a fictional version of himself in the final season of the HBO series Entourage. The character Ari Gold will discover his wife is dating the chef. In real life, Bobby is married to actress Stephanie March, but the TV show will portray him as a bachelor. Fans who prefer the nonfiction version of chef Flay can find him offering barbecue and grilling tips at Guild Hall in East Hampton, N.Y., on July 31 at 11am. The event is part of the hall’s series Stirring the Pot: Conversations With Culinary Celebrities.

Iron Chef Marc Forgione, with the help of other chefs, will host his first fundraising dinner this November for Feeding America, a Chicago-based nonprofit with a network of 200 food banks. “Charity is an extension of what we do,” said Forgione, as he took a break from taping Iron Chef episodes. “I don’t even have to think twice about it.”

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Sandra Lee has been named one of Crain’s 50 Most Powerful Women in New York. You can meet Sandra and join Crain’s in commemorating the accomplishments of all 50 honorees on September 19 at an exclusive luncheon — pre-register for the event here.

Ina Garten and Alec Baldwin have joined forces for the charity event, Barefoot Under the Stars, which has helped raise $600,000 for conservation and environmental protection groups that work to restore habitats along eastern Long Island.

Watch this week’s videos after the jump »

Today, Bobby Flay launched a fifth video on his YouTube series, Bobby Flay’s Office. In his most recent dilemma, he needs help choosing a meal for lunch: Should he eat a healthy lunch from Mario Batali’s Eataly or indulge in Hill Country’s fried chicken?

Watch the video and vote after the jump »

Sandra Lee has agreed to a deal with Hyperion and the Disney Interactive Media Group that would include the publication of five new books. In addition to the books, Sandra will produce a series of 15 online videos expected to launch this fall, around the same time as the publication of her lifestyle book and the first of two cookbooks. Later, she’ll publish two food-themed novels with recipes.

Guy Fieri opened up his garage in a recent interview with AutoTrader.com.  His favorite, a ’71 Chevelle, was purchased by saving up money he placed in a boot in his closet for two and a half years — he’s vowed to never sell it. His current garage is filled with numerous cars — find out what they are and what car he’s still looking for on AutoTrader.com.

Videos featuring Robert Irvine, Bobby and Giada after the jump »

Duff Goldman will be featured at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, Calif. on July 21 as part of the “Let’s Eat!” culinary event series. Duff will share his artisan decorating tips for creating spectacular cakes like he does on Ace of Cakes. The series is free with fair admission and will be followed up by a Q&A and autograph signing. For more information, please visit OCfair.com.

Cat Cora has written A Suitcase Surprise for Mommy, a children’s book to help her children, as well as others deal with the times their loved ones are away on business. Cat says that when she travels, she often takes a toy from home along with her so her sons know she is thinking of them. This idea was the inspiration for her book, which is in stores now.

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Sunny Anderson gave us a sneak peak of a special she’s filming for Food Network about the military, her family and food on her blog this week. A surprise for many fans, Sunny is a veteran Senior Airman herself and her father was a member of the historic 82nd Airborne, as well as an Army Ranger. As you plan your Memorial Day weekend, enjoy a meal with your favorite service member or simply honor them while sharing these tasty picnic recipes with your friends and family: Memorial Day Favorites.

Tyler Florence has been profiled by Forbes magazine in recognition of his growing entrepreneurial empire. Chef Florence has created an impressive $50 million business with four restaurants, 3 retail shops, a wine label, cutlery and cookware, a gourmet food line, a baby food brand called Sprout and more is expected to evolve with the help his wife and business partner Tolan Florence. You can see his video interview with Forbes on YouTube.

Bobby Flay’s horse win’s fourth race »

Anne Burrell will headline the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, May 20 -21 at Ko Olina. The event is in its third year and will include wineries from France and California, along with 15 top chefs that will cook their cuisine at the Grand Tasting and Food and Wine pairing events. Visit Hawaiiwineandfood.com for more information.

Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri were both spotted on the red carpet at the Kentucky Derby this past weekend. Watch their interviews on the red carpet: Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri.

Alton Brown is now on Twitter. Alton has been the most requested twitter address from Food Network Fans by tweeters looking to follow, he can found as @altonbrown. On his first day, over 7,000 followers added his tweets to their own pages and that number continues to grow daily.

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Food Network Star Season 7 Finalists

Food Network’s number one series, Food Network Star returns June 5 with a set brand new hopeful contestants. Returning to host and judge season seven is chef Bobby Flay, along with judges Bob Tuschman, General Manager of Food Network and Susie Fogelson, SVP of Marketing for Food Network. This year, Giada De Laurentiis will also be making the move from mentor to judge.

Meet the 15 finalists : Mary Beth Albright (Washington, D.C.), Justin Balmes (Marietta, Ga.), Whitney Chen (New York), Katy Clark (Long Beach, Calif.), Penny Davidi (Los Angeles), Justin Davis (Minneapolis), Howie Drummond (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Jyll Everman (Glendora, Calif.), Susie Jimenez (Carbondale, Colo.), Juba Kali (New Orleans), Jeff Mauro (Elmwood Park, Ill.), Vic “Vegas” Moea (Las Vegas), Chris Nirschel (Hoboken, N.J.), Orchid Paulmeier (Bluffton, S.C.) and Alicia Sanchez (New York).

The season will make its premier in Los Angeles, where their challenge is staged at Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the city’s Original Farmer’s Market. According to LATimes Daily Dish, “Finalists will also visit the set of ABC’s hit series ‘Cougar Town’ and create custom meals for cast and crew, including Courteney Cox [...] and there will be stop-ins with the likes of such network celeb chefs like Anne Burrell, Paula Deen, and Rachael Ray.”

For casting videos, behind-the-scenes interviews and more, visit FoodNetwork.com/Star.  While you’re there, cast your pre-season predictions in the Fan Forecast Vote.

Oscar night picks for the young at heart: Dishes to "Like" or "Share" and recipes that are child's play.

Young at heart, or just too cool for school? The cool kids will be on the small screen at the Oscars this weekend. In a Best Picture field crowded with serious films and old-school subjects, two movies stand out for their youthful appeal: The Social Network and Toy Story 3.

All week The Dish is offering winning menus and recipes tailored to the nominees for Best Picture. Today, the tale of a brainy techno-whizkid’s creation of Facebook is food-fighting with the classic toys adventuring as their kid heads off to college.

So, WWMZE? What might Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg eat to celebrate (or not) if The Social Network wins best picture at this weekend’s awards? WWBLE? What might Buzz Lightyear sit down and enjoy if Toy Story 3 rockets to the winner’s podium (and if he weren’t an animated character)? Consider this a friendly foodie faceoff–which of their food picks wins?

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Bobby Flay's Philly Burger - Image Courtesy Food Network Magazine

Every Thursday in this spot, FoodNetworkFans.com will give you the latest dish about chefs on the web. 

This week: Bite into Food Network chefs’ best burgers,  Iron Chefs battle for a James Beard Award and  Tyler Florence’s new restaurant.

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