Now this is culture. When it comes to following culinary competitions, live or on cable, I’m pretty much a deadbeat. Sure, I know some of the titles, the marquee chefs who make up the various juror panels, and occasionally a contestant or two, but I’m not typically glued to The Next Iron Chef, Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen or any other so-called “foodie” show. Heck, I’ve missed every one of both Jose Garces’ and Jennifer Carroll’s appearances this season.
So when several promotional e-mails popped into my inbox, I really didn’t pay much attention. Fast forward a few weeks and, well, I guess my level of intrigue went up. Of course, what I’m getting to is tonight’s “performance” at the Merriam Theater by bad boy celebrity chef Guy Fieri, winner of the first season of The Next Food Network Star.Â
Billed simply as “The Guy Fieri Road Show,” the event is described as “the first-ever rock ‘n’ roll culinary tour.” L.A.’s DJ Cobra will spin two hours of tunes in, as one source revealed, a gigantic seven-by-seven-foot booth covered in orange fur (now THAT I want to see). There’s also a tricked-out bus for the “band” and a slew of liquid libations whipped up by Aussie celebrity-bartender/master-mixologist Hayden “Woody” Wood.
And if that isn’t enough to get your adrenaline pumping, Fieri has plenty cooking on stage: interactive cooking stations, demos and a little behind-the-scenes storytelling of life on the road.
For a little local flair, Tony Luke will open the show with, naturally, a 20-minute ode to cheesesteaks and, for a grand finale, go live with a cheesesteak inspired by Fieri’s West Coast influences. (Hopefully, it’s not too healthy.)
The tour is timed with the release of Fieri’s second book, More Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, which might have yet another sequel after touring 21 cities in 30 days.Â
$37-$57. 250 S. Broad St., Philadelphia; (215) 732-5446, merriam-theater.com.
It’s Not Quite Friday, But …
On Thursday, Nov. 19, the young, beer-drinking professional set gets a head start on the weekend with a Sam Adams Beer Tasting at Manayunk’s Bourbon Blue. Not your typical sit-down tasting event, Bourbon Blue promises a relaxed and interactive happy-hour atmosphere that’s also educational. 6:30-9 p.m. $20/advance, $30/door. 2 Rector St., Manayunk; (215) 508-3360, bourbonblue.com.
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