Foodie News - Michael Symon

FOOD NETWORK’S FOOD FEUDS PUTS AN END TO DISH DISPUTES
Chef Michael Symon Squashes Local Culinary Feuds in New Primetime Series Premiering Thursday, October 14th at 10pm ET/PT

NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 – Across the country, heated rivalries over local signature dishes divide cities – and Food Network’s new primetime series Food Feuds will decide, once and for all, which dish defines the district. From Baltimore crab cakes and Philadelphia cheesesteaks to New York lobster rolls and New Orleans po’ boys, Iron Chef Michael Symon searches the country to quell the most intense, long-standing culinary rivalries. The series premieres Thursday, October 14th at 10pm ET/PT.

“Every town has a fierce competition between two local eateries, and Food Feuds will settle the debate with a passionate look at each city’s signature dish,” said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Programming, Food Network. “Michael Symon’s humor, energy and expertise as an Iron Chef make him uniquely qualified to help analyze the food from every angle to determine who does it best.”

Each episode includes two Food Feuds, with battles royal featuring the following cities and establishments:
Philadelphia – Cheesesteak: Pat’s King of Steaks vs. Geno’s Steaks; New York – Cheesecake: Eileen’s Special Cheesecake vs. Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery (sneak peek – October 10th at 10pm ET/PT)
Boston – Pizza: Regina Pizzeria vs. Santarpio’s; Philadelphia - Meatballs: Villa di Roma Restaurant vs. Ralph’s Italian Restaurant (October 14th)
Essex, Mass. – Fried Clams: Woodman’s vs. JT Farnham’s; New York - Lobster Roll: Ed’s Lobster Bar vs. Luke’s Lobster (October 21st)
New York - Red Velvet Cupcakes: Cupcake Stop (Montclair, N.J.) vs. Ladybird Bakery; Baltimore – Crab Cakes: J.W. Faidley vs. Gertrude’s (October 28th)
New Jersey – Sliders: White Manna (Hackensack, N.J.) vs. White Mana (Jersey City, N.J.); Barberton, Ohio – Fried Chicken: Belgrade Gardens vs. Hopocan Gardens (November 4th)
Roast Pork: TBD; Murphysboro, Ill./St. Louis – Ribs: 17th Street Bar & Grill vs. Pappy’s Smokehouse (November 18th)
Elyria, Ohio – Burgers: Smitty’s Place vs. Midway Oh Boy; New Orleans – Po’ Boys: Parasol’s Restaurant & Bar vs. Parkway Bakery & Tavern (November 25th)
Cincinnati – Ice Cream: Aglamesis Brothers vs. Graeter’s; St. Louis – Butter Cake: Gooey Louie vs. Park Ave. Coffee (December 2nd)

In each episode of Food Feuds, Michael travels to a different city to oversee cutthroat competitions between two restaurants who prepare the same local specialty. With the help of neighborhood customers, local foodies, journalists, undercover critics and special guests, including Food Network expert pastry chef Anne Thornton and acclaimed chef Geoffrey Zakarian, one eatery’s dish will be named Food Feuds champion.

Renowned in the culinary world and adored in his hometown of Cleveland, Michael is the chef and owner at the critically acclaimed Lola and Lolita in Cleveland, chef and partner of Roast in Detroit, chef and owner of Bar Symon in Avon Lake, Ohio, BSpot in Chargin, Ohio and Bar Symon and B-Spot in Cleveland. The Culinary Institute of America graduate competed on The Next Iron Chef in 2007 and won, securing his place as an Iron Chef on Food Network’s Iron Chef America. He released his first cookbook “Michael Symon’s Live to Cook” (Clarkson Potter) in October 2009. In July 2010, Michael’s instructional cooking series, How to Cook Like an Iron Chef premiered on Cooking Channel and in October 2010, Michael joins season three of The Next Iron Chef, as a first-time judge.