I’ve had so many people ask me about my thoughts and feelings on last night’s episode of The Taste that I figured it would be easier to sum it all up in a single post. Wow…what a ride. When I signed on to be part of this show I knew that I was a long shot. When I met everyone during the taping of the first episode, that feeling was really confirmed. There was so much talent on this show and I was just honored to be a part of it. I was asked to be part of three teams: Nigella, Marcus and Anthony. Did I make the right decision? Who knows what would have happened if I had chosen differently, but I know that the decision to pick Anthony felt right when I made it. Did we hit it off as best buddies? No. Do I respect this talent and his life story? Absolutely. I’ve been a fan of his since his first book came out in hardback. My dad was fan of his. I’ve read all his books (including the murder mystery) and seen nearly all his TV shows. He is a master of what he does. He had to make a tough choice and he made a strategic move that I may have disagreed with, but I respected his authority as the Mentor to make whatever decision he felt gave his team the best chance. I knew it was coming and even made (and won) a $20 bet that I would be in the taste-off with Eric. I think I even said, “He’s going to send in his assassin to take me out. We’ll see if it pays off. Do I have any hard feelings toward Anthony? Certainly not. Our conflict made for good television and that, at the end of the day, was our job. I may not have won, but I will be remembered. Days after the final episode, a group text message started with a bunch of the contestants and we have kept in touch on a daily basis. I have made great friends with so many of the other chefs (I don’t draw a distinction between chefs and cooks) and wouldn’t trade those relationships for all the gold stars that would fit on my apron. Several of the chefs have and will be making the trip to Jackson, Mississippi for guest chef appearances at my restaurant, La Finestra and that is a great honor to me. I can’t imagine going to any of the cities where these guys and girls live without spending some time over a meal and drink to reminisce. Any time you put that many people in a high-stress environment for a long period of time, relationships will inevitably form (some good, some bad, but all real). People keep asking me “What would you say to Anthony if he walked in here right now?” I have only this reply – I would say “Thank you.” I was given a great opportunity to meet and work with a life-long hero of mine. I took it, worked with what I had and we made great TV. What more could I ask for?
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:25:42 +0000
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