Nothing says Wine Country Chef like a twin-engine, 25-gallon margarita maker.
Then again, local boy-done-good Guy Fieri doesn’t exactly fit the SoCo mold. With his trademark spiky hair, body art, shades and tank top, the Food Network wild man is heading out this week on a 21-city rock ‘n roll food tour the likes of which only Fieri could conceive.
Among the on-stage antics: a giant margarita maker, an LA DJ, an Australian mixologist and some cooking demos most likely involving hot peppers and liberal use of the word “money” and “off da hook”. As in “these hot wings are so MONEY they’re off da hook, bro!”
You gotta love the adrenaline-fueled personality of Fieri, who’s probably the only chef with enough chutzpah to put on a cocktail and cooking roadshow and actually get women throwing bras at him. Seriously. It’s already happened.
The format of the show sounds pretty loosely organized, with “flair” bartender Hayden “Woody” Wood warming up the crowd, DJ Cobra laying down the beats and Fieri ad-libbing it with cooking demos peppered with behind-the-scenes stories from his Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives adventures.
The closest Guy and his Knuckle Sandwich Crew get to home: San Jose. (See Tour Dates). Tickets range from $37 to $150 for the “Kulinary Krew” and $250 for “Off Da Hook” stage seating — which would likely be the best vantage point for underwear tossing.
More Fieri gossip: Apparently a Food Network producer was fishing around for info on local breakfast spot, Carlos’ Country Kitchen for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, BiteClub hears.
And, one has to wonder exactly what’s up with Tex Wasabi’s, which is still closed from remodeling after several months due to a water main break (it was originally scheduled to re-open in October). Has Fieri forsaken the downtown spot? Recent focus on Sacramento-openings leave us wondering if Tex has been terminated? The website says the remodel will last until late 2009.
Thats really cool…any other thoughts?
I moldiness say this journal is awesome. I was wondering is there anything that our diary district would do for group from Land ?
Wrought passion upon this blog he has. Fair witted writing she endows. Enemies of our brother, pain they must feel. Entertainment, food is.
Wrought passion upon this blog he has. Fair witted writing she endows. Enemies of our brother, pain they must feel. Entertainment, food is.
Umm, I’m a Sonoma County native (fifth generation, family there since 1856, I don’t find many people who can beat that) and I run a group of successful restaurants in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and West Hollywood.
What have YOU done lately?
As a side quiz:
Luther Burbank
Robert Ripley
Charles Schulz
Natalie Wood
Paul Gilger
Rebecca DeMornay
and… drum roll…
Guy Fieri!
Which of these people do not belong in this group?
Am I wrong, or was it closed down by the health department for a while because a lot of people got sick cuz of something very gross?
Have you ever been to one of his restaurants junior? Just read the yelp reviews. The food is downright aweful, the ingredients are not locally sourced, etc. It is a small step up from fast food like Applebees (who, coincidentally, Guy does commercials for).
Some of you are hilarious on here. The ingredients frozen and cheap?? You have obviously never seen any of the prep or even stepped foot in one of his restaurants then. Some of you might not like his food and that’s fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But really, don’t try to tell blatant lies just because you are envious of a successful person. It’s also funny to read a comment on him, “he used to come into my coffee shop before he hit it big, and he acted the same way then. i’m not impressed with his act” How is it an act if his personality has always been like that?? You just don’t make sense which shows me that it is mostly jealousy or envy. I pity you, well actually I don’t.
You people crack me up! You worry about the image Guy presents for Sonoma County. I would rather have people think of him when they hear the words “Sonoma County” than say Ramon Salcedo or Richard Allen Davis. And if you think those names aren’t mentioned in recent events than check out 20/20′s website and look for recent shows. At least he brings a positive image. What have YOU done lately?
women coming on to him Heather? You might want to run that line of questioning through his wife next time to see if she thinks it’s at all funny.
I saw Guy at Toys-R-Us a few years ago with his family and I must say it was such a disgrace the way he was treating not only the store clerk, but his wife!
I feel sorry for her and his kids.
What a jerk!
Maybe cuz the food sucked? Seriously Heather….I thought this was a food blog, not an entertainment board.
What Biteclub doesn’t seem to grasp is that Guy is an entertainer and not a true Sonoma County chef. Biteclub should exist to celebrate local chefs who utilize Sonoma County’s bounty of fresh produce to make delicious creations. Have you ever been to one of Guy’s restaurants? The food is aweful and the ingredients are frozen and cheap. The whole premise is to cover up the subpar ingredients with as many spices (garlic, etc.) as possible.
Guy Fieri: Sonoma County’s Jon Gosselin.
And it’s not slander if it’s true….
Wow. That was beautifully said, z.
I guess I’m left wondering where all the hostility is coming from? ‘Tis the season, people.
Honestly people, lighten up! Those of you who slander others need to take a good look at yourself. Simple as that. Guy has worked his tail off to achieve notoriety with a trade he enjoys. Sure, he lubes the monetary machine that may seem biased at times, and peace be upon him during the inevitable struggles of a public icon. Guy is riding a tremendous swell of opportuniy. Take note and rise up with him. He is our Sonoma County brother.
Dear Press Demo – please stop doing stories on Guy Fieri, its embarrassing
A drunk fest featuring a freak and an oversized drink mixer. How does that “represent” Wine Country? Ferry is a joke.
I can’t believe Guy Fieri is the best Sonoma County has to offer as a “spokesman” for the pre-eminent wine country of the world. He’s embarrassing and a total sellout.
All those folks that have negative comments regarding Guy really do no have ANY idea what he has done for Sonoma County….really he has helped put us the the map to the general public. Before Guy, really only wine and foodies really knew about Sonoma County…know everyone knows Sonoma is Guy’s home town. Guy does a great job plugging Sonoma County on almost everyone of his shows. This is awesome and a huge help for our tourism industry. Thanks Guy!
You haters are truly panzies. First of all, you don’t know sh*t about the food service industry or how hard it is to control 50 employees who all represent your place of business. If you have stupid employees you have to be an assh*ole. I guarantee you, the stupid ones are the ones calling him out. It’s the same in every work place. You have Beavis in the corner going, “This guys sucks…hmm hmmm…yah. Fire, Fire!”.
Second, my girlfriend and I have met Guy at Tex’s and R.R.’s Chophouse on several occasions. When he’s not WORKING he is a nice, cordial, down to earth guy who is willing to chat with his customers and hang out. If you’ve never met him, shut the hell up.
Third, the food is not french cuisine and the prices reflect that, lames. What the hell did you think you were going to be eating when you went in there? You could make it all at home, but you’re too stupid. Why do you go out to a restaurant, look at the menu, order, then cry about it? Garlic and pasta and parmesan cheese? How about you watch the show, save some money and stfu???
Mark, great point, like the positivity. Jerry, we can all get cranky when hunger strikes, but a 10 minute wait to fill the belly is fantasy for most. Heather, don’t doubt your stage presence.
I’m not that impressed with his Windsor Johny Garlic. Went there to eat and was left waiting to be seated for over ten minutes. Considering there were open tables and no one ahead of me to be seated, is a reflection on him as it’s his chain! I ended up leaving to eat better food.
Who made up the menu anyway, not much of anything worth my interest.
What is up with all the haters?!! Guy is awesome! i have worked with him and have always found him to be a down to earth “buddy”! He is the same friendly fun guy now that he’s a “celebrity Chef” as he was when he first started at Santa Rosa fairgrounds. I’m damned proud of the fellow Sonoma County-an.
I hope he doesn’t forsake the Tex Wasabi place. It certainly had some good points even if it was uneven and the last thing we need is another closed location downtown.
As for the “magarita maker,” what is that? Issues about such a large one aside, I wonder if it is a shaker or a blender. I hope the former but fear the latter and cringe at the thought of a deluge of blended “margaritas,” using the name loosely. The alcohol-and-flavoured-syrup-infused snow-cone-like abominations that people assume to be margaritas are, in fact, not. One may enjoy them but, as someone else once said, if there is one thing in which a real margarita should never be made, it is a blender. Would one blend a sidecar? I hope not.
In any case, why does there need to be something called a “margarita maker” when, in fact, it is merely another item put to the use of making a margarita?
Points rather off topic these may be, but until now they were points not raised.
Hey Heather, don’t mind the bitter people…Hate is common in jealous people. A good buddy of mine was one of the original waiters at Johnny Garlic’s and I spent many times after the restaurant had closed shooting the sh*t with Guy at the bar. He was a super nice dude. Sometimes people mistake confidence for ego. But these are the same people that will be stuck in their dead end jobs for 20 years complaining about the one who actually made something of themselves.
can’t stand fieri either – he is a jerk in real life, and LOVES himself like no one i’ve ever met. he used to come into my coffee shop before he hit it big, and he acted the same way then. i’m not impressed with his act – i doubt his wife is either
Can’t stand Fieri. Really and obnoxious person. Sad to see he’s so popular. And please stop it with the ghetto patois. “Props” “money”, “dope” etc etc.. Really tiring
I don’t know if “admired” is the right word, but I’m pretty impressed that that there are thousands of people willing to pay $37 to $250 to watch him do it.
I doubt I could pay someone $37 to watch me do anything on stage. What about you?
I wonder, based on some things that have apparently possibly gone on, what his wife thinks about Heather touting the “underwear” tossing? I bet she doesn’t think it’s as funny as Heather does. Then again at least they’re just audience members and not employees.
What exactly is there to be admired about someone doing a dog and pony show with an oversized drink mixer?
He has some pretty good shows but did you know his name is not even Fieri? Check him out on Wikpedia. I’ve heard the same about him as a “boss” apparently he’s a jerk in “real life”.
Was my rapier wit too dull on this? I thought the “money” thing was pretty snarky.
Regardless, here’s the thing: Anyone one with half a brain knows the score on Fieri. He is what he is. I love that he knows how to entertain people and has been really successful at it — regardless of how good his restaurants actually are. He is positive and fun on TV, and the world needs more of that. I’m bored with uptight chefs thinking they’re the next coming of Christ. Get over it already.
I’m not going to join the haters about Guy’s insane success. It’s too easy and really small. Guy has parlayed his personality into a brand and props to him for that. Call him what you want, but probably smarter than most of us throwing rocks at him from our desks.
Chew on that.
Wow…This guy is a joke and you’re making him out to be the second coming of Christ. Gee, I wonder why Tex Wasabi’s is still closed. You might want to check with some past employees of Johnny Garlic’s before putting this joker on a pedastal. He’s not someone to be looked up to, he’s an example of what is wrong with this country. All show and no substance.
Hear, hear, I second Jenny. The man’s talents are defintely not in the kitchen. He is an entertaining (-ish) host on Diners…, but as far as food? Please.
Interesting how you bash the long-standing Michelin Guide, yet praise this clown. Your standards are interesting I guess. “You’ve gotta love…” No, I don’t.