Wednesday, August 21, 2013

New reality TV shows aimed at foodies have a Dallas connection

photo: Facebook
Looks like Tiffany Derry has landed herself a new TV show! According to Crave DFW, Spike TV has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of 'Hungry Investors' starring the one-time Private Social chef, Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars alum. The series goes into production this fall and will premiere in spring 2014. 

Each week, the ‘Hungry Investors’ team will put two struggling restaurants to the test to prove they deserve a second chance at success. The enterprise that shows the most promise of turning things around earns a significant cash investment. Both establishments seek to prove to the expert team that the only thing keeping them from financial fortune and success is finding an investor who believes in them.

Joining Derry on the squad will be Jon Taffer, an internationally respected restaurant developer and John Besh, executive chef and co-owner at the Besh Restaurant Group.  You might recall that Derry and Taffer filmed an episode of Taffer's show Bar Rescue, which aired this past July. Apparently, studio execs liked their chemistry!


photo: Freerange Concepts
In other foodie TV news, Kyle Noonan and Josh Sepkowitz of FreeRange Concepts have a TV show launching September 7 called 'Local Fare'.

Noonan told the Dallas Observer that "each episode will feature three local strangers who aren't affiliated with the restaurant industry. Each person selects their favorite restaurant and the other two try the other two places. And then they all come on the show and review them. Really it's a way to find local neighborhood gems."

So who are these Noonan/Sepkowitz characters? Eater Dallas reports that they opened Bowl & Barrel last December, gave the Sunset Lounge a whole new vibe, debuted dog park/open-air restaurant Mutts in Uptown in June and will soon open The Rustic, a live music venue, bar and restaurant in conjunction with musician Pat Green. Sounds like they know a little something about cool places.  Local Fare will air Saturdays at 5 p.m. and on Sundays at 9:30am on local CBS affiliate KTXA 21; catch the first episode on September 7.

Thank goodness Dallas has some new shows coming onto the airwaves. I was beginning to think that we had used up our 15 minutes of reality TV fame. It's good to see that Hollywood still thinks we got it!