Check, Please! Bay Area's episode 2 (#102) profiles and reviews these three Bay Area restaurants:
Watch episode (requires RealPlayer: windows | mac)
View photo gallery (flickr.com)
1) The Lark Creek Inn: | restaurant information | reviews | recipe |
2) 1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar: | restaurant information | reviews | recipe |
3) Everett & Jones Barbeque: | restaurant information | reviews |
My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I'm the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. After each episode I'll serve up a behind-the-scenes look at what went on during filming including the wine we were sipping...
Barking on camera is something I've never had to deal with, but hey...this show is all about real people. And, Bryan is as real as it gets! He was a riot--sort of like a frenetic Robin Williams after downing a pot of espresso (though the brown liquid in Bryan's glass was actually Guinness Stout). On the other side of the table, Mark was a great foil for Bryan's energy. He provided the fireworks when he said Everett and Jones had dead flowers that looked like something from the Adams Family television show. Though the barbeque spot was contentious, all fell in love with Tonya's pick, 1550 Hyde Café and Wine Bar. I couldn’t get Bryan and Mark to stop talking about the pudding. Tonya provided a quietly authoritative viewpoint of the restaurants, which balanced Bryan and Mark. Even though they differed in their opinions of the eateries, we had so much fun on the set. All three of the guests actually left after the taping and went to lunch together. I wonder what their server thought of them...
Wine of the Week:
2004 Plozner Sauvignon Blanc, Grave del Fruili, Italy $15
Crisp and zesty with herbal aromas and bright citrus flavors, this northern Italian white was the perfect "breakfast" wine to wake up our palates for the late morning taping.
Why not try to get some more LIVELY people on you show to make it more interesting? San Francisco has so much diversity in its people its a shame you don't play that up as part of the show. Also, how about a celebrity guest or even semi-celebrity guest. Seriously, the people you are picking are duds (except the one guy with the beard) and you need to liven it up! Its a great concept but the ultimate sucess if going to be gauged by its entertainment value.
I agree with Jen's comment. I like a mix of people, especially so called "characters". Yup, that guy with the beard was a hoot. Howzabout it?
It would be nice to see some actual restaurant critics who know about food for real and who can show us some secret spots. I know the idea is "normal people" and that may have worked in other markets but SF is too sophisticated. The restaurants so far are not secrets except the soul food one. The host seems bored. The guests seem bored. I'm bored.
Dont let these nay-sayers get you down, Leslie. This new program is a definite winner. I was quite surprised by the uncommonly articulate and knowledgeable (about food) guests who seem perfectly at home at your 'table' with no evidence of stage fright. The combination of their commentary with shots of the restaurant and food is unique - you wont get that with Zagat or Michelin - giving a real notion of the ambiance (I am thinking particularly of the shot of the floor at the soul food place) and the 'mise en place' of the dishes. The idea of new guests each week, choosing their own places to review, is brilliant. The insertion of questions/answers brings its own spice to the show. We lived in Paris for a year last year, and they dont have anything like this, despite their worship of food. Finally, having all of this available on-line, including the show itself (!) is outstanding, providing a unique resource unavailable anywhere else. As the shows continue, it will become, I predict, one of the most visited sites in the Bay Area for restaurants.
THE KEHOE NATION!!
I love this show, as is. I love that you don't have "celebrities" telling me what's good and bad. Doesn't society give them enough airtime and influence over us already! As for having food critics on your show… let them get their own show or review book. Everyday folk have taste buds too. The guests you've had on show come across as genuine people, not pretenious at all. My family feels comfortable with them. Let the people of the Bay Area have a say.