‘Fast Foodies’ returns for Season 2 with more repartee and reimagined dishes

Anyone who has found their curiosity piqued by the reimagined dishes on truTV’s “Fast Foodies” can actually try a few – if they happen to be in the St. Paul, Minn., area, that is.

That’s the home of the Handsome Hog, the Southern cuisine eatery owned by Justin Sutherland, one of the chefs on the show. On the Thursday nights the series airs, he has watch parties featuring the dish he’s creating onscreen as that night’s special. It’s a clever bit of entrepreneurship that he reports has paid off.

“Last season every Thursday was standing room only ...,” he notes. “This season, we definitely are going to do a lot more now that we know the demand for it and are a little bit more prepared. We’ve got some dishes planned out. I don’t know the episodic breakdown yet fully, so once I figure out the order of episodes, we’re definitely going to plan some dishes to coincide with our watch parties.”

As the second season kicks off Thursday, Jan. 27, Sutherland and fellow chefs Kristen Kish and Jeremy Ford again put their imaginations and culinary chops to the test creating reimagined fast food dishes for celebrity guests to sample and choose which is best. This season, they include comic Nikki Glazer (“Blind Date”), actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family”), comic/actress Natasha Leggero (“Another Period”), “Saturday Night Live” player Bobby Moynihan and NBA commentator Baron Davis.

In Thursday’s season opener, Glazer is the show’s guest diner, someone who Sutherland says he has always admired. And the chemistry is evident as the repartee between Glazer and the three chefs is easy and entertaining.

Keeping up with stand-up comics, people who make their living being fast on their feet and funny off the cuff, can be challenging for some. But Sutherland says that kind of interplay has proven stimulating for him and his castmates.

“It’s great. It keeps the energy up,” he says. “It gives us something more to do than just cook. And I think honestly, it’s a lot of back-and-forth. I think there’s moments where we’re keeping them on their toes and from the majority of the guests that we’ve had, I think it’s been a really good back-and-forth of all of us making each other laugh and keeping each other on our toes. ...

“But at the end of the day, it’s our show,” he continues, “and we’ve got to balance being the host of our show and kind of maintaining control (with) also playing off of their jokes. And yeah, I think we’ve all gotten better at improv and keeping the things moving.”

Three chefs will attempt to re-create a taco-adjacent treat, then mix it up in the remix.

12:30pm FOODDeliciousMissBrown The competitors work with wild game in every basket; the judges chomp down on alligator entrees.

TRU Fast Foodies Ron Funches has a new, healthy lifestyle and has said goodbye to most of his fast food favorites.

1:00 pm FOOD The Kitchen Giving beloved family recipes a feel-good makeover, starting with spicy pork loin and lettuce wraps.

TRU Fast Foodies Cracking the ultimate fried chicken code will put the chefs to the test.

1:30 pm TRU Fast Foodies The chefs go all natural with guest Charlotte McKinney; Charlotte revisits her burger girl days.

2:00 pm TRU Fast Foodies Andy Richter challenges the chefs to re-create the fish and cheese sandwich.

2:30 pm TRU Fast Foodies Three worldclass chefs try to take orange chicken from fast food to fine dining.

3:00pm FOODGuy’sGroceryGames Chefs face a modified food pyramid; they shop with tiny shopping bags; chefs brave a brand new game.

4:00pm FOODGuy’sGroceryGames Chefs get one chance to shop for all three rounds, with no idea what they will be asked to make.

5:00pm FOODGuy’sGroceryGames When celebrity chefs come to Flavortown, Guy gets to try out his most twisted games.

6:00pm FOODGuy’sGroceryGames Guy

Fieri invites two old-school and two new

7:00 pm FOOD Chopped Baskets filled with incredible ingredients, including a strange pig part in the appetizer basket. 8:00 pm FOOD Chopped Competing with appetizers, entrees and desserts, dog-loving chefs make treats for a canine judge.

9:00 pm FOOD Chopped In the fourth battle of the tournament, the chefs try their luck at replacing basket ingredients. (N)

7:00pm FOODGuy’sGroceryGames Guy has the chefs turn the ingredients from an old-fashioned Waldorf salad into a modern meal.

TNT Fast Foodies GaTa turns up the heat with a delicious and tropical pizza challenge for the three chefs.

8:00pm FOODGuy’sGroceryGames 9:00 pm _ Next Level Chef Contestants prepare a next-level burger. (N)

FOOD Worst Cooks in America With focus on flavor, Anne Burrell and Cliff Crooks test the recruits’ palates with new ingredients. (N)

7:00 pm FOOD Beat Bobby Flay Sara Haines teams up with Anne Burrell; chefs Jonathan Dearden and Scott Drewno go head-to-head.

7:30 pm FOOD Beat Bobby Flay Richard Blais and Natalie Morales bring in chefs Johnny Hernandez and Coby Farrow to compete.

8:00pm FOODRestaurant:Impossible The Breakfast Place co-owners are burnt out and don’t have the confidence to lead their staff. (N)

9:00 pm FOOD Beat Bobby Flay Bryan and Michael Voltaggio tag team; chefs DeeDee Niyomkul and Juan Carlos Bazan cook up a storm. (N)

9:30pm FOODThrowdownWithMichael Symon Michael Symon issues a throwdown challenge for khachapuri, the rich, savory, cheesy stuffed bread.

7:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Outrageous octopus in Oregon; polenta sandwiches; biscuits and gravy; belly tacos and pig’s head.

NGEO Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted Chef Ramsay masters the unforgiving elements as he discovers the secrets of Nordic cuisine. 7:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Pizza joint in Flagstaff; a seafood place in Fairhope; funky spin on Chinese specialties. 8:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Italian spot with righteous ravioli and dynamite deep dish; Hong Kong barbecue experience.

NGEO Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back Ramsay attempts to revamp Stone’s Throw, a family-owned, fine dining restaurant in Seymour, Conn. (N)

8:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Guy Fieri is trying Scandinavian, Persian and Asian wings; vintage food truck in Portland, Ore.

9:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives

NGEO Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back Bayou on the Vine, a familyowned-and-operated Cajun restaurant in Kansas City, Mo. (N)

9:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Guy’s digging into dishes from beef to buns and in Utah, a place is serving up worldwide flavor.

8:00 am FOOD The Kitchen A big game day buffet that’s a surefire touchdown at any party; 8-foot French bread pizza.

TRAV Man v. Food Italian roast pork sandwich, ice cream concoction and cheesesteak in Philadelphia.

8:30 am 1 Les Stroud’s Wild Harvest TRAV Man v. Food Adam visits New Brunswick, N.J., to try a 2-pound stromboli and the Fat Sandwich Challenge.

9:00am FOODGiadaEntertains Giada offers up ideas on seating, snacks and drinks at the ultimate football party.

TRAV Man v. Food Adam visits Alaska for a massive burger, a mountainous breakfast and the Kodiak Arrest challenge.

9:30 am 1 Cook’s Country Baconwrapped pork roast with peach sauce; graters; German community in Texas; potato pancakes.

FOOD Simply Giada Giada De Laurentiis makes a dinner of substantial dishes that are also light in fat and calories.

TRAV Man v. Food Adam devours a super burrito and humongous sandwiches.

10:00 am 1 Pati’s Mexican Table South of the border meets southern food; with Vivian Howard.

FOOD The Pioneer Woman Dishes that are both simple and refined, starting with crab cakes and five-ingredient remoulade. (N)

TRAV Man v. Food Adam visits Little Rock, Ark., to taste the mammoth Quadruple Hubcap Burger.

10:30 am * SoFlo Taste

1 Ciao Italia Crispy fried cauliflower; cauliflower mashed potatoes.

FOOD The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s quarterback teens are getting their favorite food for a post-game dinner.

TRAV Man v. Food Adam tries to consume a 6-pound milkshake and a 1.5-pound sandwich in Washington, D.C.

11:00 am J Pati’s Mexican Table Chef Maru Toledo preserves Jalisco’s regional recipes; the influence of hacienda culture.

FOOD The Kitchen Simple, crowd-pleasing weeknight meals, starting with slow cooker chili and baked curry tofu. (N)

TRAV Man v. Food Adam Richman visits Tucson, Ariz., to try a hot dog wrapped in bacon and a giant burger challenge.

11:30 am TRAV Man v. Food Adam tries huge hot dogs, steamed burgers and a 10-pound stuffed pizza challenge in Hartford, Conn. 12:00 pm J Cook’s Country Mixed berry buckle; history of baked fruit desserts; thickening agents; strawberry cheesecake bars.

FOOD Trisha’s Southern Kitchen Trisha indulges in some personal favorites, from savory cheese dishes to chocolatey desserts. (N)

12:30 pm 1 Baking With Julia Puff pastry; apricot pastries; torte Milanese.

FOOD Trisha’s Southern Kitchen Trisha makes a meal for her gal pal’s that includes pickle-brined fried chicken.

1:00 pm 1 Jacques Pépin: Heart & Soul Fougasse; salmon rillettes; poussins a la russe with broiled maple sweet potatoes; crepes.

1:30 pm 1 Joanne Weir’s Plates and Places Chicken paprikash; white asparagus salad gribiche.

2:00 pm ^ Sara’s Weeknight Meals Japanese beef fondue; an easy way to flatten chicken breasts; skillet apple pie with cranberries.

1 Sara’s Weeknight Meals Tamales for dessert; a variation on traditional vaca frita — with chicken and served in a taco.

3:00 pm ^ Cook’s Country Mixed berry buckle; history of baked fruit desserts; thickening agents; strawberry cheesecake bars.

TRU Fast Foodies Nikki Glaser brings the chefs a fast-food classic.

4:00 pm J Roadfood The influence of Black culture in Chicago, from jazz and blues to South Side BBQ.

5:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Chimi burrito and lobster lollipops; croquettes and white bean and steak pizza; ten ounce meatballs.

5:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Shrimp fritters and chicken salad; cannoli and kraut burgers; adobo buffalo wings and pork tacos.

6:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives An all-Boston smorgasbord; two restaurants share one kitchen; gravlax and chicken sausage; pierogi.

6:30 pm ^ Roadfood Viet-Cajun crawfish, which unites Gulf and Vietnamese influences and ingredients.

FOOD Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives In Los Angeles, homemade chorizo and a Yucatan turkey special; two funky joints in Las Vegas.

7:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives A mother-son team serve up dan dan noodles and steamed buns; jerk chicken; Latin cuisine.

7:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives An Asian spin on poultry in Seattle; a family-run Hawaiian gem serves Thai specialties.

8:00 pm G Great Chocolate Showdown Ten home bakers take on the art of tempering chocolate, then re-imagine a campfire classic. (N)

FOOD Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives In Smyrna, Ga., a doctor-turned-chef fires up amazing Asian from righteous ramen to Korean wings.

8:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives Guy Fieri’s diving into all kinds of ’cue on this trip; in Ottawa, Burlington, Vt. and Richmond, Va.

9:00pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives A Nashville joint is putting their twist on Jamaican specialties.

9:30pm FOODDiners,Drive-Insand Dives A real deal Reuben in Grand Junction, Colo.; a spot in Salt Lake City elevates tacos.