Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Flavortown central
Guy Fieri invites viewers to his own home
Guy Fieri has thrown open the gates to Flavortown. The Food Network chef with the distinctive platinum tips loves tossing that name around for spots with the most fantastic eats, even calling his personal grocery store in “Guy’s Grocery Games” “Flavortown Market,” but in his latest show, he’s sent out invitations to the spot where he cooks up his own offthe-hook flavors.
“Guy’s Ranch Kitchen” may sound like it’s about Fieri cooking with America’s favorite salad dressing, but that “Ranch” in the title actually refers to the host’s home in northern California. Guy’s sent out some invitations, and in each episode, a bunch of his fellow Food Network cohorts stop by to cook up a storm with their host.
In this week’s episode, airing on the last day of the year, Sunday, Dec. 31, Guy’s celebrating the Golden State’s bounty with a wicked brunch spread. Acclaimed chef and former “The Next Iron Chef” contestant Eric Greenspan got an invite, and he swings by the Fieri ranch to make delicate lemon ricotta pancakes with stone fruit compote.
He’s not the only one hanging out at the ranch. Phoenix-based chef Aaron May makes a West Coast Dungeness crab Benedict with avocado salad, chef Carl Ruiz prepares taleggio and asparagus paninis, while former “Aarti Party” host and “The Next Food Network Star” winner Aarti Sequeira preps a spicy Israeli shakshouka (a Middle Eastern favorite of poached eggs in tomato sauce) that’s just bursting with the incredible flavor of local tomatoes.