If your kitchen has “high ceilings and equipped with island, large and long,” and your house has a guest house or large garage to create a makeshift kitchen for show prep (accessibility to running water a must), an “exterior that is tasteful and established looking…with pretty backside and backyard and deck or sliding glass doors to outside that is off kitchen,” then it could be the local kitchen a producer is looking for to film a cooking show. Details are slim, but if you think your place could work, contact David Merril at Ronin Production Services by e-mail at film.ronin@gmail.com
FOOD TV
Responses to “Is your kitchen TV worthy?”
August 9th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Wonder whose show this is for? After seeing the Food TV “Chefography” series, I learned that Giada De Laurentiis films in kitchens that are in the homes of private individuals. They actually move out for a given period of time (for a nominal fee, naturally) & the film crew sets up all the back-up eqpt. in the garage. Now, I’m curious if that’s going to be the arrangement for the kitchen being sought after in Memphis. From other “Chefography” segments & some “behind the scenes” specials, I learned that Paula Deen, Ina Garten, & Bobby Flay film from their own home kitchens. Tyler Florence films from a studio kitchen that is supposedly an exact replica of his home kitchen. Alton Brown tried filming from his home kitchen in the Atlanta area but the neighbors complained about the disruption & use of a residential area for commercial purposes. He chose not to fight city hall & had to resume filming from a studio.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
You know, I should’ve gotten details but the email came in while I was out of town and I wanted to post it as soon as I got to it since they want to film this month.
I think Paula’s filming from her own kitchen now, but for years the kitchen she used was Gordon Elliot’s, the guy who hosted “Door Knock Dinners.” He was the one who discovered her for TV. That means, of course, that the big yellow lab was his, too… She’d fly to New York to film in his kitchen then go back to Savannah. I talked to her one night on her cell phone while she was waiting for her plane and I guess she was bored, because we talked and talked, long after I was through interviewing her.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Paula Deen’s show is filmed in Savannah. I know someone who works for the show and has to fly from New York to Savannah for every episode.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Yeah, I thought so. I remember a show when she unveiled her kitchen and said that it took up half the space in her new house. I figured she’d start filming there, but I guess I haven’t seen a show in awhile. I don’t watch much television at all in the summer–I’m a heat lover and like to be outside…
August 10th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
They have already looked at a friend of mine’s house in Midtown - their house fit ALL of the requirements which was crazy!!! (And what a house it is. AWESOME kitchen…)
August 10th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Sarge, that’s neat for your friends! I hope their kitchen is the one that is selected. Maybe if you are interested, they would let you come over & watch while they’re filming. It is amazing some of the hidden jewels you’ll find in Midtown. I have one of the smaller homes in my area, built in 1900, but the ceilings are 10 feet high & the kitchen/breakfast area is 23 feet long. That’s one of the things that makes Midtown so cool - you never know what has been done to the homes over the years until you see them on the inside.
August 11th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I know oh so well about Midtown homes as I have been a Midtowner for almost 30 years -and on my 7th reno! Love it and the cool architecture. Nothing against new construction but you can’t beat the quality and solid construction you can find in Midtown. Of course that always also depends on the previous owners!!
My friends will definitely let me come over if they are chosen. They are mulling over the disruption aspect of the whole process…it could be quite a bit! They just did a MAJOR reno of their kitchen and it is one for the home and garden books - and they designed it themselves.
August 11th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I have a little over 30 yrs. in Midtownas an adult, & also grew up in this area until my family decided to move to E. Memphis when I was 10. This is my 3rd renovated Midtown home, & I lived thru the first two in the house while the tearing up process was going on. Plaster dust, multiple layers of hideous wallpaper applied with wheat paste, water coming out the kitchen light fixture from the upstairs bath, having to use the neighbors’ toilet or go to McDonald’s…you name it, I’ve endured it. I actually almost felt sorry for the people who renovated my current home because they couldn’t sell theirs & had to sell this one when they ran out of $. But I wasn’t feeling sorry enough not to buy the house from them. They were fairly close to being finished & the few things missing were easy enough for me to have done as I was moving in. Your friends must be very talented to design & complete the major kitchen renovation themselves, Sarge. I can certainly understand their reluctance to allow a disruptive film crew into their masterpiece, no matter how careful they promise to be.
9 comment.