Yes, the cooking and food we make on TV is real

Yes, the cooking and food we make on TV is real
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Want to know the hardest thing to do? Go on a morning show.

Want to know the hardest thing to do? Go on a morning show.
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Once on the TODAY Show, it was Halloween. I was trying to talk to Matt Lauer, and he’s dressed as Luke Skywalker. I’m in costume, too, so I have these big rubber gloves on, and I’m trying to ice a cake. Then there were Ewoks messing with everything. At the same time, I’m supposed to be answering questions and promoting the new season of my show. You have no idea how impossible that is. Plus, it’s live, and you have only two minutes.

This job is harder than it looks

This job is harder than it looks
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Besides just cooking, you have to describe your method step-by-step, talk about different ingredients, and make eye contact with the camera. And then there may be someone in your ear telling you you need to get to the next step or to move the pepper mill because it’s blocking the shot.

What kind of spoon did I use? The one they handed to me.

What kind of spoon did I use? The one they handed to me.
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Only people who have their own line get to use specific products and tools.

We’re cooking all this amazing food on TV, caviars and truffles and such…

We’re cooking all this amazing food on TV, caviars and truffles and such…
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…But when we take a break for the most part what we’re eating – unfortunately – is very standard catered food like baked chicken breast or unremarkable mac-n-cheese.

These are the 10 foods you shouldn’t touch at all-you-can-eat buffets. 

No, that’s not my real house or kitchen

No, that’s not my real house or kitchen
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In most cases, I’m cooking on a set that gets packed up when we’re done filming the season. If you stare at the cars in the background long enough, you’ll realise it’s just a video loop.

If a TV chef is going to do a recipe that calls for a kilo of asparagus, we’ll have four kilos on the set, just in case of retakes or swap outs

If a TV chef is going to do a recipe that calls for a kilo of asparagus, we’ll have four kilos on the set, just in case of retakes or swap outs
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If there are four recipes per show, and you tape four shows a day, you wind up with a tremendous amount of food. Most of the extra gets distributed to food pantries. But sometimes the crew gets a treat.

Here are 5 tips for cutting down on food waste. 

Most chefs, especially big names, are not involved at all in deciding what they’re cooking if they’re invited to do a short on a morning show

Most chefs, especially big names, are not involved at all in deciding what they’re cooking if they’re invited to do a short on a morning show
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They often don’t even know what they’re making until they get there.

Learn the 15 foods you should never keep in your pantry. 

I once had a thickshake shoot out of the blender and all over me

I once had a thickshake shoot out of the blender and all over me
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The crew thought it was the funniest thing in the world. Because of continuity, my wardrobe had to stay the same, so I had to run off set, take off the outfit, soak it in seltzer and blow dry it out. Plus, my hair and makeup had to get fixed. Meanwhile, the food was getting cold. Viewers saw none of that.

Even though my show is on every week, the whole season was probably shot in just a few days or weeks many months earlier

Even though my show is on every week, the whole season was probably shot in just a few days or weeks many months earlier
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So we’re always looking for vegetables out of season and doing Christmas cooking in June.

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Source: RD.com

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