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Food Network star Guy Fieri

Food Network star Guy Fieri talks about food in the fast lane

By Stephanie Stewart - tennessean.com

On Nov. 22, Nashville has the opportunity to experience the wild personality of Food Network star Guy Fieri up close, when he brings his road show to town for a night of food, rock and roll and “all the stuff they don’t let me do on TV.” The multi-talented Fieri shot to stardom with his show Drive-ins, Diners and Dives, after winning the second season of The Next Food Network Star. In advance of the show, he spoke with us about what makes good (Southern) food. His brilliant enthusiasm is catching.

So, been to Nashville before? Hey, listen, I’ve made a bunch of stops down there, usually on my way to Lynchburg, where I go to the Jack Daniels Barbecue Cook Off every year. But seriously, Nashville was one of my top cities when they asked me where I wanted to come for the tour—it’s iconic, the music, the food, the nightlife, the scenery.

Where do you eat when you visit? Ever been to Prince’s Hot Chicken? I came down during our hot rod tour eight or nine years ago—before the Food Network, and we drove out in my yellow, big block ’71 Chevelle from Opryland Hotel about midnight. When they ask me how hot I want it, I say “hot!”—It took me a month to repair my mouth. I mean, seriously, that stuff was like the surface of the sun. It was awesome!

Anywhere else? Last time I was here, we spent an evening down at Second and Broadway, went into six or seven joints and saw some of the best bands—what atmosphere! And I met so many great people at all the party spots.

You’re from California and you’re renowned for a certain type of food—what’s your feeling on traditional Southern cuisine? Are you kidding? Okay, first what you don’t know is my Mom is from North Carolina, so I know Southern food. Growing up, it was all about grits and red-eye gravy. I think there’s also this misunderstanding that says all Southern food is biscuits and gravy and all California food is salads. But I think there are a lot of similar interests—Southern food is originally all about hand-made, home-grown and homemade. I love things like succotash and good smoked ham.

So you can cook Southern, huh? Let me tell you, I don’t pose! [He laughs] When I’m home on Sunday, watching the football game, I’ve got the grits rolled out. I love Southern. I love Cajun too.

What’s your favorite type of food, really? Italian, man, comfort food. It’s the last thing before you put me in the ground, could eat it cold, hot, boiled, fried, in boat in moat with a goat ... really. Spaghetti and meatballs. My perfect red sauce is just tomatoes (San Marzano tomatoes), garlic, carrots, celery, fresh basil, red wine, red chili flake, minced onion, oregano, olive oil—I’m a purist about it.

You have a garden for all this? We’re really fortunate to live in a good climate. I have a huge garden. I’ve got, like, 40 herbs growing, and I like to take my sons out and talk about things—like why fennel tastes the way it does, and the value of real food.

You believe in buying fresh foods, huh? It’s vital. We’ve got to get our kids away from all these preservatives and processed things. We skipped two generations where all we ate was fast, processed stuff, and look at us now—we didn’t recognize what it was doing to us.

I’ve been very involved in an effort to get the second Saturday in May proclaimed “Cook With Your Kids Day” in California. It’s time to slow things down, teach kids where food comes from. It’s back to basics. I’m all about easy recipes for kids, with simple and pure foods—and, let me tell you, don’t make kids learn the hard way. don’t bring them into the kitchen and make them cut up mirepoix. They want to cook, so play to their instincts. You do the chopping.

Got a philosophy of life to share? Live every day to the fullest, man. Hey, I’ve got three shows, five restaurants, two cookbooks. There’s been a lot added to my world lately, you know? It’s crazy. Plus my wife and I two boys. But at the end of the day, I’m just some dude. What you see is what you get.
Online Exclusive: Q and A with Guy Fieri

Ever wonder what the Food TV star wears at home? Listens to? Here are the answers
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Okay, Guy, what’s on your iPod? Well that question’s a Pandora’s box to open, now isn’t it? I’ve got three iPods, one for workouts, one for the plane and a big one with everything, I’ve got to have about 6,000 songs. I love music. Let’s see, I’ve got everything from classic rock to rap, to stuff like Enya, and I’ve got old-school country.

Hey, I just recently went to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert that was like the best rock and roll moment of my life. I took my 13-year-old son Hunter with me, and I cooked for the band. So we’re sort of to the side of the stage, and Donnie Van Zant reaches out and pulls hunter on stage with him—amazing, nothing ever really touched me like that. He had a blast!

How do you dress off-camera? The same way I dress on. My Dickies’ shorts, T-shirts, skateboard shoes. I showed up for the first show like that. What you see is what you get.

We’ve heard about you and cars. What do you drive? I’ve got eight cars and I drive them all. Cars are my biggest addiction. I guess I drive my Jeep most. I started out with hot rods, and I’ve got the big block Chevelle still. I’ve got a three-quarter ton diesel GMC pickup, a yellow Corvette. Oh yeah, all my cars are yellow.

My Dad used to look at me and say, “Son, you know, if you’d taken all the money you’ve put into cars and invested in a nice two-bedroom condo ...” And I’d say, “Yeah, but Dad, have you ever tried to do a burnout in a two-bedroom condo?”

What do you want people to really know about you? What you see is what you get. I’m just a regular guy. I’ve got great parents, wife, kids, friends. Someone who’d seen me on TV once said, “Hey, you’re just like who you are.” That’s all I got. When I go to bed every night, I remind myself I’m just Guy. I gotta keep it real. If you see me getting out of whack, pull me in check, huh? I just want to stay me.

Okay, Guy, what’s on your iPod? Well that question’s a Pandora’s box to open, now isn’t it? I’ve got three iPods, one for workouts, one for the plane and a big one with everything, I’ve got to have about 6,000 songs. I love music. Let’s see, I’ve got everything from classic rock to rap, to stuff like Enya, and I’ve got old-school country.

Hey, I just recently went to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert that was like the best rock and roll moment of my life. I took my 13-year-old son Hunter with me, and I cooked for the band. So we’re sort of to the side of the stage, and Donnie Van Zant reaches out and pulls hunter on stage with him—amazing, nothing ever really touched me like that. He had a blast!

How do you dress off-camera? The same way I dress on. My Dickies’ shorts, T-shirts, skateboard shoes. I showed up for the first show like that. What you see is what you get.

We’ve heard about you and cars. What do you drive? I’ve got eight cars and I drive them all. Cars are my biggest addiction. I guess I drive my Jeep most. I started out with hot rods, and I’ve got the big block Chevelle still. I’ve got a three-quarter ton diesel GMC pickup, a yellow Corvette. Oh yeah, all my cars are yellow.

My Dad used to look at me and say, “Son, you know, if you’d taken all the money you’ve put into cars and invested in a nice two-bedroom condo ...” And I’d say, “Yeah, but Dad, have you ever tried to do a burnout in a two-bedroom condo?”

What do you want people to really know about you? What you see is what you get. I’m just a regular guy. I’ve got great parents, wife, kids, friends. Someone who’d seen me on TV once said, “Hey, you’re just like who you are.” That’s all I got. When I go to bed every night, I remind myself I’m just Guy. I gotta keep it real. If you see me getting out of whack, pull me in check, huh? I just want to stay me.