West Babylon’s Harold Dieterle and Great Neck’s Ilan Hall won the first two editions of “Top Chef.” When the fourth premieres March 12 on Bravo, the local scene and cuisine will belong to Richard Blais, born and bred in Uniondale. His parents and sister still live on Long Island. “I like to refer to it as ‘Strong Island,’” he tells us, with a wit that says as a comedian, he’s a pretty good chef. The onetime “Iron Chef America” contestant, who says he’s a proponent of molecular gastronomy - the study of the chemical nuts-and-bolts of food behavior - got his start at Mickey D’s. He worked in various kitchens while studying comparative humanities and religion at SUNY Old Westbury, and in 1998 got a degree from the Culinary Institute of America.
A culinary trail-Blais-er - cheeseburger with foie gras milkshake, anyone? - he may have been too avant-garde for Atlanta, where he now lives; his restaurants Blais, Bazzaar and Element are no more. His latest venture, BlaisCuisine.com, is being revamped as TrailBlais, which has something to do with “taste2″ (taste squared). Seven of the show’s other chefs work in New York City.
Remember “Circus of the Stars”? Well, do your parents remember?
In any case, NBC this summer brings back something like it, called “Celebrity Circus.” As with “Dancing With the Stars,” celebs here compete in tandem with professionals rather than just against each other.
And it’s going to be a two-ring circus, it turns out: According to Variety, ABC is planning to revive the actual “Circus of the Stars,” which ran as 16 specials from 1977 to - my God! Can it be true?! - 1991.
BAD TASTE
Get ready for another serving of “Flavor of Love.” The improbable-hit dating show starring rapper William Jonathan Drayton Jr., aka, Flavor Flav, returns for a third course on VH1 next Monday, Feb. 11. The network has also announced series that will search for the “Best Celebrity Magician” and for Diddy’s assistant, who will probably not be the same person.
“THE MOLE” HITS LI
ABC’s “The Mole” is set to return this summer after four years. If you want to audition for it, go to Minnesota’s Restaurant & Tavern, 959 W. Beech St. in Long Beach, Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.; details at mole casting.com.
RECAPS
Olympic softball gold-medalist Jennie Finch was fired from “The Celebrity Apprentice” … Mother-daughters Ada Maynor and Christan Henderson are off “Crowned” and Bette Sue Burkland and Alison Vincent are off “The Biggest Loser: Couples” … and Victorya Hong will not be victory-ous on “Project Runway.”
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-etreal285554896jan28,0,132312.story
Tags: , dating, dating game, find love, Flavor Flav returns to VH1, ilove new york, missed connections, new york, ny, public enemy, rock of love, singles, vh1 reality show
