Russell Warnick


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Endless Questions: Chef R.J. Cooper on Iron Chef America and Magical Food Rides

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You’d think since leaving Washington’s swanky, Southern restaurant Vidalia earlier this year, Chef R.J. Cooper would have plenty of time on his hands, but he’ll tell you that’s not the case. Over the past six months Cooper has been overseeing the construction of his new restaurant, Rogue 24, working with Chefs as Parents and throwing in a little reality TV. Cooper kicks off season 9 of Food Network’s Iron Chef America, challenging the newly minted winner of The Next Iron Chef America, Marc Forgione.

I chatted with Cooper about the pressures of Iron Chef America and the magical ride that is his new venture.

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Top Chef Just Desserts Exit Interview: The Finale

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There we have it folks. Top Chef Just Desserts has ended its first season and oh what drama. Not only did we see some amazing pastries that made us want to lick our television screens but we witnessed a roller coaster of emotion, petty fighting, and at times damn-right nastiness. Let’s take one last chance to hear what the chef’testants  have to say. That’s right, we not only chatted with the very first TCJD winner, but the two runner ups as well.

And the winner is…

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Three Little Pigs

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It’s no secret that we here at Endless Simmer consider ourselves bacon aficionados. We eat bacon, we drink bacon and even make bacon. But do we really know what it is? Over the years I’ve proclaimed my love of English bacon and boasted its superiority over your traditional American bacon, but we’ve never looked at why that is. I’m no butcher but I’ve eaten enough bacon to have a fair understanding of the different types on offer.

From clockwise left, we have Canadian, standard American and English bacon, cooked in a little oil in a non-stick frying pan. Here’s a quick lesson.

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Top Chef Just Desserts Exit Interview: Episode 8

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Just Desserts is clearly scraping the barrel. They’ve resorted to edible arrangements for the Quickfire, and the judges, including one Shinmin Li, don’t even bother to eat what the chefs created, just stand and gawk. WTF! For the elimination challenge the chefs had to create a “Celebritea” duo of cakes for a tea party, and apparently some of these chefs have never been to one. Chefs, this is how it’s done.

Keep reading to see who packed their whisk.

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The McRib is McBack

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It’s back. The iconic spare-rib shaped sandwich from McDonald’s. I was but a twinkle in my father’s eye the first time the McRib surfaced, so I never got around to eating one, and I’ve never been so inclined as to cross state lines just to find it.

It’s been almost four years since my last McDonald’s fine, two years since I got drunk and ate McDonald’s. I’m not sure why McD’s became the victim of my boycott, but I have always thought of it as the epitome of fast food. For some reason I feel less guilty when eating Burger King or a late night slice of pizza.

But for the purposes of research alone, I broke my “fast food” boycott and took a bite into the elusive McRib, which McD’s has brought back by popular demand for a special six-week, nation-wide run, now through December 5. Continue reading to see what I have to say.

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Top Chef Just Desserts Exit Interview: Episode 7

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Just Desserts this week took on the classic Restaurant Wars challenge. The two teams were tasked with developing a bakery, naturally. Each of the chef’testants pulled straws for group assignments, and as luck would have it, Team Diva managed to play together.

Keep reading to see who packed up their measuring spoons.

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