Jennifer Aniston and Jamie Oliver Star on Oprah's Big Give

By JULIETTE ROSSANT It may be difficult to decide who is the best chef in America, but it probably is more difficult to decide who is the most philanthropic. Chefs feed heart and soul, and perhaps because they are symbols of sharing and nurturing they are constantly called upon to donate to society. Some chefs, like Cat Cora, set up a foundation to help funnel that generosity. Others give and give to charities whenever there is a need. It is not easy, since margins are slim, and chefs still have to pay their cooks, their purveyors, and the electricity. There are awards and honors for generous chefs, but far to few to honor them all. Oprah Winfrey has added one more. Her new ABC prime time show, The Big Give, scheduled to premier on June 1st, is a reality TV show all about giving. The Big Give is one of two new series from Oprah's production company Harpo Productions. The other is Your Money or Your Life. This is how her website puts it: The Big Give will challenge contestants to dream up creative and innovative ways to help others. Contestants will travel through the U.S. completing tasks based around the communities' needs and changing the lives within them. It's a new, positive twist to primetime television created in the spirit of The Oprah Winfrey Show. In one episode, actress Jennifer Aniston is teamed up with Jamie Oliver. Jamie has been friends with Jennifer ever since she invited him to LA to cook for then husband Brad Pitt (now with Angelina Jolie). When Brad and Angelina were rumored to be planning their wedding, there were press reports that Jennifer was hurt Jamie would be catering the event. So much for tabloid stories! What's odd about this set up? First, Jamie is a British chef and works in Britain. Surely, he is more attuned to the needs of UK citizens than Americans. Second, he has already proven himself a more than generous chef with his own Fifteen Foundation. There are plenty of other dashing, young chefs in America who could be paired with Jennifer. However, Jamie does have TV food shows here and in Canada, so he has ample reason to do this. Let's hope they use their The Big Give money to implement Jamie's successful campaign to improve British school food in schools on this side of the Atlantic! Press releases: Oprah's School Harpo Productions Related news: San Francisco Chronicle, Now Magazine, Post-Chronicle, What's On TV, Contact Music, UPI, E! Online BBC, New York Times, MSNBC, Variety Previous articles: Jamie Oliver Betters British School Food Jamie Oliver New Year: School Lunch Jamie Oliver: School Lunch Rachael Ray: Media Empire Chefs & Charity Cat Cora: Chefs for Humanity Food Television Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Oliver, Big Give, Oprah Winfrey --> back to Super Chef