Food Network: Road Tasted with the Neelys

By JULIETTE ROSSANT It is summertime, so the Food Network wants to give you more Neelys more of the time. Remember last summer's show, Road Tasted hosted by Paula Deen's two sons, Jamie and Bobby. They hit the road visiting and profiling specialty food stores and family run businesses across the country. They'd stop at a sandwich maker, learn how to make their best selling sandwich and then the audience could order the sandwich online. The show promoted small companies and the boys got to learn a bit about the rest of the country's traditional foods. This time around, husband and wife team of Pat and Gina Neely are on the road hosting the same show. The Neelys already have a popular show on FN called Down Home with the Neelys (see Super Chef's review) that focuses on Southern family cuisine. Super Chef got a sneak peak at the premier episode of Road Tasted, which airs tonight, July 22nd at 9:30pm ET/PT. In this episode on Minnesota, they start at Ames Farm in Watertown, MN, which produces honey. Then they eat ribs at Steve Polski's Market Bar-B-Que in Minneapolis, then they make marshmallows with Laura Dhuyvetter's at her home based Laura's Candy in St. Peter, and finally a profile (without the Neelys on camera) of Faribault Dairy, producers of St. Pete's Select Blue Cheese. If you are a big Neely fan, you're going to adore this new show. Pat delivers his lines about having all the honey (Gina) he needs, and she croons in agreement. But if you aren't a big fan, try to ignore the Neelys and watch the specialty food producers show off their wares. Michael, who is pit master at Market Bar-B-Que, beams as he shows them how he makes his ribs (without giving away any secrets). Pat invites him down to Memphis where the Neelys run barbeque restaurants. Does he go? And what is this guy's last name? Laura helps the Neelys make peppermint marshmallows, and then her five kids roast marshmallows for s'mores, clearly having fun eating the sticky treats. Hers is a good business story and it's too bad we don't learn more about how she runs it. It's too bad the Neelys can't focus more and tell the great stories of the people they visit instead of focusing on themselves. Watch Road Tasted if you are going on the road in the US this summer, or you need some good suggestions for holiday gifts for far off hungry relatives. Previous articles: Down Home with the Neelys Food Network 2008 New Shows Jamie and Bobby Deen: Road Tasted [Food Television - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef