George Duran
Encyclopedia
George Duran is an American
chef
and entertainer who is currently a spokesman in commercials for Hunt's
tomatoes. He also became host of TLC
's Ultimate Cake Off
in its second season.
, Venezuela
, to parents of Armenian
descent, George attended New York University
, majoring in Communications Studies. It was there where he began to pursue his interests of television and radio production. Hosting the HYE Time radio show on WNYU
, he won an award for Best Radio Talk Show at the National Association of College Broadcasters
in 1996.
George continued in radio, working as an on-air personality for comedy segments at WPLJ
in New York. There, he interacted with everyday people on the street, asking questions, doing stunts and cracking jokes. He moved on to WABC
radio in 1999 where he produced and performed more comedy sketches.
In 2000, George moved into the TV world, working in production on the popular MTV
show House of Style
. From there he moved to the Latin music television station HTV
where he hosted shows such as the Top 21 Videos of 2001 and Pachanga! in Miami.
2002 proved to be an important year for George. He decided to move to Paris
and pursue his other interest – food. George attended culinary school at the École Supérieure de Cuisine Française (ESCF) - Ferrandi
(English
: Higher School of French Cuisine, Ferrandi Group). While there, he hosted a successful TV show, Pop Cuisine, on France’s culinary network Cuisine TV which was nominated for a 7 d’Or (French Emmy)-–Best Cable Show award and won a 2003 Silver Grape Gastronomic Award. He also wrote culinary pieces for the French edition of FHM
magazine.
In 2006, Duran hosted the cooking show Ham on the Street
on the Food Network
. He also took over hosting duties from Jim O'Connor
for the Food Network show The Secret Life Of...
.
George had his first cookbook come out in Fall 2008 titled "Take This Dish and Twist It".
Duran is part of cookware company IMUSA's Chef Program, participating with the brand by creating exclusive recipes, webisodes, instructional videos and demos. His Hispanic roots are expressed with featured recipes such as "Pumpkin Pie Tamales" and .
In August 2011, Duran was employed by the Ketchum
public relations firm in order to promote processed food products from ConAgra, hosting guests which included food bloggers at fictitious West Village Restaurant Sotto Terra, without informing them of the nature of the meal until after the fact.
George’s culinary interests lie in French
, Armenian
, and South American
cuisines. He is fluent in Spanish, French, and Armenian. He currently resides in NYC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
and entertainer who is currently a spokesman in commercials for Hunt's
Hunt's
Hunt's is the name of a brand of preserved tomato products owned by ConAgra Foods, Inc. The company was founded in 1888, in Sebastopol, California, as the Hunt Bros. Fruit Packing Co. by Joseph and William Hunt. The brothers relocated to nearby Santa Rosa in 1890, and then to Hayward in 1895...
tomatoes. He also became host of TLC
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
's Ultimate Cake Off
Ultimate Cake Off
Ultimate Cake Off is an American television series that currently airs on TLC. The show is based on professional cake artists that go "head-to-head" in constructing cakes over five feet tall with the assistance of a team of chefs, designers etc. for a money prize. Season one of the series, hosted...
in its second season.
Biography
Born in CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, to parents of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
descent, George attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, majoring in Communications Studies. It was there where he began to pursue his interests of television and radio production. Hosting the HYE Time radio show on WNYU
WNYU
WNYU-FM is a college radio station owned and operated by New York University. Until 2004, it served lower Manhattan and surrounding areas, but thanks to a new booster, it now broadcasts to the tri-state region. The station can be heard on 89.1 FM at 8,300 watts from 4pm until 1am on weekdays,...
, he won an award for Best Radio Talk Show at the National Association of College Broadcasters
National Association of College Broadcasters
The National Association of College Broadcasters , was founded in 1988 by students at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Jumpstarted by a $300,000 grant from the now-defunct CBS Foundation, thanks to connections through the father of co-founder Doug Liman, NACB became the first trade...
in 1996.
George continued in radio, working as an on-air personality for comedy segments at WPLJ
WPLJ
WPLJ is a radio station in New York City owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media. WPLJ shares studio facilities with sister station WABC inside 2 Penn Plaza in midtown Manhattan, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building. The station currently plays a Hot Adult...
in New York. There, he interacted with everyday people on the street, asking questions, doing stunts and cracking jokes. He moved on to WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
radio in 1999 where he produced and performed more comedy sketches.
In 2000, George moved into the TV world, working in production on the popular MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show House of Style
House of Style
House of Style is an MTV show that premiered January 1, 1989, focusing on America's growing fascination with the "supermodel" craze. The show focused on fashion, lives of models, the modeling industry, and controversial topics such as eating disorders....
. From there he moved to the Latin music television station HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
where he hosted shows such as the Top 21 Videos of 2001 and Pachanga! in Miami.
2002 proved to be an important year for George. He decided to move to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and pursue his other interest – food. George attended culinary school at the École Supérieure de Cuisine Française (ESCF) - Ferrandi
École Supérieure de Cuisine Française (ESCF) - Ferrandi
École Supérieure de Cuisine Française is a professional training school located in central Paris...
(English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Higher School of French Cuisine, Ferrandi Group). While there, he hosted a successful TV show, Pop Cuisine, on France’s culinary network Cuisine TV which was nominated for a 7 d’Or (French Emmy)-–Best Cable Show award and won a 2003 Silver Grape Gastronomic Award. He also wrote culinary pieces for the French edition of FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
magazine.
In 2006, Duran hosted the cooking show Ham on the Street
Ham on the Street
Ham on the Street is a cooking show hosted by George Duran on the Food Network in 2006. George adds comedy to cooking as he explores each show's topic in the strangest possible ways. For example, during the show on breakfast, George tested to see if an ostrich egg could be cooked sunny-side up...
on the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
. He also took over hosting duties from Jim O'Connor
Jim O'Connor
Jim O'Connor is an American actor and former host of the show The Secret Life Of.... O'Connor first appeared on the Food Network as the host of All-American Festivals, replacing Tyler Florence as host. Later O'Connor went on to host the new Food Network show, The Secret Life Of... for three years,...
for the Food Network show The Secret Life Of...
The Secret Life Of... (television program)
The Secret Life of... is a television show on the Food Network hosted by George Duran.The "..." refers to the food item or style of food which is featured during the 30 minute program. Included in the lineup are: cookies, steak, comfort foods, coffee, tailgating and popcorn. The show combines...
.
George had his first cookbook come out in Fall 2008 titled "Take This Dish and Twist It".
Duran is part of cookware company IMUSA's Chef Program, participating with the brand by creating exclusive recipes, webisodes, instructional videos and demos. His Hispanic roots are expressed with featured recipes such as "Pumpkin Pie Tamales" and .
In August 2011, Duran was employed by the Ketchum
Ketchum Inc.
Ketchum is a global public relations firm, offering marketing, branding and corporate communications services. Founded in 1923 by George Ketchum as a Pittsburgh-based advertising company which later evolved to include a public relations practice, the firm currently has 23 offices and 46 affiliates...
public relations firm in order to promote processed food products from ConAgra, hosting guests which included food bloggers at fictitious West Village Restaurant Sotto Terra, without informing them of the nature of the meal until after the fact.
George’s culinary interests lie in French
French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from France that has developed from centuries of social change. In the Middle Ages, Guillaume Tirel , a court chef, authored Le Viandier, one of the earliest recipe collections of Medieval France...
, Armenian
Armenian cuisine
Armenian cuisine includes the foods and cooking techniques of the Armenian people, the Armenian diaspora and traditional Armenian foods and dishes. The cuisine reflects the history and geography where Armenians have lived as well as incorporating outside influences...
, and South American
South American cuisine
The Amazonia region of South America provides a plethora of fresh fish and tropical fruits. In Peru the Inca Empire and Incan cuisine contribute to the nation's overall cuisine. Potatoes are common, and also plants such as quinoa. The Pacific Ocean, provides a large amount of seafood. Many plains...
cuisines. He is fluent in Spanish, French, and Armenian. He currently resides in NYC.