Take Home Chef
Encyclopedia
Take Home Chef is a half-hour reality
cooking show
starring Curtis Stone
. It originally aired on TLC
.
, typically an attractive woman in her 20s or 30s, and asks if she is cooking a meal for someone that night. When the person responds affirmatively, Stone offers his services to help cook dinner
. They drive to the participant's house, cook the meal, and then surprise the participant's partner or guest upon their arrival.
While Chef Stone is a tall attractive man, the surprised shopper is usually a woman (typically a younger and attractive woman), so the show relies on faux sexual tension for part of its entertainment value. Chef Stone must "pick up" the woman at the supermarket and convince her to take him home. Jokes about what the woman's husband/partner or neighbors will think when she brings home a strange man are common. There have been a few episodes of men surprising their partners.
Recipe
s that are used in each episode are posted on the show's official website.
guest starred on the show in October 2006 with her husband actor Craig Strong and their two sons. Comedian Randy Sklar was surprised with Beef Wellington
by his wife and Stone.
Canadian-Australian actress Kimberley Joseph
appeared in the episode "Kimberly" (sic) that first aired June 15, 2007. Seemingly chosen at random in a grocery store, she and Curtis then recognized each other from TV shows the other had been on back home. The pair surprised three of her friends with a Spanish-themed menu, featuring tapas
and a manchego cheese dessert.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
cooking show
Cooking show
A TV cooking show is a television program that presents the preparation of food, in a kitchen on the studio set. The host of the show, often a celebrity chef, prepares one or more dishes over the course of the show, taking the viewing audience through the food's preparation showing all...
starring Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality, nicknamed "The Quiet Terminator" by fans following his performance on The Celebrity Apprentice 3.-Background:...
. It originally aired on 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...
.
Format
In each episode, Stone introduces himself to a stranger in a grocery storeGrocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
, typically an attractive woman in her 20s or 30s, and asks if she is cooking a meal for someone that night. When the person responds affirmatively, Stone offers his services to help cook dinner
Dinner
Dinner is usually the name of the main meal of the day. Depending upon culture, dinner may be the second, third or fourth meal of the day. Originally, though, it referred to the first meal of the day, eaten around noon, and is still occasionally used for a noontime meal, if it is a large or main...
. They drive to the participant's house, cook the meal, and then surprise the participant's partner or guest upon their arrival.
While Chef Stone is a tall attractive man, the surprised shopper is usually a woman (typically a younger and attractive woman), so the show relies on faux sexual tension for part of its entertainment value. Chef Stone must "pick up" the woman at the supermarket and convince her to take him home. Jokes about what the woman's husband/partner or neighbors will think when she brings home a strange man are common. There have been a few episodes of men surprising their partners.
Recipe
Recipe
A recipe is a set of instructions that describe how to prepare or make something, especially a culinary dish.-Components:Modern culinary recipes normally consist of several components*The name of the dish...
s that are used in each episode are posted on the show's official website.
Notable guests
Voice actress Tara StrongTara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
guest starred on the show in October 2006 with her husband actor Craig Strong and their two sons. Comedian Randy Sklar was surprised with Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington is a preparation of fillet steak coated with pâté and duxelles, which is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked...
by his wife and Stone.
Canadian-Australian actress Kimberley Joseph
Kimberley Joseph
Kimberley Joseph is a Canadian-Australian actress who is based in the United States. Joseph was born in Canada, raised on the Gold Coast in Australia, and educated in Switzerland. After returning to Australia, she began a degree at Bond University but dropped out at the age of 19 when she was cast...
appeared in the episode "Kimberly" (sic) that first aired June 15, 2007. Seemingly chosen at random in a grocery store, she and Curtis then recognized each other from TV shows the other had been on back home. The pair surprised three of her friends with a Spanish-themed menu, featuring tapas
Tapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
and a manchego cheese dessert.