Damaris Phillips Archives

Food Network debuts ‘Ultimate Summer Cook-Off’ with host Eddie Jackson

June 27, 2018

Host Eddie Jackson in "Ultimate Summer Cook-Off" — Host Eddie Jackson in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

The following is a press release from Food Network:

Six talented chefs enter the summer house to square off in the new primetime culinary series, Ultimate Summer Cook-Off, premiering Sunday, August 5 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network. Whether it’s a chef with a restaurant right on the beach, a seafood master, or a chef from Hawaii, each competitor has their own connection to the summer season and their culinary reputations at stake. Host Eddie Jackson challenges the chefs over four episodes, as each competitor must take on two rounds of summer culinary heats that test their skill and creativity. The chef who wins the first challenge in each episode will receive a key advantage during round two, gaining access to a special cooler with high-end ingredients that no other competitor can use, before presenting their creations to a panel of expert judges. Southern and Hungry’s Damaris Phillips and Let’s Eat’s Jamika Pessoa are joined by a roster of special guest judges each week, including Comfort Food Tour’s Mark Anderson and Ryan Fey, BBQ blogger Susie Bulloch, Comfort Nation’s Lazarus Lynch, Genius Kitchen’s Courtney Rada and pitmaster Cameron Treu, to determine which chef exemplifies what summer is all about with their dishes and earns the $25,000 grand prize.

“Summer is synonymous with spending time with family and friends, while gathering around the grill to dig in to some finger-licking BBQ,” said Courtney White, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Programming, Food Network and HGTV. “Eddie Jackson is the perfect host to challenge these six chefs in taking their culinary bona fides and placing them on the line, while creating summer dishes that are fun and exhilarating for a chance at walking away with $25,000.”

In the premiere episode, host Eddie Jackson presents the chefs with the first challenge: they will have 30 minutes to whip up their best backyard burger, with each chef randomly choosing a cooler with ingredients to use in their dish. Judges Damaris Phillips and Jamika Pessoa are joined by Mark Anderson and Ryan Fey to choose the best backyard burger, with the winner receiving a key advantage in the next round. In round two, the chefs make the quintessential American summer dish – hot dogs! The chefs have 60 minutes to create one fully loaded hot dog and one fully unexpected hot dog. In the end, one chef is sent home for the summer, while the rest continue in pursuit of the grand prize. Other challenges during the season include creating an entire summer dinner with a travel destination theme and having 30 minutes to prepare an outrageous six-foot-long lobster roll, all culminating with the last three chefs battling it out in the finale on Sunday, August 26 at 8pm ET/PT, to determine who wins Food Network’s Ultimate Summer Cook-Off and $25,000!Get to know the summer cook-off challengers and see photos and highlights of their dishes at FoodNetwork.com/SummerCookOff. To enjoy the ultimate summer culinary experience, share your favorite summer dishes using #SummerCookOff.

Premiering Sunday, August 5 at 8pm – “All-American Party”

Eddie Jackson welcomes six spectacular chefs to the summer house for the ultimate all-American showdown. First up, the chefs have 30 minutes to whip up their best backyard burger and each chef must randomly choose a cooler with an ingredient to use in their dish. Judges Damaris Phillips and Jamika Pessoa are joined by Mark Anderson and Ryan Fey to choose the best backyard burger, and the winner receives a key advantage in the next round. In round two, the chefs make another quintessential American summer food — hot dogs! They have 60 minutes to create one fully loaded hot dog and one fully unexpected hot dog. In the end, the judges will send one chef home for the summer, while the rest continue on in pursuit of the $25,000 grand prize.

Premiering Sunday, August 12 at 8pm – “Seafood Spectacular”

Eddie Jackson reveals the theme to the five remaining chefs: seafood! For their first challenge, the chefs have 30 minutes to prepare an outrageous six-foot-long lobster roll. Judges Damaris Phillips and Jamika Pessoa are joined by Lazarus Lynch to choose their favorite lobster roll, and the winning chef gets access to the special cooler in the second heat. Next up, Eddie challenges the chefs to present the judges with a 60-minute seafood feast. At the end of the round, the judges send one chef packing, while the final four move one step closer to $25,000.

Premiering Sunday, August 19 at 8pm – “Summer Vacation”

The four remaining chefs return to the summer house, and Eddie Jackson sets up the theme: summer vacation! For the first challenge, the chefs have 30 minutes to take one tropical fruit and serve it two ways, but no two chefs can use the same fruit. Judges Damaris Phillips and Jamika Pessoa are joined by Genius Kitchen‘s Courtney Rada to pick which chef used their tropical fruit the best. The winning chef gains access to the special ingredient cooler in the second heat, where they’ll have 60 minutes to prepare an entire summer dinner with a popular travel destination theme. One chef’s summer vacation ends, and the last three chefs move on to the finale and a chance to win $25,000.

Premiering Sunday, August 26 at 8pm – “Ultimate Summer Party” – SEASON FINALE!

Eddie Jackson greets the last three chefs for the big finale and tells them that they’ll be preparing the ultimate summer party. In their first challenge, the chefs have 30 minutes to create three kabobs with summer party themes and one chef will get skewered early by judges Damaris Phillips and Jamika Pessoa, who are joined by barbecue experts Susie Bulloch and Cameron Treu. In the second and final heat, the two remaining chefs have 60 minutes to create an elevated dinner and dessert for the ultimate summer dinner party, but the only heat source they can use is the grill. In the end, one chef wins the Ultimate Summer Cook-Off and $25,000!

Online, meet the summer cookoff challengers and see photo highlights of the competition. Share your favorite summer dishes using #SummerCookOff.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Host Eddie Jackson with guest judges Mark Anderson and Ryan Fey and judges Jamika Pessoa and Damaris Phillips in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Contestants Jonathan Kastner, Tamra Eddy, Alex Thomopolous, Lee Anne Wong, Jorge Gomez and Joe Brock in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Lee Anne Wong presents her dish to guest judges Mark Anderson and Ryan Fey, and judges Jamika Pessoa and Damaris Phillips and host Eddie Jackson in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Eddie Jackson and contestant Jorge Gomez in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Contestant Alex Thomopolous in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Host Eddie Jackson in “Ultimate Summer Cook-Off” (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

Cooking Channel debuts new series ‘Southern and Hungry’ and ‘Man’s Greatest Food’

September 13, 2017

The following is an excerpt from a Cooking Channel press release:

Cooking Channel dishes out sweet treats, savory bites and food facts all month long this October.

Southern and Hungry – Premiering Monday, October 9 at 8pmET/5pmPT – SERIES PREMIERE!
Southern food expert Damaris Phillips and NASCAR personality Rutlege Wood are two friends that are obsessed with everything southern: the people, the culture, but mainly the food. On their road trip through the South, they’ll highlight the most memorable dishes and real, down-home restaurants that remind them of the ones they grew up eating in and that always feels like home.

Man’s Greatest Food – Premiering Wednesday, October 11 at 8pmET/5pmPT – NEW SERIES!
Roger Mooking leads a culinary odyssey around the country on the ultimate search for Man’s Greatest Food. From Steaks to Barbecue, Seafood to Sandwiches, Pork to Pizza, and of course, man’s greatest Hamburgers, no eatery is too far out of the way for these mouth-watering Top Fifteen shows. Roger sets a fast pace to sample some of the most succulent, not-to-be-missed food offerings to be found in these United States.

Premiering Wednesday, October 11 at 8pmET/5pmPT – “Barbecue”

Roger Mooking cannot resist the sweet, succulent smoky goodness of barbecue as he canvasses the country on the lookout for the fifteen best barbecue dishes wherever he can find them. For as long as there has been fire, man has been barbecuing over it. Brisket, chicken, whole hog, mutton, and even a breakfast taco are just a few of the saucy delights to be found when fire, meat, and seasoning intersect in juicy perfection.

Premiering Wednesday, October 18 at 8pmET/5pmPT – “Pizza”

Pizza is one of man’s most popular inventions and everyone’s favorite food. So when Roger Mooking presents the top fifteen pizza offerings in the whole country, it’s bound to be a revelation. From the paper-thin crusts of New York, to the wood-fired ovens of the west coast, to the bottomless deep dish of Chicago, and with toppings many have never even considered, being called the best finally puts pizza on the pedestal it deserves.

Bobby Flay and Damaris Phillips team up for ‘The Bobby and Damaris Show’

August 7, 2017

Bobby Flay and Damaris Phlliips — Bobby Flay (pictured at left) and Damaris Phillips (pictured at right) (Photos courtesy of Food Network)

The following is a press release from Food Network:

When Bobby Flay isn’t cooking in one of his restaurants, he is known for hosting some of the best weekend gatherings, cooking and feeding friends who may be visiting for few days or just stopping by to say hello. This September, Bobby opens his home to viewers and, along with his friend Damaris Phillips, the two cook together and chat up a storm in the new series “The Bobby and Damaris Show,” premiering Sunday, September 3 at 12:30pm ET/PT on Food Network. The two met when Bobby hosted and Damaris won Food Network Star season nine, and neither are ever at a loss for words when talking about their passion for food, American and Southern classics, as well as great cocktails. Bobby brings his chef sensibility, while Damaris is the self-proclaimed “food geek” and culinary instructor – and she’s not afraid to school her once-mentor and keep him current on the latest trends. With episode themes from grilling and game day to a fall apple feast, this culinary duo is tops in talking food, testing quirky ideas and entertaining friends who stop by, including Ina Garten, Alex Guarnaschelli and Katie Lee.

“Bobby says he knew from the moment he met Damaris on Food Network Star that they were going to be friends – and their fun-filled banter and good-natured laughs are sure to entertain and even have viewers asking how they can score their own invitation,” said Courtney White, Senior Vice President, Programming, Scripps Networks Interactive. “Our audience will feel like they are spending a casual afternoon with friends, great food and conversation.”

The series kicks off with a grilling-themed episode, because nobody is more obsessed with grilling than Bobby and Damaris loves a food backyard bbq. Before turning up the heat, Damaris mixes a cool Mango Bellini as the two share their secrets to great backyard entertaining. Then they head to Bobby’s outdoor kitchen where he fires up the coals to make Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Green Olive Salsa Verde and Grilled Potatoes with Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette, and Damaris wraps up with a sweet spin on grilling with her Grilled Citrus Icebox Pie. Upcoming episode themes include comfort food, casseroles and game day.

Viewers can learn more about the hosts and get the featured recipes at FoodNetwork.com/BobbyandDamarisShow. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BobbyandDamarisShow.