Dinner Impossible

So as I referenced in my last post the day that we were at the Philly Zoo they were also taping a show called "Dinner Impossible". This show airs on The Food Network and Henry and I have watched it several times. The mission of the entire show is to create a feast from start to finish for a banquet of people. Robert and his assistants have to plan the menu, shop for the food, make the food and serve the food all in one day. Usually there is some sort of added "challenge" to make their jobs a little harder. It is also known that Robert has a pretty short temper and many times his sous chefs and assistants get the brunt of his stress :)) AKA getting yelled at.

For this challenge Robert and his team had to create a banquet for over 500 military service men and women and their families from a menu that consisted of ingredients that animals at the zoo eat. So he had to create a menu based on the diets of the Big Cats (lions, tigers, etc), Primates, Birds and Reptiles.

Our friend Mandy (the same one that got us into the zoo) was selected to be one of Robert's sous chefs! It was so awesome because we got to see her in action! We must have stood by the set for over 30 minutes watching. It was cool to see the cameras and Robert and his staff working furiously. I was talking to Henry that while we were there Robert was actually under control..no yelling, no throwing, etc. Henry said wait until about an hour before the deadline and then see what happens! Mandy was so focused on doing whatever she was doing that she didn't even notice us...which is a good thing! When I spoke to Mandy that night she said some menu selections included: Cricket Jello Shots (yum), Beef Wellington, Rabbit Nuggets, Assorted Fruit and much more that I can't remember! Mandy also said that Robert was the nicest guy ever! That he told them all at the beginning not to take any of his rants seriously and to feel free to talk right back to him. She also said he was RIPPED.

Here are some pictures from the set!

Look at all the food! And this was at the middle of taping. Can you imagine how much there must have been at the beginning!
Robert assessing the food situation.
Talking on camera
You can see Mandy behind Robert! Working hard!
Hi Mandy! I think she was breading rabbit nuggets here.

Mandy being interviewed for the show! Go Mandy!
Robert assessing the situation and asking his sous chefs what was done and what wasn't.
Apparently Robert was not impressed by what they had done and got a little testy.

I'll let you all know when the air date is. Who knows, maybe you will see us in the crowd on the show!