Guy Fieri: TV Chef Dishes on Diners & Dye

| Print Post This | Like (0) | Comments (1)

IN 2006, GUY FIERI won the big prize on "The Next Food Network Star," thanks to his passionate style and penchant for whipping up spicy cuisine. Two years later, he's captaining his own brand, with a trio of Food Network shows including "Guy's Big Bite" and "Guy Off the Hook." The California-casual chef — who has all the subtlety (and the enormous appetite) of a polar bear — also just came out with his first book, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" ($19.95, William Morrow Cookbooks). We caught up with the tattooed, not-so-naturally blond showman about his full plate of projects.

» EXPRESS: You book comes across like an anti-Zagat Survey. How do you find these off-the-map restaurants?
» FIERI: When we first started out, we were just driving around and doing it. Now people nominate their favorites in e-mails by the thousands. You can't imagine how long it takes to go through my inbox.

» EXPRESS: What is the mark of a great roadside kitchen?
» FIERI:It all comes down to the food. It doesn't have to be four-star, but if they are making mac and cheese, it had better be dynamite.

» EXPRESS: Some things just taste better eaten in a car. What do you like to eat on the road?
» FIERI: I'm not a big eater in the car. I have two little kids, and they make enough of a mess. That said, one of my favorite places is called the Bar-B-Q-King in Charlotte, N.C. I can park and eat barbecue in the flatbed of my truck all afternoon.

» EXPRESS: Of the 60 picks in the new book, the closest one to D.C. is the Virginia Diner in Wakefield, Va. Why should I drive 163 miles for a taste?
» FIERI: If someplace has that kind of history, it's a lure. The peanut pie is awesome, as are the collard greens and the thinly sliced ham on homemade biscuits.

» EXPRESS: Three TV shows and a new book; that schedule must be rough on a blond. How do you maintain your color?
» FIERI: The funny thing about having platinum hair is that people all over the country come up to me all the time saying, "I'd love to do your hair." So, I have someone who touches it up in Chicago, someone in New York and two in California.

» EXPRESS: Which product do you use?
» FIERI: I use J Beverly Hills Clear Wax. I was in an airport, and a woman just walked up and gave me some. It's the best stuff in the world.

» EXPRESS: You do have a signature look. Did I spot you on "Saturday Night Live" when Michael Phelps hosted?
» FIERI: Yes! Front row! I've been the biggest fan of "SNL" since the days of [John] Belushi. In the next two years, I'd love to host.

» EXPRESS: We can't see your feet on TV, but I heard a rumor you own 20 pairs of the same shoe.
» FIERI: Yep, it's true. Globe skateboard shoes. I have them in every color.

» EXPRESS: On both "Guy's Big Bite" and "Guy Off the Hook," you clean up as you cook. Who cleans at your house?
» FIERI: At home, when I cook, I clean up my space and put scraps in the compost. But when it comes to the dishwasher, I'm not allowed to touch it. My wife has a system and will only allow about four people in the world to load and unload. And I'm not one of them. My friend Possum is the only one of the guys who can.

» EXPRESS: One last thing, Guy: Is there any food that's better than bacon?
» FIERI: No. I think bacon's really about it.

Written by Kate Gibbs/Express
Photo courtesy of Food Network