Fiero, as I call him, has learned how to make a great deal of $$ by pandering to knuckleheads who lack original thought. Somehow this demographic actually has the money to spend, which is another mystery entirely. But, he's made a lot of dough, and I can't fault him for that. However, I've actually had the (let's just call it an) opportunity to meet him twice. Both times while I was mentoring a group of local high school kids cooking in the Pro-Start National competition. First time was in Charlotte when he was the guest celeb chef. It wasn't intentional, I was at the hotel bar chatting with several of the chef judges when he strolled up to join. Within a flash, all of the chefs excused themselves one way or another, which left me alone with him. Normal dude once his "image" is lifted, but I thought it hilarious the complete lack of comradery and respect the other chef judges had towards him. I think part of it was his sloppy attire and untied shoes, whereas they were all dressed in fresh pressed whites with starched pants and toques. They took the judging seriously, as well they should.
The second time was in San Diego, several years later for the same Pro-Start Nationals. This time with his film crew in tow. They were to make a tv show about the competition. Of course all the kids were super excited about this at first. Understandably so. But come time of the actual cooking- 1 hour to make 3 courses,2 plates each with no electricity and only 2 butane burners as heat sources, they quickly changed their minds. These kids,4 per team, each team representing their respective school from their state, have been training for almost a full year. Every second is accounted for. Every method perfectly timed to the next.
But none of us were prepared for fiero to interrupt the cooking process to share how cool he was with the kids by asking unrelated(at that exact moment) questions. These poor kids, stressed to the point of tears, cooking their butts off for a chance to win a full ride to the culinary school off their choice (which can equate to $100,000 these days), were completely caught off guard. Guy and his crew, with all their cameras and blazingly hot lamps, were just pulling kids to the side one by one. When he was done they'd just move to the next, leaving this kid utterly lost, and their teammates scrambling to make up for lost time and hands. We were just praying that they couldn't get to our team in time. But alas, the camera crew came over to film some close-ups of our kids plating. The heat of the lamps literally melted the tempered chocolate garnish, and when the camera guy noticed this he freaked out and knocked the back up garnishes to the floor. Not groovy. But the kids held their own, continuing on and beating the timer. THAT'S when our hero, fiero, came to chat. For 10 freaking minutes while the kids were standing there, holding the trays of finished foods, all of it dying. Of course the "heat lamps" from the crew weren't around. So naturally or team was bashed by the tasting chef judges for presenting cold, dead food. I'm not saying they were 1st place, but they certainly had as good a chance as the others.
The best part was the awards ceremony, where they did 3, yes 3, different takes of announcing the clown to the massive audience. 3 f'n takes. Not groovy at all.
I don't even think the damn show was ever aired.
