When it comes to celebrity chefs synonymous with Food Network, few names will be mentioned before Guy Fieri. Fieri has been an institution on the network since the mid-2000s, not long after he won Season 2 of The Next Food Network Star. Since then he's hosted many shows on the channel, including his signature long-running series Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
The series has been on for 13 years and counting, and Fieri thinks he knows why the show has such staying power. In an interview with Variety, the chef broke down the magic of his series, and how he's sought to keep the series fresh as the years go by:
I think people have this desire to believe that it’s all deep-fried hot dogs, burritos, tacos – which I’m not here to tell anybody it’s not. I try to make sure I’m giving folks that are watching the show a nice variety. I don’t want to do too many barbecue joints – I love my barbecue – too many Asian joints – I love Asian food – too many mom and pops. I try to make sure we give a lot of uniqueness. One of the things you will see is a lot of vegetarian, vegan restaurants coming on, which is an awesome representation of what’s going on in the industry right now.
For anyone wondering at home, Guy Fieri is working to ensure Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives isn't constantly hitting on the same spots around the nation. The eating world is unique and, for that reason, it's important to make sure that Fieri and the team are reflecting that rather than traveling to the most popular BBQ joint in every major city.
And yes, Guy Fieri does have to pace himself when filming Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives. When asked about which foods in particular he was fond of, the Guy's Grocery Games host shared his weakness was saying no to veggies, and occasionally, being told to save his appetite for other restaurants the show will visit in the course of a day.
Not every show can be Man vs. Food, and hosts of these shows often have to limit how much they eat at any one location to prepare for the next stop on the list. Anyone who has seen Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives knows that may not always be the easiest decision, especially after sampling a five-star steak and knowing you're saving your appetite for a deep-fried Twinkee. Then again, if that's the toughest part of Guy Fieri's job, it sounds like a good problem to have!
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and other Guy Fieri-hosted shows can be found quite often on Food Network. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on television and movies.
