In the World of Television, there exists One Man willing to go where other poker players dare not tread. This is the land where poker and television meet, not at the Rio or on ESPN, but some place much darker. The Blind Spot of television poker.
We are going deep, way deep into the annals of television to bring you this report. Poker has made itself known in a variety of scripted programs and it has even made its appearance on some reality programs, with Survivor being the standout. But what happens when poker meets foodie reality television?
The Next Food Network Star is a reality show competition much in the same vein as every other creative competition out there. Think Top Chef or for that matter, Top Chef’s precursor Project Runway, or while you are at it, the Apprentice or any other program where people compete to be the best at something according to a panel of judges. The prize on the Next Food Network Star is a cooking show on the Food Network, so the competitions focus mainly on cooking and presentation to an audience.
This week, in the mini-challenge, what Top Chef would call the Quickfire Challenge, the competitors were tasked with cooking a party bite based on a particular theme and three mandatory ingredients. The themes included New Years Eve, Bachelorette Party, and 5-Year Old Birthday Party, but the one that obviously stood out to me was Poker Game.
The person who was tasked with the Poker
Game party bite was a little Italian chick by the name of Serena Palumbo, who in fact is also a NYC attorney. Kudos to the NFNS on giving the poker basket to one of the more attractive contestants. Once the basket was opened containing her ingredients, though, I was especially impressed.
The Poker basket included whiskey, peanuts, and BACON!!! It took me a while to process the amazing connection that has developed between poker and god’s big middle finger to Kosher living, bacon. Sure, I know that a ton of poker bloggers probably consider bacon their #1 food. I’m thinking Pauly, AlCantHang, and Bacini Mary, to name a few. But how the hell did the Food Network know?!
Serena was kind enough to prepare a 
Scotch-marinated skirt steak with bacon-peanut crunch served on a crostini. The dish itself did not look particularly special, but from the panel’s comments, the dish tasted great.
If you want to learn more about this poker-inspired dish, the full recipe is available at the Food Network’s website.
I, for one, am fairly impressed with the use of Poker on the Next Food Network Star. There wasn’t any actual poker played, but clearly someone in the staff can appreciate the combination of sitting on your ass for hours playing a card game and eating high fat, high cholesterol foods. That’s a winning combination in my book.
Now I have to go get my breakfast egg, cheese and bacon sandwich.
Until next time, make mine poker and bacon!
July 21st, 2010 - 3:02 pm
Cool. I half expected them to come up with some “healthy” alternative to traditional poker fare that tastes just as good. Yea, like that ever happens.