The Balanced Chef - Restaurant Impossible Update

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Rome, New York to makeover The Balanced Chef. The Balanced Chef's owner Brian is facing multiple issues.  The concept of his restaurant is confusing and he is also facing health issues. Robert will need figure out a plan to help Brian reduce his stress to turn his health and his restaurant around.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about The Balanced Chef to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Franco Di Roma - Restaurant Impossible Update

Photo - Robert Irvine Facebook

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Middletown, New York to makeover Franco Di Roma. Franco Di Roma is owned by married couple Franco and Karen and a mistake in the past has driven a wedge between them. Franco refuses to change, Karen is not showing up and their son refuses to work for them.  Robert will need to bridge the divide and help them forgive each other in hopes of saving the restaurant and the family. 

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Franco Di Roma to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Leah's Korner Kafe - Restaurant Impossible Update

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Coleman, Michigan to makeover Leah's Korner Kafe. Leah's Korner Kafe is a diner owned by Leah and Chris and the failing restaurant is destroying their marriage.  Leah will not listen to Chris and this has caused him to step away from the restaurant.  Robert will need to get Chris back involved in the restaurant in hopes of saving both the restaurant and their marriage. 

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Leah's Korner Kafe to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Spring Baking Championship Season 9

Photo - Food Network

Spring Baking Championship season 9 airs on Food Network on Monday nights and this season is hosted by Jesse Palmer who replaces Molly Yeh from season 8.  Jesse has hosted the show in the past and based on the comments from last year, it will be a welcome change from Molly Yeh.  The judges on the show are once again Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman, and Kardea Brown.  This season will be 10 episodes long and there are twelve bakers competing this year.

The twelve bakers competing for the $25,000 prize and a feature in Food Network Magazine are:

• April Franqueza — Sapphire, NC
• Christian Velez — Hollywood, FL
• Clement Le Deore — San Diego, CA
• Jai Xiong — Savage, MN
• Jessica Quiet — Stowe, VT
• Josh Cain — Orlando, FL
• Keem Jackson — Florence, SC
• Luke Deardurff — Bronx, NY
• Manja Blackwood — Tucson, AZ
• Michelle Henry — McAllen, TX
• Molly Robertson — Natchez, MS
• Victoria Casinelli — Shelton, CT

Feel free to discuss Spring Baking Championship season 9 in the comments and I will do another post for the final episode.

Sunnyside Cafe - Restaurant Impossible Update

Photo - Robert Irvine Facebook

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Williamston, Michigan to makeover Sunnyside Cafe. Sunnyside Cafe is owned by Jeanette and it is a breakfast restaurant that is having big problems.  Jeanette is micromanaging, alienating her staff, and refuses to make any changes. Robert will need to address all of these problems in hopes of turning the restaurant around.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Sunnyside Cafe to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Runway Cafe - Restaurant Impossible Update

Photo - Robert Irvine Facebook

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Greenville, South Carolina to makeover Runway Cafe. Runway Cafe is an airport cafe located in Greenville Downtown Airport. The owners Mike and Lem think a nearby playground with too many kids is driving away customers. Robert will need to figure out the real problems of the restaurant so it does not become a failure.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Runway Cafe to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Kids Baking Championship Winner - Season 11

Photo - Food Network

Monday night at 8pm ET on Food Network is supposed to be the season 11 finale of Kids Baking Championship where the winning baker will take home the prize of $25,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine.  The original release said the final two episodes will be played back-to-back and the winner will be revealed after the 9pm episode.  But in looking at the Food Network website, it seems they are listing one episode this week and the final episode listed next week.  The channel is also running advertisements that the finale is this week, so there seems to be conflicting information.

The four remaining bakers going into the final episodes are: Naiel Chaudry (Los Altos, CA; age 12), Sohan Jhaveri (Denver, CO; age 13), Genevieve Kashat (Detroit, MI; age 11), and Naho Yanagi (Morgan Hill, CA; age 13).


The first episode description states, "This isn't your grandma's cookie! Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman challenge the kid bakers to put their own stamp on one of today's biggest trends: the loaded cookie. They want the bakers to really go crazy while making batches of two different types of over-the-top cookies. The more toppings, filling and frosting the better for this semi-final challenge!"

The final episode description states, "There is one event that is the staple of any baking business, and it keeps Duff busy all year round -- birthdays! In order to find out which flavor they’ll be making, the kid bakers must record a commercial for their baking business and sell Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman on why they'd make a great birthday cake. The top commercial maker will assign the flavors, and the best young baker wins $25,000 and the title of Kids Baking Champion!


I will update this post with the season 11 winner of Kids Baking Championship once the episode airs, whether that is this week or next week.  Feel free to discuss the final episodes and the season in the comments.

UPDATE 2/20 - There was no double episode this week and Genevieve was eliminated.  This makes a final three of Naiel, Sohan, and Naho who will compete for the prize next week.  I will update this same post with the winner next week.

Continue reading to see who won season 11 of Kids Baking Championship.....

Tournament of Champions Season 4 Bracket and Winners

Tournament of Champions season 4 airs Sunday nights at 8pm on Food Network and 32 chefs are again competing for a $100,000 prize.  

The 16 chefs competing in the East bracket include: Eric Adjepong, Karen Akunowicz, Kelsey Barnard Clark, Maneet Chauhan (season 2 winner), Leah Cohen, Madison Cowan, Tobias Dorzon, Graham Elliot, Tiffani Faison (season 3 winner), Darnell Ferguson, Jose Garces, Ilan Hall, Stephanie Izard, Christian Petroni, Britt Rescigno, and Jonathon Sawyer.

The 16 chefs competing in the West bracket include: Carlos Anthony, Nate Appleman, Shirley Chung, Tiffany Derry, Elizabeth Falkner, Mei Lin, Antonia Lofaso, Crista Luedtke, Brian Malarkey, Shota Nakajima, Viet Pham, Joe Sasto, Tracey Shepos Chanami, Adam Sobel, Jet Tila, and Lee Anne Wong.

There are 14 new chefs that are appearing on Tournament of Champions for the first time.  Season 1 winner and season 2 and 3 runner up Brooke Williamson is not competing this year.  Below is the bracket which has the matchups for round 1.

Simon Majumdar and Justin Warner will once again be providing the play-by-play analysis of the competition, and Hunter Fieri will again be following the action backstage.  The judges include Michelle Bernstein, Scott Conant, Cat Cora, Rocco DiSpirito, Lorena Garcia, Alex Guarnaschelli, Nancy Silverton, Daniela Soto-Innes, Ming Tsai, Jonathan Waxman, and Andrew Zimmern.

This post will be used to track the winners for each episode, so come back after each episode to see who won the matchups that aired on Sunday.  The finale will air on Sunday, April 9th.

Continue reading to see who won in each episode...

GiGi's Place - Restaurant Impossible Update

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Covington, Georgia to makeover GiGi's Place. GiGi's Place is a soul food restaurant and the owner GiGi is having health problems.  Despite that, she is unable to step away from the restaurant because her daughter and her head chef are constantly fighting. Robert will need to help repair relationships in hopes of turning the restaurant around.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about GiGi's Place to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Walter's Gas & Grill - Restaurant Impossible Update

Photo - Robert Irvine Facebook

On this week's episode of Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Opelika, Alabama to makeover Waler's Gas & Grill.  Walter's Gas & Grill is a restaurant that is located at a gas station.  The owner Penny has a failing restaurant and it is also impacting her health.  She will need to make changes to more than just the restaurant to make the restaurant a success.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Walter's Gas & Grill to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):