Reality cooking shows are all the rage, but how about that old-school, vintage way of getting your interactive news? We're talking about radio. For three years, Jimmy Cefalo and Brenda Bassett have hosted the popular radio show Eat This, Drink That, Go!
Cefalo is a wine connoisseur, broadcaster, and former Miami Dolphins receiver who shares his passion for food and marketing conglomerate Cefalo's International with Bassett. Together, the two have been spreading their knowledge of local eats and drinks as well as tidbits on travels every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. on 610 WIOD AM. And Mondays, you can catch a recap of all the action in a 30-minute TV version of Eat This, Drink That on the Beach Channel or AT&T U-Verse Channel 19.
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Each episode recaps the previous Saturday's talk show. Recently, chef Mathias Gervais, food and beverage director Robert Muehlich, and sommerlier Dwayne Savoie of the Setai were featured.
The team gave insight into all things food and drink going on in the South Beach sanctuary, from the wines that reside in the Setai's cellar to the opulent Sunday jazz brunch and the preparation of the burrata cheese, which Chef Gervais likes to finish off with a dash of olive oil. Burrata might not mean much to you over the airwaves, but when it's translated to the small screen, you can almost taste the creaminess of the cheese and its accompanying beets. And because it's a local show, you can drive right over the bridge and order yourself a plate of it.
Upcoming guests include 50 Eggs culinary director Clay Miller talking Miami Spice, Rob Samuels of Maker's Mark, and French Comfort Food author Hillary Davis, so don't miss your chance to learn a thing or two.
The radio show, now in its third consecutive season, stemmed from Cefalo's love of wine and spirits, as well as a need in the local marketplace for programming that fused the two with some travel.
When producers at the Beach Channel expressed interest in the show for television, Cefalo and company jumped. We chatted with him about what led him to start a radio show and how Miami's culinary scene has evolved.
New Times: What can fans of the show expect now that it has a new visual element? Anything new or venturing out of the studio, perhaps to some dining establishments?
Jimmy Cefalo: We have considered placing the show inside a kitchen setting. We have done some live remotes from HCA East Florida hospitals and at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival as well. We do plan on having the cameras tag along as we make appearances, travel, etc. We want to keep the show fun and not locked into what happens every Saturday in the studio.
Hidden Miami gems?
We call them Jimmy's Gems, and we present them on the show as we discover them. El Carajo is one -- a wonderful wine and tapas store located within a gas station.
What do you think about Miami's growing culinary scene? What do you hope happens in the next five years?
The importance of wine in everyday life down here is amazing and growing. Florida is the second-largest wine-consuming state in the nation, and because of that, winemakers flock to our shores. In the next five years, we look forward to this trend continuing and playing an active part in educating consumers, foodies, wine lovers, and telling compelling and entertaining stories in the world of wine and food in the Magic City.
How does food radio differ from food TV?
Food radio is all voice, description. We don't have visuals to rely on. Having TV in the mix is definitely helping us communicate to listeners -- now also watchers!
Eat This, Drink That, Go! airs new episodes Mondays at 7 p.m. and broadcasts reruns throughout the week. The show is available on AT&T U-Verse Channel 19 in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
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