Christy Interviews Worst Cooks In America Star, Chef Beau MacMillan
You ever watch someone on television and wonder what kind of person they really are when the cameras stop rolling? That was what I set out to learn about Chef Beau MacMillan when I had the opportunity to as him a few questions about his new Food Network show, Worst Cooks In America – The show that takes some of the self proclaimed worse home cooks in the country and attempts to train them to be every bit as good as the stars, Chef Anne and Chef Beau.
First of all, let me tell you that I don’t usually watch the Food Network, or any cooking show for that matter. Although I realize I may be the only person in the US who can say this, I quit watching cooking shows or reading cooking magazines and such a little over a year ago when Southern Plate started really growing. I didn’t want to inadvertently copy someone else’s idea so I decided to “sequester” myself from outside influences beyond my family and friends (y’all are, of course, included in the family and friends part!). So when I received an email asking if I’d like to interview either of the stars of this upcoming show, I had to look up each person and find out who they were.
I had a choice of the two and, not knowing either of them, I immediately settled on Chef Beau because he just looked so friendly and nice. However, I was a bit skittish. You see, there has been one food show that I have caught a time or two in channel flipping and that has been my only real exposure to food reality TV. ~Shudders as she thinks about it~ That would be Gordon Ramsay. If y’all don’t know who he is, I am not suggesting you find out. It’s one of those shows where you flip channels and hear this very angry man shouting ugly words at little old people and so you stop in horror, kind of like what you would do were you to notice a train was about to derail and hit some parked cars. You don’t want to see it, its certainly not your style, but mortification leaves you helpless to avert your eyes. This is my first thought when I heard the concept for Worse Cooks in America, and I was worried.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was sent a preview episode and very pleased to find both Chef’s kind and encouraging towards the participants. They had an attitude of “You can do this, there is no reason why you can’t be every bit as good as I am at this.”, which I really enjoyed seeing. I have to admit, I held my breath a bit during that first episode but at no point did it disappoint me.
After having viewed the first episode (and actually seeing someone eat a shrimp for the first time in my life), I took part in a conference call with Chef Beau.
Beau is from Massachusetts and while I’m pretty sure I was the only Southerner on that call, surprisingly, we didn’t even need a translator. He immediately thanked everyone for participating and took his time with each person, being extremely gracious and kind. This man is just about as nice as they come. Other interviewers asked questions about his cooking background, his signature cooking style, and so on. All of that information is good and well for Bon Appetit magazine but when it came down to it, I had three things on my mind..
1. Who did most of the cooking for you growing up? It’s no surprise that it was his mother, but he also talked about how hard she had to work to cook for them between being a single mom and working full time. He said she wasn’t much of a cook but that he and his sister always appreciated her meals so much because they knew how much effort she put into them.
2. Who inspired you to be a Chef, gave you the confidence that you could do it? This was his grandmother, who lived in Canada. Beau said his first experience of sitting around a big old table with a family style meal of delicious food was at his Grandmother’s house. Everything she cooked was delicious. I think Grannys are just like that 
.
3. This was my trick question because I really wanted to know what type of food a Professional Chef ate in his down time, when he went back to his roots. I was hoping he wouldn’t spout off some french dish with a name so fancy I wouldn’t stand a chance of spelling it, mainly because I liked this guy so much, I really wanted him to be like one of us. I didn’t want him to turn out to be somebody who’d turn his nose up at our dinner table should we invite him into our home.
Folks, his answer hit it out of the park. He said his favorite meal growing up, and still is whenever he visits his Mom, is her macaroni and cheese casserole with ground beef.
~sighs~ We’re so proud of ya, Beau!
This guy really values home cooks. I love that his team has two stay at home mom’s on it, too! Of course, after having watched it, Chef Anne is every bit the sweetheart he is. The only problem you’ll have is wondering who to root for, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride either way.
Worst Cooks In America previews January 3 on The Food Network.
Oh, and I know I promised you I’d try an oyster before I die, Beau, and I fully plan on keeping that promise.
I just hope I live a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long life!
~pinches the cheeks of the Chefs~ And y’all are so dern cute!
Who are you going to see when you watch Worst Cooks In America?
RED TEAM (Lead by Chef Anne Burrell)
- Eddie Chang (Jersey City, NJ): IT Project Manager
- Rachel Coleman (Brooklyn, NY): Marketing Website Editor
- Jennifer Cross (Philadelphia, PA): Waitress
- Hamed Hamad (North Hollywood, CA): Journalist and Fashion Consultant
- Rebecca Hooper (Sandy, UT): Salon Owner
- Kelly LoCascio (Scottsdale, AZ): Corporate Litigation Attorney
BLUE TEAM (Lead by Chef Beau MacMillan)
- Sophia Gettys (Aurora, CO): Stay-at-home Mom and Student
- Marque Hernandez (Brea, CA): Director of Clinical Operations
- Wilhelmina Josephine (Aliso Viejo, CA): Stay-at-home Mom
- Susie Shoman (Georgetown, SC): Grants Administrator and Entrepreneur
- David Summey (Charlotte, NC): Salesman
- Jennifer Vecchio (Cumberland, RI): Dance Studio Owner
I really identified with many of these contestants and know you will, too.
Posted by Christy Jordan
on Jan 1 2010. Filed under Misc.
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How exciting to interview! And How cool is it to see an uplifting show for a change!
Christy, I know you felt honored to be asked to participate in this interview. They just don’t know how lucky THEY were to have you! Maybe some of your honest, sweet southern hospitality wiggled through the phone lines. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the show.
Hope you have a blessed, prosperous New Year!
I am so looking forward to seeing this show!! I’m excited you got the be in on the interviewing of Chef Beau toooooo! I loved your questions . . . so down to earth and what we common folks really want to know! You’re the best!!!
You’ve sure got Ramsay pegged. His cooking may be fine, but his personality turns my stomach!
This looks good, how exciting to do an interview! Congrats! I will have to give it a try, I barely watch the food network either, except for my fav, Alton Brown, or Iron Chief once in a while. I have to DVR everything just to be able to watch that late at night, when my son’s penguins (Madagascar) isn’t on.
How cool that you got to interview him. The only cooks I can stand to watch are you and Alton Brown. Alton, partly because he seems so humble and funny, and partly because one of my uncles was named Alton. You? Well..just cause I luvs ya.
Very cool post Christy Lou1
Oh.. wanted to tell you that my next door neighbors brought their new itty bitty baby boy home from the hospital yesterday.. so I made them a Butterfinger Cake to welcome his arrival. It’s sure to make him big, strong and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
What a wonderful opportunity for you. Your interview was great!! It sounds like you brought out the good old fashioned home cooking that you are so great at. Congratulations.
I’m looking forward to seeing this one tomorrow. The concept sounds good.
Sounds like another great show from the Food Network. I adore that channel. It’s nice to be able to watch TV and not have to worry that your kids may see what’s on. Always wholesome entertainment. Thank you for reminding me that this show starts tomorrow. I love to see these types of shows from the beginning. Yep, I’ll be sitting and rooting for Chef Beau, only because you did such a good jon interviewing him for us all.
Thanks Christy! I don’t usually watch reality TV cause people are so mean to each other, but I think I might check this one out. Thanks again!
Thanks Christy…
)
Can’t wait to watch… Worst Cooks in America…. And I’ve known a few of them….. LOL
Christy,
Thanks for bringing this show to our attention in your very own special way. Who knows? Maybe even a culinarily (is that a word? lol) challenged individual like myself could learn from a show like that! As always, SP on the job to help us all become better in the kitchen.
Also, I LOVED your questions! You aren’t all caught up in the celebrity chef status. You wanted to know who he is heart and by asking those kinds of questions you got an answer better than any of those haughty magzines, et al got. You gave us a nice glimpse into his true personality and for that I give you a hearty THANK YOU!!!! Oh what the heck, and a lil hug too. hehe
When I get back to the states I’ll have to check it out.
Thanks again!
Michael
Oh, two more things I just HAVE to know…how is that the first time you’ve ever even SEEN someone eat a shrimp? And second, are you sure you wanna go through with the oyster thing? *shudders* I don’t even know if I could do that if I was stuck on a deserted island! But hey, if you can you’re a braver person than I am! good luck!
Hi Michael,
Christy has told me many times that her mom cannot stand seafood (and never ever cooked it) and since they seldom eat out at restaurants, maybe that explains it somewhat.
I have to admit that I spend too much time watching the Food Network, but most of it is just putting in time because I don’t relate well to the expense that most of them involve. I love Paula Deen but when we start out with 2 sticks of butter and toss in 1 cup of pecans I am lost on the budget aspect. I much prefer our frugal everyday recipes that we all share on SP. I can’t even imagine not being able to cook. It has been my “love offering ” to family and friends since I was a child.
Absolutely agree with you about Gordon Ramsay — scary! But some folks love him, so there you go.
I very much enjoyed your interview questions and look forward to watching Worst Cooks with renewed enthusiasm. Thank you!
I will be watching tonight!!
Thanks, Christy!
Yeah!! I finally can see me!
Congrats on the interview, hon! That means “somebody” has taken notice of you at Food Network…woo hoo! hugs
Susan in OK
Ditto on that “wooo hooo”
Congratulations on the interview. I am looking forward to the show which airs in just about three hours here on the Coast. Knowing something about one of the chefs is a lot of fun.
I am from the beautiful MS Gulf Coast. Soooooooooo. color me surprised that you haven’t wondered on down to the Coast and tried our Seafood.
You don’t eat shrimp? All children are weaned on shrimp poorboys where I am from. And Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp Creole, Gumbo, Jambalaya, shrimp and pasta, OMGoodness. However, I have not, nor will I ever, eat a raw oyster. I’m not too crazy about them fried but they do come on the Seafood Platter when you eat out, so I have tried them. I like them okay and oyster stew is pretty good if you add enough cream and butter and those lovely little oyster crackers.
Great interview Christy! I’ve never had a raw oyster, but I love them fried, in stews and gumbos.
Great interview Christy! I watched the show last night and thought it was very good, I can really relate to some of the contestants. I almost hate eating my cooked food and when someone does and they don’t say anything at first I get kind of scared, lol. Usually my hubby & kids wait until they are done and are like good cookin mama, you are a good “cooker” as my kids call it lol. I have never ate an oyster either and sure don’t plan on it anytime soon.
I only have 2 comments:
1. Can’t believe you have never seen anyone eat a shrimp and you live in the south. I assume this means you don’t eat them either.
2. Can’t believe you have never eaten an oyster, either fried or raw. Once again, love them and eat them when I am home.
I live in CO now and whenever I get home to MS, I always look for a restaurant that serves fresh seafood, shrimp and oysters. Ours out here just don’t measure up.
Try them. I think you would like them.
Christy, you make me so proud!!! I would never have watched the show, but after reading your review, I will definitely now. Oh I was so like you skipping through channels and seeing Chef F word…I could never learn if someone yelled and belittled me. My kids think I’m the best cook in the world, but really I’m a “home cook”that loves Gramma B’s recipes. She was born in the 1800s and learned new recipes every day of her life. I just love Southern Plates coz even though I’m from the North, the “feelings” are just the same. It makes me feel like being in my Gramma’s kitchen. So, your reviews are more powerful than any other. I hope Food Network knows how valuable a resource you are. What a great interview, gf!!
I live on the Gulf Coast and can’t eat shrimp anymore due to the fact that shellfish started upsetting my digestive system about 15 years ago. *sigh*
I keep hoping I can find a way to fix that someday! Oysters, OTOH, are fine because they have a hard shell. Love them! I had some a few weeks back that were fried with panko bread crumbs, sat on top a fried won ton, and drizzled with two different sauces. Heaven!
Looks like I missed the show premiere. My husband had control of the remote all weekend!
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