Who Is Amy Thielen? Who Hosts The New Food Network Show Called Heartland Table? Northern Minnesota Shares The Spotlight In This New Show
Northern Minnesota shares the spotlight with Amy Theilen in the new Food Network show "Heartland Table". The food-lifestyle show is filmed near Park Rapids, Minnesota - yes - that's right, Park Rapids - which just misses the Iron Range by a few miles, west of Grand Rapids. The series debuted on Food Network over the weekend, in advance of her new cookbook called "The New Midwestern Table: 200 Heartland Recipes,” which will be published by Clarkson Potter - the company that also produces similar books by Ina Garten, Giada DeLaurentis, et al.
The New Midwestern Table: 200 Heartland Recipes,” published by Clarkson Potter. - See more at: http://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/content/local-chef-debuts-food-network#sthash.ak4OkujL.dpuf
I made the discovery of the show and where it was filmed by accident; I tuned in to the premier episode while it was half-way over, without knowing anything about the show. Instantly, I felt familiar with the show. My kudos to Lidia Bastianich (herself a world-renowned chef and cookbook author) who is the producer: I recognized that this show was filmed in Northern Minnesota without even having to be told; The trees, the lake, the accents, the drinking glasses used at dinner --- I felt immersed in the part of the country that I grew up in without even knowing it.
I thankfully caught the rerun of the full episode the next day and my suspicions were confirmed: Amy Theilen is a Minnesotan - and even better than that: a NORTHERN Minnesotan! And, the show is excellent!
I found it very interesting and entertaining to watch a cooking-lifestyle show that focuses on the culture here in our area. While I also enjoy seeing the kitchens and grocery stores where Ina Garten and Ree Drummond shop, I thoroughly enjoyed this new series from Food Network. It's nice to see that cable channel going back to what they do best: cooking! (Don't get me started on Food Networks over-abundance of challenge and reality shows....)
My unsolicited suggestion to you: If you like to cook and/or if you're interested in watching a national show that's been produced right here in your backyard, check out Amy Theilen's Heartland Table. And at the same time, save a place on your book shelf for her new cookbook called "The New Midwestern Table", which comes out September 24th. I know that I'll be looking for a copy of that book myself!