A good man is hard to find, and finding a man that can cook is even harder; if only one could screen his or her dates based on their respective cooking abilities. The Food Network, a cable channel specializing in all things food, has stepped outside its sphere of Martha Stewart-inspired programming and has come up with “Date Plate,” a new entry in the crop of TV reality shows. Think of it as “Iron Chef” meets “The Dating Game” – two bachelors (or bachelorettes) cook for a delectable single of the opposite sex, hoping to win to his or her heart by way of the stomach. The singleton chooses the chef who has concocted the more appetizing meal, and they go on a date.
Each episode takes place in a different U.S. city; so far Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, Miami, and Charleston are among the cities that have been featured. The two competing bachelor(ette) chefs view a video tape about the person whose heart they will try to win, and they get $50 each to shop and the expertise of a professional chef.
Peppy Kelly Deadmon serves as hostess and moderator between the contestants who are cooking and the singleton who is eating.
A show about food is a slight departure for Deadmon, a veteran of television and film. However, she welcomes the challenge of working with food and interesting people each week. “Every day is a challenge – who’s going to show up and what they’re going to be like,” Deadmon said in a recent phone interview. “But [the producers] always pick good people, with strong personalities,” said Deadmon.
While the show is about the dating game, the food definitely does not play second fiddle to the matchmaking concept. “The majority of the show is about the food,” Deadmon said. “It’s a food cooking show with a really, really fun twist.”
Deadmon, too, does not see “Date Plate” as a reality show. “Some people call it a reality show,” Deadmon said. “When I think of reality shows, I think of “The Bachelor.” I don’t really think we’re in that genre.”
Yet, “Date Plate” is an amusing show to watch, for many of the same reasons that “Trading Spaces,” “Changing Rooms” (the UK original version of “TS”), or “What Not to Wear” are. It is a reality show, in the sense that the show exhibits normal people thrown into abnormal situations. What defines reality TV is projection – the viewer enjoys living vicariously through the people on the screen and participating in the concept from his own sets at home. While watching “Date Plate,” the viewer’s inner food critic comes out, and for a half hour they can participate in playing matchmaker for a young couple.
The future of “Date Plate” seems headed for clichè reality TV land, with theme shows on the menu and celebrity specials not out of the question. Therein lies the appeal of “Date Plate:” it is just cute enough to make the viewer want to watch the college edition or see Emeril face off against the Naked Chef. “Date Plate” is sugary-sweet and a fun way to spend a half hour.
Still, the show can feel a bit contrived at times. The comic personalities of the host, chefs and contestants are laid on a bit thick in the pilot episode and it feels as though they’re trying too hard. Yet the show’s strength is in its execution of a great concept. Like “Big Brother,” “Survivor,” “American Idol” and other shows of such nature, it’s not that the show is brilliant and chock full of integrity, but that the audience loves to see people’s lives unscripted.
“Date Plate” tantalizes the taste buds – it is quick, catchy and food-centric for the cultivator of the culinary arts. “Every time I come home from one of the shoots, I immediately want to start cooking,” host Kelly Deadmon related.
Like many of Food Network’s excellent shows, “Date Plate,” too, just makes you want to go and cook – which is never a bad thing.
“Date Plate” airs on The Food Network every Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m.