''Rocco's Dinner Party'' is an American
reality competition
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
series which premiered on June 15, 2011, on the
Bravo
Bravo(s) or The Bravo(s) may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music Groups and labels
*Bravo (band), a Russian rock band
* Bravo (Spanish group), represented Spain at Eurovision 1984
*Bravo Music, an American concert band music publishing company ...
cable network. Each week, three chefs are challenged to craft the perfect dinner party for celebrity chef
Rocco DiSpirito
Rocco DiSpirito (born November 19, 1966) is an American chef and reality television personality based in New York City, known for starring in the program '' The Restaurant''.
Early life and education
DiSpirito was born in Queens, New York. He gr ...
and his guests. The contestants are judged on their cooking, service, and décor. The winner of each episode wins $20,000 (
USD
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
).
Show format
In each episode, three chefs are chosen to compete against each other to create a dinner party for host
Rocco DiSpirito
Rocco DiSpirito (born November 19, 1966) is an American chef and reality television personality based in New York City, known for starring in the program '' The Restaurant''.
Early life and education
DiSpirito was born in Queens, New York. He gr ...
and his celebrity guests. The competition consists of two rounds. During the first round, the chefs have one shot at impressing Rocco by creating their signature dish. Sometimes, Rocco gives the contestants only 30 minutes to prepare their signature dish. A Time Timer shows the 30 minutes quickly elapsing as contestants race to finish the assignment. Rocco then selects two chefs to advance to the final round, wherein they must plan and execute the perfect dinner party. Each episode has a theme around which the contestants must base their cuisine and dining experience; this theme guides each contestant to develop his own menu and create a unique party concept. At the end of party, Rocco declares the winner and the winning chef takes home the prize of $20,000.
Episodes
Episode 1: Speakeasy
On the premiere episode of Rocco's Dinner Party, Executive Chef of Copper Fish on Broadway Geoffrey Johnson, Harlem-based Executive Sous Chef Joseph “J.J.” Johnson and caterer Britt Kurent compete to throw a speakeasy-inspired dinner party. The chefs must create a prohibition-era supper club complete with reminiscent food and décor to impress special guest, chef, and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson. Other guests include actor and interior designer
Bryan Batt
Bryan Batt (born March 1, 1963) is an American actor best known for his role in the AMC series ''Mad Men'' as Salvatore Romano, an art director for the Sterling Cooper agency. Primarily a theater actor, he has had a number of starring roles in mo ...
(Mad Men), actress
Christine Ebersole
Christine Ebersole (born February 21, 1953) is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in film, television, and on stage. She starred in the Broadway musicals '' 42nd Street'' and ''Grey Gardens'', winning two Tony Awards. She has co-s ...
, television host Kelly Choi, actor Michael Kenneth Williams (Boardwalk Empire, The Wire), and media critic Bill McCuddy.
* WINNER: J.J.
** RUNNER-UP: Geoffrey
*** ELIMINATED: Britt
* First Aired: June 15, 2011
Episode 2: The Mystery Guest
Chef and New York restaurant owner King Phojanakang, high school culinary teacher Joel Gargano, and private chef Michelle Karam compete to create the perfect dinner party for Rocco's mystery guest. Armed with a dossier of details on their guest of honor, and with $20,000 at stake, the chefs must design their meal around the secret guest's particular passions –- a star in the culinary community with a taste for travel, a love of spices and a preference for the unfussy. Guests include comedian
D.L. Hughley
Darryl Lynn Hughley (; born March 6, 1963) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Hughley is best known as the original host of BET's ''ComicView'' from 1992 to 1993, the eponymous character on the ABC/ UPN sitcom ''The Hughleys'', and as ...
, style and beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson, Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, fashion designer Gilles Mendel, and Glamour magazine Editor-In-Chief Cindi Leive.
* WINNER: Joel
** RUNNER-UP: King
*** ELIMINATED: Michelle
* First Aired: June 22, 2011
Episode 3: Mangia! Mangia!
The stakes are high as identical Italian twin brothers Fabrizio and Nicola Carro, along with New Jersey caterer/executive chef Ninamarie Bojekian compete to impress an assembly of Italian elite, including Italian food icon
Silvano Marchetto. The chefs face the challenge of turning friends into family with a traditional Italian family style dinner. Guests include The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Caroline and Albert Manzo, television host
Sara Gore, comedian Tammy Pescatelli, and singer
Joey Fatone
Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr. (born January 28, 1977) is an American singer, dancer, actor, and television personality. He is best known as a member of the boyband NSYNC, in which he sang baritone. In 2007, he came in second place on the ABC realit ...
.
* WINNER: Fabrizio
** RUNNER-UP: Ninamarie
*** ELIMINATED: Nicola
* First Aired: June 29, 2011
Episode 4: Summer in the City
Executive Chef Ryan Poli, Private Chef Jennifer De Palma, and cityhouse's Executive Chef Fabio Capparelli set out to create the most delicious dinner party, with a healthy spin. To take home the $20,000, Rocco's chefs must cook their version of recipes from Rocco's guilt-free bestseller, Now Eat This! Diet, yet with all the flavor of the typical higher calorie fare. Guests include editor in chief of Fitness magazine Betty Wong, Olympic trainer and author Joe Downdell, Oscar-nominated actor
Chazz Palminteri
Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri (born May 15, 1952)
Chazzpalminteri.net. Retrieved on November 19, 2013. is an American ...
, comedian Jeffrey Ross, event producer Jung Lee and Sports Illustrated model Damaris Lewis.
* WINNER: Jennifer
** RUNNER-UP: Ryan
*** ELIMINATED: Fabio
* First Aired: July 6, 2011
Episode 5: Town and Country
Connecticut housewife and cooking school owner Nicole Strait, Australian airline chef Corey Roberts, and New York-based vegan chef Ayinde Howell compete to capture the sophisticated taste and glamour of “Town” coupled with the rustic
farm-to-table
Farm-to-table (or farm-to-fork, and in some cases farm-to-school) is a social movement which promotes serving local food at restaurants and school cafeterias, preferably through direct acquisition from the producer (which might be a winery, brewer ...
simplicity of “Country.” The chefs must transform Rocco's dining rooms and create a phenomenal menu worthy of the $20,000 prize. Guests include acclaimed chef of Picholine and Artisanal Terrance Brennan, actor Christian Campbell (Big Love), New York City Ballet principal ballerina Tiler Peck, actress
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart (born April 18, 1976) is an American actress, producer, and director. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms ''Clarissa Explains It All'' (1991–1994), ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' (1996–2003), and ''M ...
, singer Deborah Cox, and food(ography) host
Mo Rocca
Maurice Alberto Rocca (born January 28, 1969) is an American humorist, journalist, and actor. He is a correspondent for ''CBS Sunday Morning'', the host and creator of ''My Grandmother's Ravioli'' on the Cooking Channel, and also the host of ''The ...
.
* WINNER: Corey
** RUNNER-UP: Nicole
*** ELIMINATED: Ayinde
* First Aired: July 13, 2011
Episode 6: French Cuisine
Chef Daniel Vater, caterer
Vanessa Cantave
Vanessa Cantave (born October 7, 1977) is an American chef. She is the co-founder and executive chef of the catering company Yum Yum Catering and Events in Dumbo, Brooklyn.
Early life and education
Vanessa Cantave was born in Washington, D.C., ...
, and biscotti baker Natalie Stone have to whip up a French-themed dinner party using recipes from
Julia Child
Julia Carolyn Child (née McWilliams; August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004) was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality. She is recognized for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, '' ...
's Mastering the Art of French Cooking as inspiration.
* WINNER: Vanessa
** RUNNER-UP: Natalie
*** ELIMINATED: Daniel
* First Aired: July 20, 2011
Episode 7: Bangers 'N Cash
Veteran Executive Chef Kevin Gaudreau, modernist Chef de Partie Janet Kim (from Gordon Ramsey's The London), and upstart Executive Chef Chris Calcagno throw a gastropub-themed dinner party. In attempts to capture this hot culinary trend, Rocco's chefs must elevate British pub food without the stuffy air of fine dining. Even more challenging will be to convince British television host Cat Deeley that she's not far from home. Guests include actress Raven-Symoné, actor Christopher McDonald, founder and creative director of Desiron, Frank Carfaro, New York Times food writer Amanda Hesser. and restaurateur
Ken Oringer Ken Oringer (born 1965 in Paramus, New Jersey) is a Boston-based chef who is a business partner of Jamie Bissonnette.
Education
Oringer studied restaurant management at Bryant College in Rhode Island (class of 1987) followed by a degree from the Cu ...
.
* WINNER: Kevin
** RUNNER-UP: Janet
*** ELIMINATED: Chris
* First Aired: July 27, 2011
Episode 8: Runway Ready
Brooklyn caterer Sharon Robustelli, executive private chef Frank Otte, and jock-turned-sous-chef Bill Haley compete to create a line of dishes inspired by both handmade, high-end fashion, and mass-produced, ready-to-wear clothing. Rocco challenges the chefs to become trendsetters, while fashion designer Nicole Miller shows up to surprise the chefs with an additional twist. Guests include Hairspray star Nikki Blonsky, American Public Media's Dinner Party Download co-hosts Rico Gagliano and
Brendan Newnam, Project Runway finalist Kara Janx, TV Host and Early Show contributor Katrina Szish.
* WINNER: Frank
** RUNNER-UP: Sharon
*** ELIMINATED: Bill
* First Aired: August 3, 2011
Episode 9: Perfect Pairings
Achieving the perfect intimate and romantic dinner party is never easy. On this episode of Rocco's Dinner Party, NY caterer Vicki Ferentinos, Minneapolis food truck chef Chris Thompson, and cooking hobbyist (with a Wall Street day job!) Yuki Tsutsui vie for $20,000 as Rocco honors The Daily Show's real life couple Jason Jones and Samantha Bee with a 10th anniversary celebration. The food and decor have to work together to inspire an atmosphere of festive romance while honoring the spirit of this comedic couple.
* WINNER: Vicki
** RUNNER-UP: Chris
*** ELIMINATED: Yuki
* First Aired: August 10, 2011
Episode 10: Liza with a 'B!
On this episode of Rocco's Dinner Party, healthy caterer Frank Picchione, opera singer Lucia Palmieri and restaurant owner/chef Antonio Bettencourt vie to throw the best bash ever for Liza Minnelli's 65th Birthday. There's $20,000 at stake; as well as some serious bragging rights- as the chefs compete to throw a fete worthy of the incomparable Liza with a Z!
* WINNER: Frank
** RUNNER-UP: Lucia
*** ELIMINATED: Antonio
* First Aired: August 17, 2011
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, 1771755
2011 American television series debuts
2010s American reality television series
2010s American cooking television series
Bravo (American TV network) original programming
Cooking competitions in the United States
Food reality television series
English-language television shows
2011 American television series endings