CHEF WITH AN EDGE.Byline: Amanda Burhop For the Register-Guard Six years ago, Dylan Star of Springfield was asked to stand in front of her first culinary class, then state her name and three things she was really passionate about. She said she's passionate about knives, fire and food - and that one day she hopes to become a famous TV chef. That comment won her a few chuckles, and a few sneers. "I didn't know what to say. I just wanted to make people laugh," says Star, 29, who began her culinary quest at Lane Community College in 2002. Since graduating in 2005 with an associate degree in culinary arts and food services food services Hospital services A 24/7 department in a hospital that provides for the nutritional needs of inpatients–eg, those needing special diets, preparing meals and transporting them to the floor and, through the cafeteria, the hospital staff and , the aspiring host has produced 12 episodes of her own alternative cooking show. The title, of course, is "Knives, Fire and Food." Star's show aims to prove that anyone can make wholesome food that is easy to prepare and doesn't skimp skimp v. skimped, skimp·ing, skimps v.tr. 1. To deal with hastily, carelessly, or with poor material: concentrated on reelection, skimping other matters. 2. on flavor. "I'm hoping to make cooking cool again," she says. The shows can be seen online, on Star's own Web site or via youtube .com. But she hasn't given up on trying to expand the shows to public-access TV or other broadcast markets. The idea for a cooking show came about while Star was in school. A fellow student suggested a show called "The Tie-Dyed Chef" where Star would create quick-fix meals, such as "dressed up" Top Ramen ra·men n. 1. A Japanese dish of noodles in broth, often garnished with small pieces of meat and vegetables. 2. A thin white noodle served in this dish. , for young adults living on a budget. But the hippie persona didn't mesh with Star's edgier personality. The idea of doing a show where she could create easy, delicious food stuck with her. "I wanted to show people that you could make cooking sexy and fun, and inspirational," she says. Now, Star shows viewers how to make brie en croute, French onion soup French onion soup is an onion and beef broth based soup traditionally served with croutons and cheese as toppings. Although ancient in origin, this dish underwent a resurgence of popularity in the 1960s due to the growth of French cooking in the United States. , ricotta ri·cot·ta n. 1. A soft Italian cheese that resembles cottage cheese. 2. A similar soft cheese made in the United States. pepper manicotti man·i·cot·ti n. 1. Pasta in large-sized tubes. 2. A dish consisting of such tubes stuffed with meat or cheese, usually served hot with a tomato sauce. [Italian, pl. , fried tofu tofu Soft, bland, custardlike food product made from soybeans. Believed to date from China's Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220), tofu is today an important source of protein in the cuisines of East and Southeast Asia. steaks, barbecued meatball sandwiches and chicken roulade rou·lade n. 1. Music An embellishment consisting of a rapid run of several notes sung to one syllable. 2. A slice of meat rolled around a filling and cooked. . "I'm an instant-gratification kind of gal," she says. "I pretty much make what I want to eat." To prepare for the shows filmed at her home, Star and her crew drew up a plan: a list of 12 recipes for 12 episodes spanning a host of different entrees, appetizers, proteins and vegetarian meals. "I wanted to make it the best 12 I could make it," she says about the limited amount of episodes they had to work with. "I planned it like I was planning a restaurant menu." The first episode took seven hours to do, as crew members figured out the filming process. "This has not just been a fun experience for me, but a learning experience for me as well," says Nathaniel Martin- Long, the show's director and editor. "For this show, we rehearsed the takes long before the stove would even be lit, because when working with food, you are not always guaranteed a second take if something goes wrong." Before filming, Star looked for inspiration in other TV cooking shows A TV cooking show is a television program that presents the preparation of food, in a kitchen on the studio set. The host of the show, usually a celebrity chef, prepares one or more dishes over the course of the show, taking the viewing audience through the food's preparation , but couldn't find any with the unconventional edge she wanted to implement. "I really had nothing to base my concept on." Although Star touts her alternative image, she acknowledges the challenges of getting "Knives, Fire and Food" to a mainstream audience. Considered too "edgy" for OPB OPB Oregon Public Broadcasting OPB On-Chip Peripheral Bus OPB Ontario Pension Board (Canada) OPB OBERMEYER Planen + Beraten GmbH (German engineering firm) OPB Out of Plane Bending , her biggest challenge is getting placement on a network. But she's not letting that stand in her way. "I try really hard not to be mainstream in my image. My image, my youngness, my general gregariousness gre·gar·i·ous adj. 1. Seeking and enjoying the company of others; sociable. See Synonyms at social. 2. Tending to move in or form a group with others of the same kind: gregarious bird species. , is what makes me different from other food show hosts." The shows, although short at about 10 minutes long, pack a punch. Star's casual demeanor, combined with her self-deprecating humor, makes her fun to watch. "I really think there is a big stigma that cooking isn't cool; that's what your mom She goes to the gym. does," she says about reaching out to younger generations. "I'm hoping, if anything, that I'm giving people a foundation." But now that Star works full time for a Mediterranean restaurant in Corvallis, it's hard to agree on a production schedule with her crew. Currently, the show is on hold, but two episodes are in post-production and will be available soon. She hopes to resume filming after the first of the year. "This has been four years in the making," she says, reflecting on her show's beginnings. "We have had some roadblocks, and that's OK. "We have lives to live; this is just the fun part." Dylan Star's COOKING SHOW Where to go online: www.knivesfirefood.com or www.youtube.com/watchv=0ac4GT6ftnc |
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