Busy time on the Food Network this weekend with the premiere episodes of not one but two new cooking shows; plus new episodes from both newer shows and old favorites.

First on Saturday is the premiere episode of Ask Aida with “cooking expert Aida Mollenkamp prepares delicious dishes while solving Food Network viewers’ culinary conundrums in her new interactive cooking show” according to the Network release. The great thing about Aida is she’s been doing web videos at Chow.com for three years now. So we know she’s good in front of the camera and knowledgable.

What impresses me most at this pre-show juncture is her resume. Again quoting from FN info: “Growing up with an Italian-American mother and a French stepmother, Aida was always surrounded by good food. Eventually, she made her way into the kitchen and discovered her true passion for cooking. In the years since, Aida has worked everywhere from a gourmet deli and the test kitchen at California Pizza Kitchen to the Hotel Bel Air and, most recently, at Chow.com. Having studied Hospitality Management at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, Aida worked at Ernst & Young in Hotel and Restaurant Consulting before traveling to Europe to attend culinary school at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Paris. She lived between Florence, Italy and Paris, France for two years, and graduated with a Grand Diplôme in 2004.”

Only question as this point is what does this tech guru Noah Starr actually do on the show? Guess we’ll find out Saturday at 12:30pm Eastern when Aida is slated to make a “juicy and flavorful Grilled Flank Steak with Ginger Marinade. Next up, Aida’s Grilled Peppers and Onions with Limed Sour Cream are a mouth-watering veggie delight. To bring this meal together, she prepares a sweet and nutty Cherry, Almond and Herb Salad.”

Sunday at 10am Eastern, Ingrid Hoffman dishes up Brazillian on another new episode of Simply Delicioso. She highlights one of the country’s favorite appetizers, Brazilian Codfish Balls, but with her own healthy spin. As her main course, Ingrid serves up a flavor packed Tri-Tip with Cherry Tomatoes and Onions. And when it comes to drinks, nothing says Brazil like a Capirinha made with a sugar cane brandy.

Aaron McCargo Jr on the other hand needs no introduction as this point, assuming you’ve just spent the past two months finding everything about him as the winner of the Next Food Network Star. Now he gets to show you the less-stressed (no more competing) more comfortable “him” out there and show you his cooking with the premiere of Big Daddy’s House Sunday at 1:30pm Eastern. “Big Daddy cooks up dishes inspired by his sons Josh and Justin. First, Aaron makes the Everything but the Kitchen Sink Chicken Tenders Salad. Then, he assembles Josh’s Roast Pork Sandwich with Broccoli Rabe and Provolone Cheese, and finally he bakes up some delicious, Oven Baked Seasoned Fries. When everything comes together perfectly, Aaron’s youngest son, Justin, joins him and together they sit down for a Boys Night In.”

Finally, later that night, it’s a new episode of Iron Chef America at 9pm Eastern where Chef Masaharu Morimoto is challenged by Chef Tyson Wong Ophaso from Red Pearl Kitchen in Los Angeles. “With such similar styles of cuisine will Chef Wong Ophaso’s take on the secret ingredient earn him a win, or see him leave Kitchen Stadium in defeat.”

{01 Aug 2008}