National Geographic Channel Takes to the Big Easy to Launch New Food Programming

National Geographic Channel a network that in recent years has become known for its uncommonly creative publicity and promotion practices faces just such challenges in the month ahead when it will debut amp8220Eat The Story of Foodamp8221 a threenight sixhour documentary miniseries beginning Friday November 21 that should leave sated anyone hungry for fresh information and fascinating historical footnotes about the title subject and two new ongoing halfhour series amp8220Eric Greenspan is Hungryamp8221 in which the celebrity chef travels around the country in search of the best meat poultry and shellfish recipes and amp8220Chugamp8221 a series in which comedian and TV host Zane Lamprey travels the world sampling the finest cocktails and some interesting cuisine amp8220Greenspanamp8221 and amp8220Chugamp8221 debut on Monday November 24At first blush amp8220Eatamp8221 amp8220Greenspanamp8221 and amp8220Chugamp8221 might not seem all that different from the food oriented fare on other information and lifestyle networks in other words it would be easy for them to get lost in the massive menu of food shows already available to those with insatiable appetites for same So NGC decided to make certain that reporters and bloggers would learn as much as possible about them by hosting a twoday threenight event last week in New Orleans filled with activities involving food many of them cleverly tied to these three programs and all of them including talent from these shows who were always ready not only to discuss their own projects but to offer guidance advice and opinions about whatever was happening or being consumed at any given momentThe event kicked off with dinner at Commanderamp8217s Palace since 1880 one of the finest and most consistently acclaimed restaurants in the city The meal was preceded by a screening of the first hour of amp8220Eatamp8221 and a press conference with three of the more than 70 chefs food experts and scientists seen in the miniseries Author and television personality Simon Majumdar host of Food Networkamp8217s amp8220Iron Chef Americaamp8221 amp8220The Next Iron Chefamp8221 and amp8220Cutthroat Kitchenamp8221 among others Eric Greenspan who provided the liveliest moments of the press session by taking shots at the culinary competition shows on Food Network and Bravo calling them amp8220nobrainer programmingamp8221 and Anna Boiardi of the nowlegendary Chef Boyardee food dynasty They were accompanied by Pamela Caragol Wells of National Geographic Studios an executive producer of amp8220Eatamp8221The long and very filling day that followed began with the de riguer coffee and beignets at Cafamp233 du Monde followed by three hours of cooking instruction at the New Orleans School of Cooking during which writers were divided into teams and learned the basics of Louisiana cooking A side note My talents in the kitchen begin and end with scrambling eggs and making pasta but I was chosen as one of four team leaders during this activity Fortunately a writer I chose to be on my team Mary Beth Albright later revealed that she had been a competitor on season seven of Food Networkamp8217s amp8220The Next Food Network Staramp8221 Mary Beth who came in second in that competition proved to be an invaluable team memberThe extended cooking lesson was followed by a fascinating walking tour to several historically significant New Orleans restaurants including Antoineamp8217s pictured above Arnaudamp8217s Cafamp233 Soule and Tujagueamp8217s the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans The detailed histories of these restaurants amp8211 and in most cases the past and present meals served within amp8211 reflect and intersect with so much world history and international culture that it all fit quite well into the National Geographic of thingsThe following dayamp8217s activities consisted of a screening of the first episode of amp8220Eric Greenspan is Hungryamp8221 and a press conference with the outspoken chef at Le Bayou Restaurant followed by a screening of the first episode of amp8220Chugamp8221 and a press conference with series star Zane Lamprey at the Museum of the American Cocktail Lamprey formerly the host of amp8220Have Fork Will Travelamp8221 on Food Network and amp8220Drinking Made Easyamp8221 on HDNet funded the first six episodes of amp8220Chugamp8221 through a Kickstarter campaign The event concluded with dinner at Root which was recently named one of Bon Appetitamp8217s 50 Best New RestaurantsOne might be tempted to conclude that expressive personalities such as Eric Greenspan and Zane Lamprey who among other things is known for leading very loud group toasts in restaurants which surprised other diners at Root might not qualify as typical hosts of National Geographic Channel programs As we got to know them during the New Orleans food event however it became increasingly clear that they will likely bring new life and perhaps new viewers to the network and that is never a bad thing Together with Jason Silva of amp8220Brain Gamesamp8221 these men could open the network up beyond its traditional reputation as a destination that educates first and entertains second Their respective programs manage to do both and to do them quite wellAs for the New Orleans event itself everything about it made perfect sense With viewing options increasing exponentially seemingly by the day it is becoming evermore difficult to call attention to new series on broadcast or cable networks Given that reality it is remarkable that so many networks are actually cutting back on their publicity efforts largely limiting them to emails featuring links to online amp8220screening roomsamp8221 that donamp8217t always work and an oldschool press release or two Events of this kind when they are done right can generate awareness for programming above and beyond most of the rest They also do much to keep an entire network top of mind in the months that followThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

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National Geographic Channel Takes to the Big Easy to Launch New Food Programming

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