Rocco DiSpirito? Che figo! The handsome reality TV chef exudes suave and wears his suits really well. But as his career progresses, he's proven that he's more than merely handsome. He's talented. We've watched him mature since "The Restaurant.' He's taken his knocks, polished his rough edges, and is establishing his authority in the arena of fine cuisine. No easy task in a highly competitive field, with plenty of beautiful Italians.
A native New Yorker, DiSpirito learned his early culinary skills in his Italian mother's kitchen. He graduated from both the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and Boston University. He then spent over 25 years working in the U.S. and abroad developing a unique sense of flavor that is distinguished by his intriguing combinations of ingredients. He's authored six highly acclaimed cookbooks, including the # 1 New York Times bestseller "Now Eat This!" and "Now Eat This DIET!"
And - and I'm serious about this. He's a triathlete. Yes, in between writing books and running restaurants, he trains for triathlons. Some people are just blessed with an over-abundance of the energy the rest of us lack.
If that's not enough accomplishment for one lifetime, now DiSpirito is appearing in the newest reality cooking show with, thankfully, an unusual twist. "Rocco's Dinner Party" challenges three chefs to prepare their signature dish in 30 minutes. Of the three, DiSpirito decides which two will move on to the next round and prepare a full dinner party to compete for a cash prize of $20,000.
In last week's premier it was a snap to tell who wasn't going to make the initial cut. It was smugly fun to watch the women who proclaimed, "People should be intimidated by me" be sent packing. Not only weren't her competitors not intimidated by her, but DiSpirito was unimpressed with her raw food. He called her avocado puree "tragic." Most of us rooted for her arrogant demise anyway.
No more spoilers, however. After the initial cut, the two remaining contestants were challenged to prepare a full dinner party for a small gathering of DiSpirito's celebrity guests. They not only planned the menu, but they also worked with a party planner to choose the decor, which had to match a pre-determined theme - the "Speakeasy," which was a prohibition-era establishment that served great food alongside illegal alcohol.
The guests were diverse and interesting, including former LA Law actress Christine Ebersole, Forbes Media Critic, Bill McCuddy, Boardwalk Empire actor, Michael Kenneth Williams and Top Chef Master, Marcus Samuelson. They had the not-so-easy-task of devouring two delicious gourmet meals back-to-back. Each week promises even more intriguing combinations of guests. I'm hoping for a little drama and, sine Bravo is big on drama, maybe they'll sit Teresa Giudice next to Countess LuAnn DeLessups just to see how they interact. I wonder if the latter would give the former etiquette advice?
As the dinner party guests chatted and absorbed the pre-packaged ambience, the two remaining chefs bantered and bickered back-and-forth in the kitchen, baiting and teasing one another. The one watching while the other prepared and served their meal. And, of course, there were the requisite mishaps, which resulted in DiSpirito sternly coming into the kitchen to check on the delay.
As the dinners were placed on the table the guests gushed and tried to impress one another with their knowledge of fine cuisine, which provided opportunity for foodies to learn a little bit more about what comprises a well-cooked meal. The dishes were diverse, with one chef serving oxtail and the other short ribs. And, if the pressure of cooking for a celebrity chef and his guests weren't enough, DiSpirito had arrived five minutes before they started, in true restaurant-style, to inform them that one guest was a vegetarian and another couldn't consume pork or alcohol.
The big disappointment for this premier was the time slot. For some absurd reason, perhaps to give Andy Cohen time off, Bravo premiered the show at 11pm. So everyone will now be grateful that tonight's show will air at 10pm, and so will the remaining episodes. As Bravo says, "Watch What Happens."
Rocco's Dinner Party | Weds @ 10/9c | Bravo
Jenifer Mangione Vogt is a marketing and public relations professional that lives in Boca Raton, FL. She blogs frequently about art and Italian culture.
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