Prepping for the Pilot…

Today was supposed to be the day for shooting the pilot, but like just about every other day we’ve scheduled, the weather conspired to dampen our production. First the snow, then the floods; why do the gods have such a problem with the show? Are they jealous they weren’t invited to sit at table 42? Somebody get Thor on the phone and see if he’s got an opening in the next few months, please?

But why do we need nice weather, you might ask? Aren’t they eating indoors? Well, yes, table 42 is located in a lovely, intimate breezeway setting, and in the event we have a guest lined up that can’t move their date, we’ll make do. But for the pilot, we wanted to be able to shoot indoors and outdoors so we could capture the overall setting on the night, and there’s a lot to look at around the restaurant. It also makes running the patio to the kitchen to avoid the crowded dining room a whole lot easier.

So stay tuned for production updates, and our inaugural episode!

UPDATE: Shoot postponed again. We’ll give another shot in a couple weeks.

New Teaser Trailer!

Check out our 60-spot cut from footage of Chef and his gang prepping for a big party. The fabled table is in there, though!

We’ll be shooting the real deal in a couple of weeks, so check back for a full episode.

PA Prefers Chef Darryl and Other News…

Chef Darryl hosted a cooking demo in Harrisburg, PA, this past weekend. For more info, check out the Culinary Connection section of The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s “PA Preferred” website. For an article on the show and two delicious recipes (Wild Mushroom Risotto and Grilled Organic Veal Chops and ) click here.

Ready to wow Martha.

This past summer, Chef D also took part in The Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival and you can read more bio info here. Some of the stuff you may already know, but there’s always some new and interesting tidbits to learn about our guy.

Hanger steak and carammmelized shallots.

And back in November, Chef played sous chef for Martha Stewart and prepared a hanger steak with caramelized shallots recipe from her new cookbook during her signing at the King of Prussia Williams-Sonoma store.

Oh, and check out Darryl’s A.C. Food & Wine Festival article in the Philadelphia Tribune‘s Lifestyle section.

And we’re not done yet! Chef shows NBC 10 how to do a proper Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken.

And finally, rebroadcast this Christmas on Fox 29‘s “Deal or Dud” segment, Darryl bravely tests the Ove Glove (oven mitt designed to withstand high temperatures).

Check back for more, and don’t forget to become a fan of the show.

The Spot

The famed Table 42 shot with the still camera feature on the Panasonic XH-A1 S. The angle is straight on from outside the breezeway on the patio with the sliding glass doors opened. It’s one of three main angles we’ll be using for the show, and of course, the area will be decorated with possibly some kind of tasteful floral arrangement.

At present, co-stars will be lit using a combination of ambient and diffused table light like the electric candles you see above. Similar candles may be used for decoration, as well. The idea is to provide safe, consistent, attractive and adjustable flattering light to the proceedings without running wires all over the restaurant. We’ll be running and gunning in fluctuating conditions, so flexibility is a major issue.

Don’t forget, we need your stories! If you’d like to appear as a co-star on the show, or you know of a family member or friend who might be great for their own webisode, drop us an email.

We Want Your Stories!

“Table 42 with Chef Darryl Harmon” is a reality/cooking show airing its first webisode on Valentine’s Day, 2010. Production of the inaugural season begins very soon, and we need a few good couples to be our co-stars and guests at Philadelphia’s famed Water Works restaurant and its famous “special occasion table”––Table 42.

What we’re looking for are heartwarming, human interest stories from people within driving distance of the city that we can document through on-site interviews and/or existing imagery (photos, video, etc.). This footage will be presented between clips of Chef Darryl Harmon customizing dishes for the occasion and working to make the event as special as it can be. Interaction with the wait staff, other guests, various members of the Water Works family, and the chef himself is also to be expected.

In short, we could have made this show about the great culinary talents and interesting personal profile of Chef Darryl, but we realized that it’s the wonderful people who love food and long to enjoy each other in comfortable, magical surroundings that are the inspiration for all the chef and his team do. We can’t produce this wonderful project (to be made available on your HDTV cable service in the coming months) without you, so we invite you to join us. We look forward to meeting you.

For those interested in being a part of this new and exciting journey, please contribute your stories here (or by clicking “Leave a comment” above near the entry title) and in the comment sections of future blog entries. If you prefer to remain anonymous at this time, feel free to contact us via email and we’ll be sure to let you know we’ve received your message. For those who wish to follow the show, we’ll be providing notes and updates on the production, as well as sharing some of the stories that may be featured.

From all of us here at Table 42, thank you and stay tuned.