Veteran firefighter/chef explores unique culinary style
Show information:
Firehouse Kitchen, starring Chef Joseph Bonnano
Smoke Eater Films
Producers: Ray Cooney and Ian Fydell
Premiers October 6, 2012, 11:30 A.M.
WLNY, Long Island, New York
In a region known for its celebrity chefs, Joseph Bonanno stands out from the crowd with his practical but utterly unique culinary perspective. He’s worked with fire most of his professional life: before he became a powerhouse in the kitchen, he spent 21 years in the firehouse with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
For a man whose day job was putting out flames for more than two decades, Joe is exquisitely talented at making fire work for him. He builds on his experience and talent in both fields to provide popular cooking entertainment that appeals to a wide audience, while revealing secrets of the heroic firefighter lifestyle. Everyone loves a fireman, not to mention a good meal!
Leveraging past experience as a nutritionist and fitness trainer, Joe has pursued his culinary career with the same zeal he practiced as a firefighter. He’s made more than 400 TV appearances on venues like Live with Regis and Kelly, Martha Stewart, Fox NY, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. He’s been featured in print in The New York Times, Eating Well, Bon Appétit, and The Daily News, and has published two well-received cookbooks of his own, both focusing on firehouse cuisine. After spending a few years hosting a radio show down in Florida, Joe’s back in the big city and ready to return to the airwaves in a big way.
With Firehouse Kitchen, Joe will invite Long Island firemen to join him on the air and share recipes they would make in their own firehouses. Joe and his guests will focus on healthy, family-oriented meals that make for better eating choices based on taste and budget awareness-all while emphasizing fire safety tips. In every episode, they’ll show viewers how to prevent both household and kitchen fires. Firehouse Kitchen will also donate funds to the Stonybrook and NYC burn centers, and will explore Long Island-including visits to historical firehouses, a tour of the Blue Point Brewery, a clamming trip to Patchogue, and a whole lot more!
So-got a yen for some culinary heat? It doesn’t get any hotter than Firehouse Kitchen! Catch the premier on Long Island’s WLNY on October 6, 2012, at 11:30 A.M.
If you’d like to learn more, or would like to schedule an interview with Mr. Bonanno, please contact producers Ian Fydell and Ray Cooney at ezon084@aol.com or call (516) 467-9459.