Photo: On the set of the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here at Creemore Kitchen is restaurant owners Sam Holwell and Caesar Guinto with host John Catucci.
You gotta eat there.
When it comes to comfort food, the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here is putting Creemore Kitchen on the list of must-eats.
A crew spent two days on location at the Mill Street restaurant last week getting to know owners Sam Holwell and Caesar Guinto, while also becoming closely acquainted with some of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
“It’s been very delicious,” said host John Catucci.
On the first day of filming, chef Guinto prepared a pork belly steam bun, fish sandwich (beer battered with the beer from across the street, notes Catucci) and a sweet corn ice cream sundae.
The day was dedicated to interviews, preparing the recipes and taking close ups, the food porn, according to Catucci.
On the second day, Creemore Kitchen’s regular customers were invited to partake in a meal during two sittings, with a few people selected to talk on camera about their food.
You Gotta Eat Here documents Catucci’s quest to find the best in local favourites throughout Canada and parts of the United States.
“It’s a national showcase for these restaurants. These are not chains. These are the mom-and-pop shops – or in this case pop-and-pop,” said Catucci. “It’s a great way to showcase local business and places that make delicious stick-to-your-ribs comfort food.”
Guinto said he doesn’t know exactly how Creemore Kitchen was selected for the show but when producers called last year, he was happy to accept.
“It’s a great experience for me. John was really easy to work with. It’s not an easy thing to be on camera but the crew and John have been great,” said Guinto.
Creemore Kitchen opened almost two years ago with a mission to create simple good food with local and seasonal ingredients.
Guinto has been a chef for more than 25 years and was executive chef at the Royal Ontario Museum before moving to Creemore.
In the end, Creemore Kitchen will be featured with two other dining hot spots in a 30-minute segment as part of the show’s current season. It is not known when the episode will air.
New episodes air every Friday at 9 p.m. EST, on Food Network Canada.