The Kitchen is one of the few cooking shows that I record, so when a friend asked if I wanted to go to a taping with her, I was all in. I love the chefs and how they interact with each other, and equally love how most of the recipes they share are super simple to make and usually don’t require a massive tri-state area hunt for exotic ingredients. If you’re not familiar with the show, the chefs are Katie Lee, Sunny Anderson, Jeff Mauro, and Geoffrey Zakarian.
And now, after attending the taping, I love them even more. They were seriously so funny to watch. Jeff and Sunny act like misbehaving teenagers, with Geoffrey playing the role of the strict dad. They clearly love what they do, and their passion is evident, and as an audience member, it was definitely a good time.
Despite the fact that Food Network is based in New York, The Kitchen, surprisingly, tapes in Montclair, which meant a super easy drive and on-street, metered parking. Hurrah! In fact, I scored the first space right in front of the studio and the meters are good for three hours (without you having to rush out mid-taping to refeed them), so it was perfect. Our taping started at 9, and you waited outside until the very dot of 9, so keep that in mind if you happen to visit during inclement weather.
A staffer checked our ID before we were ushered into the small audience area and we grabbed a seat on the folding chairs. When I say “small,” I’m not kidding. There were five rows of chairs, about six seats across, so the audience for each taping is minimal. The chairs are fairly close together, and there isn’t really optimal viewing from every seat, so you may find yourself watching the large tv screen in the room more than you’re watching the actual people. I vacillated between both, sneaking peeks in between the people sitting in front of me. I heard the ladies in the last row complain about the fact that they couldn’t see that well … and yet they refused to fill out a feedback form at the end of taping. Go figure.
Brielle was the audience coordinator, and she gave us a rundown of what we would see. Unlike Rachael Ray’s taping, we were allowed to keep our phones ON, but just had to silence them, which really made me happy. If my kids aren’t with me, I don’t like to be so completely disconnected from them. We were also allowed to take photos, but couldn’t share specifics on social media until the episode actually airs. I *think* I’m safe with what I’m sharing here.
The focus of this episode is Dinner in a Snap, and I think it will be airing sometime in September or October. Once I see it on the schedule, I’ll do an update with the details and recipes (and I already have two of the recipes on my list for this week). Each of the chefs made recipes, and we got to sample three of them. Deb Perelman from Smitten Kitchen also made a guest appearance on the show andshared a sheet pan recipe from her new cookbook, Smitten Kitchen Every Day.
The taping itself was more laid back and low-key than others I’ve gone to, which surprised me a little given the factthat there are four celebrity chefs on set. That being said, it made it heaps more enjoyable. At the end of the taping, the chefs came over to the audience area and each of us were allowed to go up and get a picture with them (the audience coordinator took the photos on our phone, mine was horrible so it will never see the light of day). And during one fifteen minute break period towards the end, Sunny actually came out and sat with the audience. She was interacting with everyone as if they were her long lost friends, talking about bears and birds she’s seen in her neighborhood and what grocery store she shops at. I loved her before, and I love her even more now. So down to earth, real, and completely relatable.
The taping was supposed to last “approximately three hours,” but it ended up lasting four and a quarter. There *are* opportunities to run out and replenish your parking meter, and use the restroom, which is awesome. I always love getting behind the scenes peeks at how things work, whether it be a tv show or a business, and this was no exception.
Hungry for more?
This post is from our recent visit to a Rachael Ray tapingin New York City.
And our experience when we attended a taping of Martha Stewart’s show.
FAQs
Ask us. Bid now for 2 tickets to a taping of The Kitchen, filmed in Montclair, NJ. The hourlong LIVE show, featuring hosts Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro, and Geoffrey Zakarian, shares simple dinner recipes and family meal tips, play trivia games, and answers viewer questions!
Is the show The Kitchen filmed in front of a live audience? ›
The Food Network programs seen on-air are generally classified as a 'closed set,' meaning there is not a public audience. However, on special occasions, some programs will do a taping in front of a live audience.
Where is The Kitchen filmed outside? ›
For exterior shots of the Kitchen estate, they were portrayed by the Damiers de Dauphiné apartment complex in Paris. So, no, it wasn't all CGI! The stacked buildings were used as a backdrop for all the action and drama happening inside the Kitchen, but were made extra futuristic with some impressive graphics.
Does the audience on The Kitchen get to eat the food? ›
“does the audience get to eat the food that's cooked on the show?” Unfortunately, they do not feed the audience from the food that they make. When you enter the holding area, there will be water and snacks provided. Sometimes it's chips other times a sweet treat .
How much do the people on The Kitchen make? ›
How much does a Kitchen Staff make? As of Apr 15, 2024, the average hourly pay for the Kitchen Staff jobs category in the United States is $13.53 an hour.
Where does Jeff Zakarian live? ›
Geoffrey resides in New York City with his wife and three children.
Do the hosts of The Kitchen like each other? ›
"The first thing everybody says who stops to ask me about The Kitchen is [if the hosts] really like each other... and it's true, we really like each other... we all bring really different skill sets to the that show. That's why the show is so successful," he says.
Are any TV shows still filmed in front of a live audience? ›
If you simply want to sit in the audience for popular game shows like Wheel of Fortune, The Price is Right, or Family Feud, check out On-Camera Audiences. Just keep in mind that show tapings are often overbooked, so a ticket is not always a guaranteed seat (show up a little early to keep your odds high).
Is Alex Guarnaschelli engaged? ›
Alex Guarnaschelli and Fiancé Michael Castellon End Engagement After 5 Years Together. Alex Guarnaschelli and her fiancé, Michael Castellon, have split after five years together, PEOPLE can confirm. The Food Network star and Castellon's breakup comes nearly two years after they got engaged in June 2020.
Who was the female chef that went to jail? ›
Martha Stewart was not convicted for criminal insider trading charges, although she later had to pay $195,000 to settle a civil case with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In her criminal case, she was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators in March 2004.
She has a son named Fausto Gallardo (2004) with her ex-husband Fausto Gallardo, son David Button-Valladolid (2015) and daughter Anna Carina Button-Valladolid (2016) with her current husband Philip Button. In 2013, Valladolid had a brief affair with her The American Baking Competition co-host Paul Hollywood.
Is The Kitchen based on a true story? ›
Is The Kitchen based on a true story? No, it's fictional.
Why has Alex Guarnaschelli not been on The Kitchen? ›
Fans claimed that Alex was removed from The Kitchen's website after hinting that she had been fired from the talk show. The television personality answered questions on her Instagram about her absences from the show earlier this month. Alex suggested she had left The Kitchen by sharing a cryptic message to a follower.
What year is The Kitchen film set in? ›
"The Kitchen" is a dystopian film set in London in the year 2040, where the gap between the rich and poor has been stretched to its limits. The movie follows the story of a man named Izi and a 12-year-old boy named Benji as they struggle to form a relationship in a system stacked against them.
Where is The Kitchen located in a house? ›
In our opinion, it is usually best located in the middle so that it maintains adjacencies to both the dining room and the living room. The truth for most families is that the kitchen is the center of domestic life, and having it located centrally optimizes the many conveniences that come from this fact.
Where does the show The Kitchen take place? ›
Despite the fact that Food Network is based in New York, The Kitchen, surprisingly, tapes in Montclair, which meant a super easy drive and on-street, metered parking.
Where is the Food Network kitchen located? ›
Food Network Test Kitchen
Drop by Food Network's test kitchen in New York City and you might think you've stepped onto the set of Chopped. While the chaos is more controlled — and the ingredients are way less bizarre — the hustle and bustle looks a lot like what you see on TV.
