Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Local Chefs Throw Down On 'Knife Fight' Tuesday Premiere
Elijah Wood, Ilan Hall, and LAist Food Editor Krista Simmons chow down on the set of "Knife Fight"/ Photo courtesy of Esquire
()
Ever wondered what happens at a restaurant after hours? It's not just the gritty grossness divulged in Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential," though there admittedly is some of that. Mostly there's drinking. Lots of drinking. Which in turn leads to the drunchies, trash talking, and sometimes culinary play time, where chefs get to experiment with ingredients and cook for their friends, who, because of their whacky schedules, also happen to be chefs or industry professionals.
"Knife Fight," a new show on the recently launched Esquire Network, captures a glimpse of this, giving viewers a peek at what goes down at "Top Chef" champ Ilan Hall's restaurant behind closed doors.
The show premieres on Tuesday, and is basically a "Fight Club" version of "Top Chef." Hall invites his chef buddies to throw down at the Gorbals, located in Downtown L.A. He picks whacky ingredients to work with -- usually it's some sort of off cut protein or offal -- and they get wild. There's an audience there and guest judges taste things and make big decisions after drinking lots of Scotch. Things get loud and rowdy. This is not your conventional cooking show.
Most of the competitors are L.A.-based. Brendan Collins (Waterloo & City), Jason Neroni (Superba Snack Bar), David Feau (Le Ka), Jason Fullilove (Patina), and Nyesha Arrington (The Wilshire), are just a few of the guests. They're not competing for grand cash prizes though; all the winner gets is a cheap cleaver as their trophy. Which is totally cool. This show is not about the prize money or the title or product placement or awkward brand partnerships. It's just about cutting loose in the kitchen and trying new things with food. Which we can totally get behind.
Support for LAist comes from
To get a feel for the show, you can check out the clip of Hall on Fallon below. Or just tune in on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on the Esquire Network.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist