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As a chef who has competed on shows such as "Iron Chef America," Curtis Stone has nothing but respect for those who undertake the pressures of his new Wednesday Food Network series "Kitchen Inferno." "Anyone who's got the guts to stand up on national television with the opportunity of total failure, I really admire," says the host, a 39-year-old native of Melbourne, Australia. "Your putting your entire career on the line is admirable, I think. I root for them. I want them to make it as far as they possibly can, prove as much as they possibly can and win as much money as they can, all the way to the end – with the odd exception where someone challenges me in Round 4. That's when I beg them to take the money before they take me on." The show, which premiered two weeks ago, sees one contestant competing against increasingly accomplished chefs in a series of four challenges. In each round, the contestant's creation is judged against the competition's. If they win, they can either advance to the next round or take a cash prize and exit. But if they opt to move on the next round and lose, they walk away empty-handed. Those who win all four rounds win a $25,000 grand prize. "As somebody that was a contestant on 'Iron Chef,' " Stone says, "that was really intense. ... You're cooking against also world-class chefs so that was really intense. In 'Kitchen Inferno,' we do that but we do it to the same contestant four times, if you like. They don't get to bring in a sous chef or anyone to help them. They're there on their own and if they make it all the way to level four, not only to they have to compete in four challenges, they have to win them all to win the money and they also end up against a world-class chef. I mean, look, Geoffrey Zakarian was an Iron Chef, he's one of our level four chefs on 'Kitchen Inferno.' " BY GEORGE DICKIE Stone admires those who enter the 'KITCHEN INFERNO' What are you currently reading? "(Laughs) I'm reading 'The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.' ... We've got a 5-week-old, so we're figuring out how to get him to sleep at night." What did you have for dinner last night? "I went to a little Mexican place with my 3- year-old. ... So I had a piece of sea bass with a mole sauce." What is your next project? "Just busy busy at the restaurant (the recently opened Maude in Beverly Hills, Calif.). I'm really focusing on it at the moment. I'm trying not to take on too much. ... Fortunately I was able to film the show in nine days, so it was really a fast in-and-out project and I'm lucky enough to be able to concentrate of the restaurant and hopefully do a great job in there." When was the last vacation you took – where and why? "We went to a place called Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Played a little golf. I went with my wife when she was pregnant with our second son and had a little calm-before-the-storm vacation with some family friends, which was lots of fun." Curtis Stone BEST FOOD MOVIES "GoodFellas" (1990) While the main storyline of Martin Scorsese's organized crime masterpiece concerns Henry Hill's time in the New York mob circa mid-20th century, one could certainly consider a side tale to be how these tough guys loved to eat. Witness the prison scene in which the convicted wiseguys debate how to make a proper tomato sauce – pork gives you your flavor – or how Henry (Ray Liotta) reminds his little brother to not let the simmering sauce stick to the side of the pot. A home chef could pick up a few pointers. "Eat Drink Man Woman" (1994) Even if Chinese food isn't your thing, it may be by the end of Ang Lee's farce about a widowed Taiwanese master chef and his three unmarried daughters. Much of the film revolves around the growing generational divide between the old man and his offspring, as symbolized by the sumptuous feast he prepares for them each Sunday that they are loathe to attend. While the communication may not be great in this clan, the eats certainly look like they are. This movie should be listed on Trip Advisor. "Big Night" (1996) Co-writer, co-director and co-star Stanley Tucci's labor of love takes viewers to the 1950s New Jersey shore, where two immigrant brothers (Tucci, Tony Shalhoub) are trying to rescue their failing Italian restaurant. The food in this establishment is first rate – the aroma of the risotto being prepared in one scene practically wafts through the screen – but the eatery's fortunes seem to ride on an expected visit by crooner Louis Prima. He would never come. "Sideways" (2004) A little merlot, anyone? Alexander Payne's amusing tale of two middle-age buddies' last hurrah trek through Santa Barbara wine country prior to one's wedding is filled with funny dialogue, interesting characters and lots of little tips and facts about wine – did you know that pinot grapes like cool conditions or that aerating wine unlocks the flavors? Equally sumptuous are the restaurant scenes, especially one in which a clearly overserved Miles (Paul Giamatti) drunk-dials his ex-wife while on a double date with Jack (Thomas Haden Church) and two female companions (Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh). We recommend a nice cabernet with this film. BY GEORGE DICKIE "GoodFellas" "Sideways" "Big Night" 8 The Goshen News • TV Spotlight • November 17 - 23, 2014

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