You Gotta Eat Here comes to Edmonton
Three Edmonton restaurants are being put to the test this week by John Catucci, host of You Gotta Eat Here on the Food Network.
Catucci will be sampling savouries and a whole lot of chicken (probably) as he visits Old Strathcona's MEAT, downtown's Rostizado by Tres Carnales and Battista's Calzone on 118th Avenue.
"I'm very excited, I've heard good things about all the restaurants," Catucci told Edmonton AM host Mark Connolly on Thursday.
Before becoming the host, Catucci spent 13 years traveling Canada as one half of the comedy duo The DooWops, where "we sang very inappropriate, non family-friendly songs," he says.
He was contacted by the producers behind You Gotta Eat Here, who asked if he'd be interested in giving hosting a shot.
"They wanted somebody who wasn't a chef … somebody who could just talk to people and improvise and just be funny and have fun."
After four seasons, Catucci has had to change a few things — namely, how much of each dish he eats, and how often he meets with his trainer — but he still loves touring the country in search of the best comfort food.
"It's whatever you grew up on, whatever makes you feel good — that meal that you want to eat when you're feeling a little bit sad when you have to eat your feelings."
Comfort food comes in many forms, including beef hearts and cow tongues, Catucci says.
Fortunately, he's not a picky eater — but he does admit that spice can be an issue.
"I really liked spice but then I just got ruined by some really spicy things."
MEAT will be closed for two days for the TV shoot. The crew will then move on to Rostizado and Battista's. Then it's back to Catucci's home base in Toronto.
Catucci says he spends 156 days per year shooting episodes, and another 50 or so traveling from city to city.
"We're just going in and talking to people and eating food and traveling the country — it's a good gig."
You Gotta Eat Here airs every Friday night on the Food Network. All three Edmonton restaurants will be featured in the show's 2016 season.
