Latest news with #Kindling
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
This Chicago chef just won season two of Food Network's '24 in 24: Last Chef Standing'
Food Network's latest high-stakes cooking competition series brought together 24 chefs from across the country to battle it out over a grueling 24-hour period, aptly named '24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.' And the last chef standing for its second season is Chicago's Jonathon Sawyer, chef partner of the Loop's Kindling. 'I don't think there's anything like this because it's such a microcosm of our competitiveness,' Sawyer told the Tribune. 'Other shows that are maybe as big, like 'Tournament of Champions,' where you have 32 chefs, they go on and they film for three-and-a-half weeks — almost like chef summer camp. But for ('Last Chef Standing') next thing you know, you're 12 hours in and you're like, 'OK I've never filmed TV for this long before where I've never not sat down.' The competition — filmed over a continuous 24 hours — is divided into eight episodes and eight 'shifts,' each featuring a rapid-fire culinary challenge designed to test various skills such as speed, resourcefulness, artistry, adaptability, endurance and creativity. Hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi required chefs to do many obscure challenges throughout the series — such as asking them to identify seven ingredients used in a bowl of pasta in 90 seconds while blindfolded. The number of ingredients guessed correctly was the number of ingredients they could use to create a noodle-based dish. 'In terms of preparation, there's nothing you can do that mimics what you are going to go through in that show,' Sawyer said. Over the years, Sawyer has participated in several Food Network culinary competitions, including 'Iron Chef America,' 'Chopped Tournament of Champions' and 'Bobby's Triple Threat.' He said the lineup of chefs in 'Last Chef Standing' 'was one of the most talented I've ever gone against.' Chicago chef Stephanie Izard also competed on the show and secured a spot in the final five along with Sawyer and chefs Kevin Lee from Edmond, Oklahoma, Bryan Voltaggio from Frederick, Maryland, and Nini Nguyen, who's based in New Orleans. Sawyer said every chef on 'Last Chef Standing' had been in a previous culinary competition. They all had their own strategies when competing, and the margin of error is almost always small, he said. 'There's gameplay involved with everything,' he said. Sawyer said he consulted with a bunch of chefs who competed during the first season of the show to get an idea of how to handle the twists and turns, and the 'breaks' offered to the competitors as a strategic advantage. According to the Food Network, competing chefs can choose to go to the breakroom, skipping the next challenge and advancing to the next shift. Though the hosts give a fair warning that 'resting now could lead to pain later,' Sawyer said with a laugh. 'It seems like everybody who chose to take a nap was pretty much eliminated right afterward, because it's almost impossible to come out of that break and go right into competition mode,' Sawyer said. During one challenge, the chefs had their gas lines shut off by the hosts, which significantly affected their ability to cook. 'I was gobsmacked with my mouth open, like, oh my god, I cannot believe this is happening right now,' Sawyer said with a laugh, adding that a previous advantage allowed him to sit out that grueling challenge. 'But that was the whole point of adaptability. I'm in a wood-fired restaurant now and we have two hubs, and there are times where the hood vent doesn't work and we just have to twist and adapt. We're not going to close our doors, so we're going to run a modified menu, or we're going to grill everything in advance.' At Kindling inside the Willis Tower, Sawyer focuses on hearth-fired cuisine, blending seasonal ingredients with innovation. Sawyer won the grand prize of $75,000 with a spice-roasted rack of lamb, chanterelles, apricots and uni on top of a silky sunchoke puree. Food Network judges praised the dish as 'fearless, balanced and technically immaculate.' He's donating a portion of his winnings to The Sawyer Foundation, a nonprofit he founded to support hospitality professionals seeking sobriety, re-entry to the industry and supplying ongoing recovery resources. ''I'm now three years sober — we started this conversation to give people an opportunity to find their way to recovery inside of this industry,' Sawyer said. 'I don't think a lot of people realize that I checked myself into rehab, and that's how I got sober. I think coming out of that recovery, whether it's inpatient or outpatient, that's another facet of the Sawyer Foundation — facilitating societal reintegration. What does a job look like now that you're sober? What are your opportunities?' Sawyer said restaurant kitchens can be an unforgiving place for people fighting addiction, but he's hoping he can be a real-world example of what recovery looks like. 'As this season concludes, and as every show that I'm on after this, a big part of my conversation is to eliminate the stigma and champion awareness that addiction is affecting up to 40% of our industry,' he said. 'We need to have people understand that everybody from Robert Downey Jr. to Dax Shepard to Jonathan Sawyer, all suffer in a different way and are able to navigate and be successful, so you can too.'
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Hot under the collar: how to ace the dating scene this summer
After what felt like a neverending winter, longer days are finally here, and with them comes the chance for singles of all stripes to give their love life a boost. 'The summer makes everyone happier, more confident and a bit more frisky, so if you're dating, try to make the most of it,' advises Eimear Draper, founder of dating coaching service Kindling. 'Dating apps tend to see a dip in usage in the summer months, and while it's worth keeping them ticking over in the background, with everyone hanging out in parks and beer gardens there are more opportunities to connect with people in real life, too. 'Just going up to someone and saying 'hi' could spark something, whether it's a conversation you feel proud of starting, or the beginning of a real-life romcom. So be brave and take a chance.' Of course, there are some things that can put a damper on the romantic mood, not least hay fever with the itchy eyes and stuffy nose it brings. You could get ahead of the game by using a nasal spray – something like Beconase Hay Fever Relief for Adults could help to keep symptoms at bay so you can concentrate on seeking out Mr, Ms or Mx Right. We asked Draper and Kindling's Sergio Rebelo*, a therapist with a special focus on all things psychosexual, for their expert tips on dating success this summer. Summer confidence can coax you out of your comfort zone, whether that's trying a new hobby, daring to wear the season's romantic ruffles – or choosing a different kind of partner. 'Dating outside your type is always a good thing to try, and summer tends to take the pressure off the dating scene,' says Draper. 'You might be looking for someone to go for a sunny stroll with rather than for the love of your life, so you can swipe right on people you wouldn't normally take a chance on.' 'Communication, honesty and consent are key,' adds Rebelo, 'so be upfront about what you want, whether that's a fun summer fling or something more long term.' Most of us like the idea of meeting somebody in real life rather than on a dating app – but, says Draper, there's no need to make that distinction. 'Everyone says they hate dating apps and want to meet someone in real life, but as soon as you go on a date with someone from an app, that's real life,' she says. 'So instead of getting stuck on the app exchanging lots of messages, go and meet in person. Summer's the ideal time for it, because your first meeting doesn't have to be a big Saturday night date – you can just go for an iced coffee.' 'You can't say the wrong thing to the right person,' says Draper. So if you're looking for Mr, Miss or Mx right, don't be afraid to let your full personality show. 'If your date turns into a relationship, one of you will get food poisoning at some point, and any pretence at civility will be gone. So be your full self from the start. 'For example, if you've got hay fever and are enjoying a picnic in the park, don't be embarrassed if you've got streaming eyes or have to use your nasal spray. It's real, and creates an openness that could work in your favour.' Potentially exposing more flesh as we segue into warmer months can be scary, so before you plunge into summer dating, it pays to do a recce of your wardrobe. 'That summer confidence boost can take a while to emerge after the dark days of winter,' says Draper. 'Instead of trying on 10 outfits before each date and feeling horrible about yourself, put together three go-to date outfits that you know you feel good in, and choose from them. Remember, too, that you're your own harshest critic. 'The people you meet won't notice the things about yourself you're not so keen on.' In winter, your choice of activity is limited to whatever will get you out of the cold and rain. But, says Rebelo, summer opens up a whole new world of possibilities. 'A tour around your local area, by car, boat or on foot, is an ideal first-date activity. It lets you experience the place you both live in a new way without the pressure to just talk for three or four hours straight.' The tour, says Rebelo, could be historical, gastronomical – or even a walk around a graveyard. 'People tend to gravitate towards parks for their summer dates,' he says. 'But cemeteries are far more interesting, and can spark a different kind of conversation.' And if it's raining? 'Do something a bit different, like joining a museum tour or pottery class, which will bring out another side of the person you're dating,' Rebelo says. 'Going to a comedy improv night is a good choice, too – it's a great way to gauge someone's humour, and the perfect way to connect.' Buy Beconase now on Amazon *The healthcare professional featured does not endorse any medicinal brands or products Beconase Hayfever Relief for Adults 0.05% Nasal Spray contains beclometasone dipropionate. For the treatment of hayfever in adults aged 18 and over. Always read the leaflet. MAT-9351
The Guardian
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Straight Story to You're Cordially Invited: the seven best films to watch on TV this week
In his lifetime, David Lynch directed very few films that could safely be shown on TV at Sunday teatime. In this regard, The Straight Story serves as a career outlier. However, despite lacking all his trademark dread and disquiet, it deserves to go down as one of his very best. Based on the true story of Alvin Straight, a man who, in 1994, took his 5mph lawnmower on a 240-mile road trip to visit his sick brother, it shimmers with awestruck wonder. Lead actor Richard Farnsworth was in the latter stages of terminal cancer during filming, and his stubborn determination to see the journey through is reflected throughout the whole movie. A perfect film with a perfect ending. Sunday 2 February, 4.10pm, Film4 In the same way that 2022's Ticket to Paradise felt like a comforting throwback thanks to Julia Roberts and George Clooney's easy romcom patter, this feels like a treat for nostalgists. It stars Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon as two people who double-book a wedding venue with inevitable slapstick repercussions. It's the sort of unapologetically broad comedy that doesn't get made any more, complete with gratuitous alligator wrestling. Will you remember it a year from now? No. Will you have the time of your life watching it now? Certainly. Out now, Prime Video Jane Schoenbrun's 2021 film We're All Going to the World's Fair was memorably unsettling, but this follow-up runs laps around it. A horror about two young people whose nostalgic connection to an old TV show warps their sense of reality, the film manages to visually mimic the old VHS horrors of the 1980s while maintaining a strong modern message about gender identity. Martin Scorsese is a fan, calling it 'emotionally and psychologically powerful.' More than anything, though, it will creep you out to a stupendous degree. Saturday 1 February, 9.40am, 10.35pm, Sky Cinema Premiere For those wondering how Paul Greengrass was able to transition from ITV journalist to Hollywood power player, the answer is with films like Open Fire. This is his first work of filmed fiction; a 1994 made-for-TV movie about the real-life manhunt for escaped criminal David Martin, and the police blunder that led to a national scandal. As a finished piece of work it's undoubtedly a little rough around the edges, and very much of its time. But as an artefact of Greengrass's progress, it's endlessly fascinating. Saturday 1 February, 11.10pm, Talking Pictures TV Sign up to What's On Get the best TV reviews, news and features in your inbox every Monday after newsletter promotion When he was 21, Connor O'Hara lost two of his friends; an ordeal that he used as raw material for his debut feature Kindling. The result is an undeniably lovely story about a group of young men who gather to build a fire during the final summer of their friend's life. It's sweet and poignant, but really shines in its portrayal of male friendship. When Kindling gets it right – when it aims its focus squarely on a group of lads who need each other to get through something unimaginable – it's nothing less than beautiful. Sunday 2 February, 10.30pm, BBC Three In 2015, journalist Shiori Ito awoke to find herself being raped by an older peer. But after the attack, she realised exactly how powerless she was. Her rapist was famous and well-connected. Japan's rape laws were a century old, and no longer fit for purpose. The media refused to touch her story, so Ito started to document her struggle to be heard. Black Box Diaries is that document; a brave and gruelling account of one woman's effort to change an entire culture. The fact she chose to do it at all is admirable; the fact that it worked is incredible. Don't be surprised if this wins an Oscar next month. Tuesday 4 February, 10pm, BBC Four Even by Hollywood standards, you'd be hard-pressed to find a film as poorly treated as The Bikeriders. First bumped from schedules due to strikes, the film was then shopped around to other studios before it limped into cinemas last summer. And yet The Bikeriders is great. A 1950s motorcycle outlaw drama by Jeff Nichols (of Mud and Midnight Special renown), it features Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer, along with newly minted star Austin Butler, all doing brilliant work. Treat this as an opportunity to right a historic wrong. Friday 5 February, 11.25am, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
