Uncle Andy's Diner From Restaurant Impossible Has Closed

Uncle Andy's Diner in South Portland, Maine which appeared on season 9 of Restaurant: Impossible has closed.  In the beginning of May 2020, the restaurant posted the following message on Facebook, "To our uncle Andy's family. With heavy hearts we will be closing our doors May 31st. As much as we would love to stay open for all our loyal customers, there is no other way. As our last option was the PPP Loan which we did not get, So under these circumstances we are unable to stay open past May 31st. For the last 18 years we have enjoyed serving your family and watching them grow. We will miss you all. Dont forget you have until May 31st to get your Hash, your shaped Pancakes, and dont for get the jokes"

A local article also said that Uncle Andy's being closed for sit-down diners due to government regulations devastated the business.  Owner Dennis Fogg said being on Restaurant Impossible did help the restaurant, but he decided to close to try to avoid major debt.

At the end of May, when the restaurant closed, they posted, "That's all folks! THANK YOU to all of our supporters, friends, family, and customers over the years. We love and appreciate each and every one of you.❤❤❤ We invite you all to follow Dennis Fogg Comedy and come see Dennis in his natural habitat, making a fool of himself in front of strangers."


Uncle Andy's Diner appeared on Restaurant Impossible in 2014 and the restaurant was being leased by Dennis.  The restaurant had been open for 66 years, so the closing brought a lot of emotions for the community.  Uncle Andy's Diner has been marked as 'Closed' on the Restaurant Impossible Updates Page. 

Worst Cooks in America - Season 20

Food Network's Worst Cooks in America season 20 begins tonight and airs weekly on Sunday nights at 9pm ET. This season brings a new mentor competing against Anne Burrell which will be Alex Guarnaschelli.  Both Anne and Alex are recently engaged - Anne in April and Alex a few days ago.  Worst Cooks in America continues to be one of Food Network's top rated shows, so we will continue to see the ridiculous contestants appearing on the show and multiple seasons throughout the year. This year the fourteen contestants that will compete on the show include:

• Dolores Aguilar-Fernandez (Cypress, Texas)
• Evan Baker (Bismarck, North Dakota)
• Darian Barnes (Rahway, New Jersey)
• Holly Brooks (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
• Zack Ignoffo (Chicago, Illinois)
• Domaine Javier (San Gabriel, California)
• Jewels McIlroy (Syracuse, New York)
• Johannes “Yo” Phelps (Davenport, Iowa)
• Ari Robinson (Simpsonville, South Carolina)
• Denise Schroder (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
• Louisa Sharamatyan (Glendale, California)
• Eric Smart (Los Angeles, California)
• Erin Sullivan (Mayfield, Kentucky)
• Brianna Weidenbach (Martin, Tennessee)

The winner of Worst Cooks in America season 20 will receive $25,000 and I will do another post about the show before the season finale. This season is only seven episodes long (season 18 was ten episodes) with the finale being on Sunday, August 2nd.  Alton Brown was a new mentor on season 18 with mixed results, so we will see if people like Alex Guarnaschelli on this season.  Feel free to discuss this season in the comments section as people like to discuss the season as it progresses.  

Alex Guarnaschelli Is Engaged

Photo - Instagram

Food Network chef Alex Guarnaschelli announced on social media that she is now engaged. Alex posted a picture of her engagement ring (pictured right) with the caption "Ok @chefmike808 , you’re on! 💍"

Alex Guarnaschelli has been dating Michael Castellon who is also a chef, and he asked her to marry him on her 48th birthday.  Michael also posted a picture of the engagement ring with the caption, "#she #said #yes engaged #boom #luckiest #guy #ever #happy #happy And #happy #bday @guarnaschelli"

Mike has appeared on Food Network before on Chopped, Guy's Grocery Games and as a sous chef for Alex on Iron Chef America, so you may recognize him (link to photo).

Many of her fellow Food Network co-workers/chefs are congratulating her in the comments of her Instagram post such as Giada De Laurentiis, Katie Lee, Scott Conant, Jeff Mauro, Anne Burrell (who also got engaged recently) and Andrew Zimmern.

Congratulations to Alex and Mike!

UPDATE 2/2022 - It was recently announced that Alex and Mike have broken off their engagement.

Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition Winner Crowned Tonight

Tonight at 9pm ET on Food Network is the season finale of Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition where the winner will take home $25,000 for a charity of their choice.  The final two celebrities competing are Wells Adams representing Anne Burrell and Johnny Bananas representing Tyler Florence.


The episode description states:

The two final celebrity recruits are greeted by former celebrity recruit and referee for their final skill drill challenge, Carson Kressley! The recruits team up with their chefs in a recipe relay race where they work together to make steak fajitas. Then chefs Anne Burrell and Tyler Florence break off to teach their recruits their menus for the three-course, restaurant-quality final challenge meal. Judges Dan Churchill, Jeff Mauro and Grace Mitchell blindly taste each course and pick the winner of $25,000 for their chosen charity.

I will update this post with the winner of Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition after the episode airs and you can discuss the season and episode in the comments.


Continue reading to see who won Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition....

Ginger Monkey - Restaurant Impossible Update

Tonight on Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Chandler, Arizona to makeover Ginger Monkey. Ginger Monkey is a gastropub co-owned by Jackson Armstrong who is also the chef and has a lot of restaurant experience.  He can't keep up with the demands of his high-volume restaurant and should be able to run a successful restaurant, but that is not happening.



As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about Ginger Monkey to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Rosie's Cafe From Restaurant Impossible Has Closed

Rosie's Cafe in Escondido, California, which appeared on season 14 of Restaurant Impossible has closed.  Rosie's Cafe was owned by Kaitlyn "Rosie" Pilsbury who in December of 2019 was involved in a serious hit-and-run motorcycle accident which left her with serious injuries.  When Robert Irvine heard about it, he filmed another episode in February 2020 to help raise money for Rosie.  That episode aired on May 18th, 2020 and the episode raised almost $120,000 for Rosie.

About a week after that episode aired, the restaurant announced on Facebook that they would close for good.  Their message said,

"The historic and innovative location within Escondido’s community known as Rosie’s Café is saddened to announce that between the effects from the horrible crime that struck "Rosie" and the Covid-19 pandemic, Rosie’s Café has closed permanently.
It is heartbreaking for “Rosie” and her crew to accept this reality. However, health and safety are top priorities. “Rosie” is grateful she is alive and strongly committed to her recovery process with a mixture of physical, cognitive, and occupational therapies.
We are optimistic that the future will continue to thrive at this location with the amazing community around. We believe whoever steps in will embrace, cherish, and positively satisfy the community that Rosie’s Café adores so much.
“Rosie” is extremely grateful for all the love and support she has received, especially from the community. Her new motto is “Never Quit being grateful for YOUR life!” She sends a big THANK YOU with hugs, smiles and positivity to all of you.
Stu (Rosie’s dog) says Hi and that he misses you all too. "Rosie" and Stu plan to see you all again, one night at an annual Cruising Grand celebration. Stay healthy and safe individually, and as a community! She says, “remember the power of your minds and use them wisely because this is not the end; it is a new beginning!"

Rosie's Cafe closed on March 25 due to the social distancing regulations and did not offer any takeout service, so they have been closed since then.  The decision to close must have been a hard one, but after Rosie's accident, it is not surprising.  Hopefully her health continues to improve.


Rosie's Cafe has now been marked as 'Closed' on the Restaurant Impossible Updates page. 

Restaurant Impossible - T Phillip's Ale House and Grill Update

Tonight on Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Glendora, California to makeover T Phillip's Ale House and Grill.  T Phillip's Ale House and Grill is owned by Jennifer Kerzie who doesn't stand up for herself and lets everybody walk all over her.  She hasn't paid her mortgage in a year and Robert also finds that the restaurant looks more like a dive bar.  Robert needs to motivate her to step up in hopes of saving her restaurant and house.


As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about T Phillip's Ale House and Grill to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Bakeaway Camp Winner Crowned Tonight

Tonight at 9pm ET on Food Network is the season one finale of Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart where the winning baker will take home the prize of a $25,000 dream kitchen.  The competition only had four episodes and the remaining bakers competing for the prize are Bryan Clark, Catherine Foley, and Nate Clingman.


The episode description for tonight's episode states:

"Camp Director Martha Stewart joins host Jesse Palmer to present the three remaining campers with their biggest baking challenge yet: four hours to make a wedding cake gone wild! To inspire and help the bakers on their last day at camp, Martha gives them all a lesson on how to make the best wedding cake outdoors. Cooking in the wilderness inspires not only wild cakes but wilder weather as the campers race to build their masterpieces in the midst of a torrential downpour. As Jesse adds extra challenges to truly test the bakers' skill and resolve, it's up to Martha and camp counselors Carla Hall and Dan Langan to decide which camper will walk away with a $25,000 dream kitchen and the title of Bakeaway Camp Champion."

I will update this post with the winner after the episode airs and feel free to discuss this season in the comments.


Continue reading to see who won......