I knew this day would eventually come. I realized I couldn’t hide behind George Clooney’s photoshop’d photo forever. When I first start filming and posting cooking videos on the internet about a year ago, I made the decision to never appear on camera. I wanted to be the anti-Food Network Chef, which seemed to be more and more about the Chef, and less and less about the food and the cooking. I also found that most of the amateur cooking videos people were posting looked like audition reels for Hell’s Kitchen. So, since I wasn’t going to appear in the videos, I decided I would just remain completely anonymous. I liked that people would email asking for pictures of me. I liked being mysterious (I had never been mysterious before).
So, why show myself now? I have too. I have recently been contracted to do some “professional” cooking videos for several online outlets (to be named later), and as part of the production I must be seen introducing the recipes. Since I knew it would only be a matter of time before one of my blog visitors saw me on one of these other sites and recognized my sultry voice and nimble fingers, I decided to out myself today.By the way, just because I’m now using my real photo on the blog, the video recipes will not change. I will still never appear in the recipes, mugging for the camera nor doing puppet shows with an oven mitt. I will not deviate from my original vision of what these videos should be about…the food.
41 comments:
Nice Stash!
See, now that wasn't so scary after all was it? Now get back to work! Where's my pie?!
:D
ps: congrats on your latest endeavor!
Thanks, ...what pie was that again?
Well, hello there, nice to finally see a picture of you. And congratulations on the "contracting" part. You've come so far and I know you will go farther.
Cheers
Thanks Chef John!!!!! Finally the man behind the pan....Now go audition for some TV gigs since you're so good looking!
I have to admit that I like the blog even more now since I finally know the face behind all that great cooking.
I have been watching since wishuponastove.com and I have to say it is odd seeing the man behind the camera. But it seems as time is passing the vids are getting better and better. Now it is only a matter of time before you do end up on the Food Network and leave all the culinary "plebes" behind!
Nice to put a face to the name and purveyor of great, entertaining cooking.
And congratulations, Chef!
well I hope your struggle has come to end.keep doing what you do. Now you have to fight the lady foodie groupies off you...(with a cane). Just kidding and thanks for your educational and fun vids.
Hi you! :)
George Clooney is really Chef John look-alike :)
Congrats on the professional contracts. Wish you all the best!
smile chef, smile!
this one looks like a mug shot.
Good decision in the beginning; good to keep it that way, but nice to see the face behind it all. One of the best things about your videos is the attention being where it should be.
Congratulations on your new gigs!
That IS my smile!
..and thanks to all of you! (except the mug shot comment person)
also, rest assured I will never leave you all and take a high-paying job with my arch rival the Food Network.
Unless of course they offer me one.
What color are your eyes? Because only people with colored eyes get "red-eye". I have noticed just now that there is a mistake on your slogan, you put a quote instead of an apostrophe. Congrats on those contracts! Hopefully one day EVERYONE, well most of them, will know your name! But don't forget about us (the first of many fans). All your struggle and hard work has paid off. Now go on and cook delicious things to offer the world! Take care. :)
I have gorgeous brown eyes,like fine semi-sweet chocolate.
BTW, that quote thing in my welcome is driving me crazy!! I keep changing it to an apostrophe, and then all of a sudden I look and its back to a quote mark!! If anyone knows why this is happening please let me know. Must be some kind of Blogger bug. But I know about it and keep changing it and it doesnt stay an apostrophe. Thanks though.
Congrats Chef! It is nice to know the man behind the meals. I love your concept of this blog. Just great cooking. Easy to understand no BS. WHEN you get your own show on FN I'll be your biggest fan. Lots of luck with the new contracts.
please accept my sincere apologies for the mug comment. i just thought a pic with a smile would enhance this wonderful blog.
no apologies needed!! I was kidding. Except, like I said, that IS me smiling. Subtle yes, but still beaming. Keep in mind that running a humor filled, entertaining cooking blog is a deadly serious business.
Finally we get to see the real Chef John. Congats on the new contracts! I'm really happy for you.
I was wondering...How do you get the stumble link on your blog?
Thanks. I beleive i found some code on the feed burner site. But, I dont remember. I'll have to check it out for you. Check with Blogger help group in the meantime.
This reminds me of the time in Return of The Jedi that Darth Vader was unmasked, and it was... it was... some guy I'd never seen before!
And all this time I thought you were a culinary robot from another planet sent to destroy us with good cooking...
Great band called The White Stripes had lyrics that are apropo :
"When you're playing in your little room / And you're working on something good.
But if it's really good / Well, you're gonna need a bigger room."
I completely agree with what you were aiming at with your anonymity. It really was/is just about great food. Trouble is, if everything goes well with your plan (and it is) then I agree that this day was bound to happen.
I was actually digging the suspense of not seeing you, though. I was going to suggest maybe a wrestling mask or something.
Good Luck / Kudos!
Scott - Boston
Thanks Scott, BTW that's my favorite White Stripes lyric!! Great call.
woooowiee!! this is a great day!!! i finally get to see my idol! although i think somwhere hidden in your posts you have already posted a picture of yourself although i remember it being quite small and black and white. am i hallucinating?
At last. A picture of you. I have enjoyed your site for a long time and now I get to see a crisp, clean picture of you. I can't think of any sort of titles to give to you. And I agree that "George Clooney is really Chef John look-alike". I really don't know what else to say except keep up the awesome cooking.
Congrats on the upcoming video projects. I enjoy your videos. Never be afraid to show your face !
Please keep your "production" videos just the way it is today...although you are lookin' as sharp as that knife to your right...no...not the cleaver...more...more...yes, and...hey! There you go, a nice paring knife. Anyways, you are right, it is about the food that makes the person, not the person who makes the food. And could you make a "joke" video? Like a "Candied Pigs' Feet"? Or "Red Bell Pepper au naturale"? Good luck!
Thanks! "Red Bell Pepper au naturale"? Doesnt that mean peppers cooked while naked?? Come on, it took me a year to show my face!
Great to see the REAL man behind all the great cooking... move over George Clooney!:D
He cooks, and he's good looking. Are you a single man? hehe just kidding!
In all seriousness though, I do love this website, and you're recipes inspire me to cook things I would have never dreamed of, like mousakka and cabbage rolls.
Thanks :)
Just try a joke. PLZ!
Finally :) Though you gotta work on that smile of yours :) I know that's you smiling! but next to that big knife things get kinda scary! LOL!
haha you finally appeared online~
Either way, Chef John or Mr. Clooney, you both look awesome~!
But one more thing~
For sure you can cook better than he does!
What new picture? I just see a different picture of that hunk-of-man George Cloony.
I especially like the knife in the shot! :) You're a funny guy...Thanks for the blog.
I actually bumped into your videos just today but you`ve easly made my favorite chef cause you are really funny to watch and i really like you`re recipes. Thanks for the afford you put into making videos and stay the same as you are cause its really enjoyable to watch your videos. Sorry for my lousy english too very apperently im not from english speaking country. Cheers form europe :)
I just want to thank you Chef John for all the inspiration you've given me on trying new dishes. It seems like you DO have a great taste, or one close to my palate. I looove most of your dishes, and that is saying a lot since I am very picky on what I eat and cook. Thanks again for all your recipes!!
I really love this blog. Your videos have taught me how to cook, and all I've ever "cooked" was cold milk and cereal. LOL. Your videos are the most hands-on (literally), easiest how-to videos on the internet. I even checked out some of the videos featured on the Huffington Post article, and they're either too long, too flashy or too boring to follow. That's why I love your blog and videos, it's simple and straight to the point. And all under 8 minutes. I have a short attention span, and I don't want to watch a how-to video for 10 minutes. I'll forget! ha! Thanks again Chef John!
I luuuuv your humour with your cooking vids.....and totally enjoyed the prison style meatloaf (minus the balsamic)
Thank you muchly for sharing!
xo Thea
So good to see you!!! I just looooooove you humor and your way of talking .. and your recipes are ALWAYS a hit on my house <3 thank you sooooo much! Love from Mona in Vadsø, Norway :)
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