Geoffrey Zakarian Among Co-Hosts for New Food Network Series THE KITCHEN, Beg. Today

Food Network kicks off the New Year with five times the food and fun in the brand-new series The Kitchen, co-hosted by culinary favorites Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro, Marcela Valladolid and Geoffrey Zakarian. From food trend discussions and family meal tips to trivia games and twitter questions from viewers, the entertaining one-hour, thirteen-episode series covers all things culinary. The Kitchen premieres today, January 4th at 11am ET/PT.

"Everyone knows all good parties end up in The Kitchen, where the conversation, laughs and food flow," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Food Network. "Sunny, Katie, Jeff, Marcela and Geoffrey each have a distinct food voice, engaging personality and sense of humor that together make The Kitchen a delicious way to spend an hour."

Each episode takes place in the show's casual, inviting kitchen-living room set, where the five co-hosts come together for lively discussions, recipe demos, guest interviews and, at the close of each episode, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," a special cocktail segment with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, also a master mixologist. Other recurring segments include: "Simple Suppers," where hosts prepare an easy weeknight dinner dish along with tips and ideas; "Personal Faves" featuring co-hosts and their loved ones preparing a favorite family recipe; "Cookbook Club" welcomes cookbook author interviews and demos; and "Myth or Fact" where the co-hosts guess whether a common cooking belief is true or false.

The Kitchen is produced by BSTV Entertainment.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine has tripled its rate base and delivers a circulation of 1.5 million. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.