New Season of EXTRA VIRGIN Among Cooking Channel's April Highlights

By: Mar. 07, 2014
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Cooking Channel showers the April lineup with two new series, a season premiere and new episodes of returning series all month long. Bobby Flay serves up new episodes of Brunch @ Bobby's Tuesday April 1st at 9:30pmET/6:30pmPT, and fan-favorite couple Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar share their passion for Tuscany in a new season of Extra Virgin premiering Wednesday, April 2nd at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT. In new series Siba's Table, premiering Saturday, April 5th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT, host Siba Mtongana shares modern menus inspired by her South African home straight from Cape Town. Cooking Channel continues the world tour with Korean Food Made Simple, featuring the travels and kicked-up Korean cuisine of host Judy Joo debuting Saturday, April 19th at 12:30pmET/9:30amPT. In the season finale on Tuesday, April 29th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT, the journey of the culinary students of The Freshman Class: Santa Cruz comes to an emotional end. CookingChannelTV.com premieres new webisodes of Good to Know and shares tips and recipes for springtime entertaining. Join the Cooking Channel conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

SERIES PREMIERES

Siba's Table
Siba Mtongana epitomizes the rich Fusion culture of South African food today, giving the traditional recipes she grew up with a totally modern twist and an injection of international flavor.
Premiering Saturday, April 5th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Cape Town Catch Up" - SEASON PREMIERE!
Siba's baby is turning one and it is time to celebrate as three generations of family fly into Cape Town for the festivities. Siba is preparing a delicious feast of sticky Asian-glazed gammon, ginger and coriander corn salad and a perfect no-bake cheesecake for dessert. Family, food and a great reason to celebrate; what could be better?
Premiering Saturday, April 12th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Cape Town Braai"
Siba and Brian are firing up the grill for a fabulous surf and turf braai. There are flame-grilled tuna steaks and juicy pork chops marinated in her signature BBQ sauce, along with grilled corn, fuss-free braai'd baby potatoes and a smoked tomato relish to go alongside. Brian's on the braai and Siba's all fired up!
Premiering Saturday, April 19th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Baby Makes 3"
Siba is making a fabulous alfresco feast for her baby's very first picnic. Siba prepares juicy meatballs stuffed into toasted pitas with cool tzatziki, and tops things off with a fresh and light dessert of strawberry, almond and coconut slices for dessert. Siba, Brian and baby makes three at a perfect Cape Town picnic at the beach!
Premiering Saturday, April 26th at 10:30amET/7:30amPT - "Date Night"
Thursday is date night for Siba and her husband Brian, so she surprises him by preparing a romantic menu of his favorite foods. Siba prepares stuffed baked salmon with potatoes followed by cranberry nut cookies with ice cream and passion fruit sauce.Brian has some romantic surprises of his own planned for the perfect dinner under the stars!

Korean Food Made Simple
Premiering Saturday, April 19th at 12:30pmET/9:30amPT
Korean Food Made Simple celebrates the phenomenal Korean food wave that is currently sweeping the globe. Leading international Chef Judy Joo takes viewers on a spectacular and very personal journey to her Homeland where she not only introduces them to the seasonal foods at the heart of Korean culture, but also shows them how to really enjoy it - Korean-style - as she shares her mouth-watering adventures with family, friends, characters, and aficionados along the way. Back home in her London kitchen, Judy creates simple yet exceptional Korean-inspired recipes - from weekday suppers to weekend dinner parties - using easily-sourced ingredients designed to give any home cooked meals the uber-cool K-factor.

Get super simple Korean recipes at CookingChannelTV.com and follow the conversation on Twitter #KoreanFoodMadeSimple.

SEASON PREMIERE

Extra Virgin
Actress Debi Mazar and her husband, Gabriele Corcos, invite you into their home as they share their tremendous passion for Tuscan food and for each other. She is a modern girl from the streets of Queens and he's a food purist from The Hills of Tuscany. It's Lucy and Ricky in The Kitchen as the two food lovers share ideas, haggle, and finally compromise to create the perfect Tuscan American blend all the while providing important lessons that you just won't find in your average cookbook. Prepare for total immersion into their passionate, spirited life as they show you how on a daily basis anyone in any kitchen can blend the simple traditions of Tuscany with modern life in America.
Premiering Wednesday, April 2nd at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Weekend on the Cheap" - SEASON PREMIERE!
Debi and Gabriele are determined to do a New York City weekend on the cheap, as raising a family in an expensive city is not easy. They start with a quick and easy recipe of Frittata di Spaghetti, followed by a family bike ride to the local sweet shop and over the Brooklyn Bridge, before heading back home to cook up a deliciously inexpensive meal of Fettuccini Brodo de Pollo and Pork and Cabbage Involtini. You would never suspect this meal is under $15!
Premiering Wednesday, April 9th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Classic Car Cookout"
Gabriele loves cars. Debi loves classic style. Their two passions collide as they head to Oyster Bay, Long Island, for their Classic Car Cruise Night. They will check out some beautiful vintage cars, meet the car enthusiasts that own them and maybe test-drive one or two of their favorites. To get their motor's running, Gabriele whips up an Espresso Nuvola. Once in Oyster Bay, they get started making their two signature pizzas: Funghi Gorgonzola and Vegetariano. And Gabriele lights up the grill for their Saltimbocca Spiedini and Spiedini Misti di Carne.
Premiering Wednesday, April 16th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Tuscany on the Hudson"
Gabriele is homesick for the beautiful Tuscan countryside and Debi wants to show him that he can get a taste of Tuscany just by driving a couple of hours north. Debi and Gabriele head to New York's Hudson Valley for some fresh air and good, farm-fresh ingredients. For their first stop they swing by a local farm to learn what goes into buying, raising and caring for a farm animal, before leaving with some fresh cut meats - just the kind that you might get in the Tuscan countryside. Back home, they get started on Pork Chops with Cavolo Nero and a Torta Rustica di Mele for a big family meal to eat outside in their backyard. After a fun-filled day and delicious food, Gabriele will feel like he is home.
Premiering Wednesday, April 23rd at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "End of Summer BBQ"
The days are getting shorter, the nights a little cooler and Debi and Gabriele decide to make the most out of the last days of summer. They investigate what goes into a rooftop garden when they visit Rosemary's, a classic New York City trattoria which features fresh produce right from their own roof. Gabriele then heads to his own rooftop to see if he can make his dream a reality, as they throw the ultimate end of summer BBQ, when they Turn their backyard into a petting zoo!
Premiering Wednesday, April 30th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Truffle Hunting"
Truffles are a delicacy all over the world, and hunting for them can be just as fun as eating them. Gabriele treats Debi to a simple, yet indulgent, Omelet with Shaved Truffles before the couple surprise their girls with an afternoon adventure to Pisa. Then it is off to meet up with a well-known truffle hunter as they tag along with him and his dog to scour the woods looking for the rare and tasty mushroom. Once back in their kitchen, Gabriele and Debi create a delicious menu with their new truffles of Ravioli with Parmesan and Truffle Butter Sauce and Crostini with Porcini and Stracchino.

Online catch up with Debi and Gabriele by watching season three, then read the couple's web-exclusive blogs about the best ingredients to splurge on, Italian cooking tips and more. On April 28th check out Cooking Channel's blog Devour to see how you can enter to win the upcoming cookbook from Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar, Extra Virgin: Recipes & Love from our Tuscan Kitchen. Follow the conversation on Twitter #ExtraVirgin.

PREMIERE EPISODES

The Freshman Class
Premiering Tuesday, April 1st at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Gabe's Test"
Gabe's absences begin to pile up, leaving him unprepared for the class mid-term. Kim attempts to jump-start her career by getting an internship at a well-known restaurant, but leaves the interview with more questions than before. After repeatedly calling out sick from work, Matt debates whether or not to reveal his illness to his boss.
Premiering Tuesday, April 8th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Amalia's Dish"
A simple assignment in wine class leads to a potentially life-changing conflict between Kim and her husband, Steve. Amalia tries to prove herself by competing against her fellow classmates for a chance to have her dish put on the school's restaurant menu.
Premiering Tuesday, April 15th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Matt's Binge"
Under the pressure of school, work and managing his disease, Matt begins to drink heavily and worries his friends. Amalia is forced to choose between school and family when her daughter's play conflicts with an important wine class. And Gabriel makes a last-ditch attempt to rescue his restaurant class grade by putting in Extra hours to make up the time he has lost.
Premiering Tuesday, April 22nd at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Kim's Change"
When Kim wants to enroll in additional classes at a more expensive culinary school, tensions with Steve come to a head, as the two get into their biggest battle yet. After a heart to heart with Amalia, Matt seeks help for his drinking and learns how to better deal with his disease. And after struggling through restaurant class the entire semester, Gabriel faces his biggest challenge when he is assigned the role of Head Chef. Gabriel hopes his performance will be good enough to save his grade and prove himself to his professors.
Premiering Tuesday, April 29th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT - "Gabe's Final" - SEASON FINALE!
After an emotional family meeting, Amalia struggles with whether or not to postpone her culinary dream and go back to being a full-time mom. When symptoms of Matt's disease begin to resurface, his doctor urges him to undergo chemotherapy, despite the effects it will have on him during finals week. After their blowout fight, Kim tries to convince Steve to go along with her plan to take on a new school with higher tuition. And Gabriel hopes his recent efforts in restaurant class will be enough to ace the final exam and pass the class.

Watch exclusive web-only videos for every episode on CookingChannelTV.com and stream the season premiere in full on the site for free. Plus, find out the unique background of the aspiring chefs and why they are risking so much to attend culinary school in our Meet The Freshman Class gallery. Follow the season on Twitter using #TheFreshmanClass.

Brunch @ Bobby's
Premiering Tuesday, April 1st at 9:30pmET/6:30pmPT - "Impress Your Guests"
Chef Bobby Flay demonstrates how to prepare a jaw-dropping brunch without breaking a sweat. His quick and impressive recipes include Biscuit Sticky Buns, Asparagus and Cheese Popovers, Apricot & Raspberry Granola Gratin and Riesling Sangria with Mango & Nectarine. A brunch that is equal parts easy and amazing!
Premiering Tuesday, April 8that 9:30pmET/6:30pmPT - "Springtime Brunch"
To celebrate the festivities and holidays of the season, Bobby prepares a delicious brunch spread that is perfect for any family gathering at springtime. He is inspired by Hot Cross Buns to make Spiced Raisin Pancakes with Rum-Raisin Cream Cheese Glaze, and re-imagines a holiday staple with his Ham and Cheddar Pie served with Mixed Greens tossed in Apricot Vinaigrette. He also celebrates the colors of spring with an Everything Hash Brown Cake with Pickled Red Onions and Green Onion Crème Fraiche. And to drink he is mixing up colorful Carrot & Orange Mimosas.
Premiering Tuesday, April 15that 9:30pmET/6:30pmPT - "Trattoria Brunch"
Chef Bobby Flay takes a tasty trip to the cozy and casual trattorias of Italy through his tempting brunch menu. His dishes include Creamy Polenta with Braised Greens and Poached Eggs, Shaved Pancetta with Balsamic Brown Sugar, Honey Roasted Peaches with Cinnamon Mascarpone and to finish it all off, a decadent Salted Caramel Affogato.
Premiering Tuesday, April 22nd at 9:30pmET/6:30pmPT - "Bread-y For Brunch"
Bobby demonstrates how to get inventive at brunch with even the simplest ingredient-bread! His creative and resourceful menu features a Frittata di Pane with Broccoli Rabe, Sausage and Ricotta, Blueberry-Lemon Bread Pudding Muffins, Apple & Brie Panini and a Chamomile Cocktail. Man really can live on bread alone!
Premiering Tuesday, April 29th at 9:30pmET/6:30pmPT - "Mexican Brunch"
Chef Bobby Flay has one of his favorite destinations in mind while preparing this colorful and appetizing Mexican brunch. He's whipping up a tall stack of Mexican Corn Pancakes, Crispy Breakfast Potatoes with Red Chile-Lime Hollandaise, a refreshing Fruit & Vegetable Salad with Chile and Lime, and of course a Watermelon Margarita Mimosa to drink. There is nothing like waking up to Mexico... on a plate!

Check out CookingChannelTV.com's web-only videos of Bobby's tips to take your brunch to the next level, plus find out Bobby's take on upcoming brunch trends to look out. Tweet your favorite dishes using #BrunchatBobbys.

ON-AIR SPECIAL

Taco Trip
Premiering Sunday, April 27th at 8:00pmET/5:00pmPT
Chef Aarón Sánchez is on The Hunt to find the best tacos in the nation! From Miami to L.A., Aarón cranks up the mariachi and visits the hottest tacos joints in the United States. Along the way, Aarón will find inspiration for his own recipes, and just might do some cooking. After all, to Aarón, finding the ultimate tacos means making tacos, not just eating them!

DIGITAL CONTENT

Web-Original Series Good to Know
Every Tuesday, hosts Dan Pashman and Laurie March offer up how-to's, DIYs and hacks to simplify and inspire your time spent in The Kitchen and around the house. Whether you're firing up the grill, throwing an impromptu party or spring-cleaning your kitchen, we've got solutions that you'll find good to know. Subscribe now so you do not miss an episode and tweet about it using #GoodtoKnow.
April 1st - "Vodka Tips and Hacks"
Kids will love less-fatty, baked versions of their favorite fried foods if you can replicate texture.
April 8th - "Rules for Your Road Trip"
Packing your family into a car for several hours can come with hazards - avoid them with these tips.
April 15th - "Stress-Free Picnic Tips"
Dan and Laurie's picnic philosophy states you don't want to make a mess and you don't want too much to carry. Get their solutions.
April 22nd - "Good to Know Barbecue Guide"
Dan grills up some crowd-pleasers you would not expect to see on a barbecue and Laurie shares tips on warding off mosquitoes.

Hot and Spicy Cooking Week
April 27th thru May 4th is Hot and Spicy Cooking Week! Set your mouth on fire with spicy recipes containing chile peppers, cayenne pepper, chipotle flavor and more on CookingChannelTV.com. Plus, check out hilarious photos of Chefs Roger Mooking and Aarón Sánchez trying to swallow some of the hottest foods in the country.

Taco Trip
Get step-by-step tips and recipes to throw your own fiesta party with great food, games and favors on CookingChannelTV.com. Tweet about it using #TacoTrip

Easter
Impress guests with an Easter dinner starring savory mains, like Tuscan-Stuffed Ham, and a bounty of seasonal sides.

Passover
Serve age-old holiday classics plus inspired new twists, like flourless chocolate-almond cake, Passover-approved fruit cobbler, matzo brei and more.

Watch Full Seasons Online
Stream every episode of Kelsey's Essentials online for free, plus get full seasons of Brunch @ Bobby's, Not My Mama's Meals, Extra Virgin, The Freshman Class and more!

Adventures in Cooking (Launching Soon!)
CookingChannelTV.com is celebrating super food nerds the world over with adventurous weekend cooking projects, from making your own yogurt and curing your bacon to trying out Justin Warner's molecular gastronomy secrets in your own kitchen.

Web-Original Series: Two Top
Join innovative and eccentric food personalities from different disciplines as they discuss their fascinating shared passions for food, from Mo Rocca making cookies with Momofuku Milk Bar's Christina Tosi to Chrissy Teigen and Justin Warner checking out the hottest New York ramen spots. Subscribe now so you do not miss an episode and tweet about it using #TwoTop.

COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Cooking Channel is part of the media portfolio of Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also includes Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), and Great American Country (www.gactv.com).



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