Emmy Winner Catherine Neville to Develop New National Series tasteMAKERS

Catherine Neville, publisher of Feast Magazine as well as creator of the Emmy-winning Feast TV, announces today plans to develop a national television series to be presented by Nine Network of Public Media for distribution to public television stations nationwide. The series is slated for a Fall 2018 debut. The show, tasteMAKERS, explores the "maker movement," covering the artisan producers across the country who are making a lasting impact on modern day American food culture.

Catherine explains, "In my nearly two decades of culinary journalism, I've witnessed the evolution of the interest in local and regional cuisines amongst food enthusiasts. People seek out an authentic and inspired approach to food and drink. Culinary television now includes competitions, cooking shows and in-depth profiles on chefs across the country. tasteMAKERS peels back another layer to showcase the individuals who inspire the chefs currently on the screen."

In the first 13-part season, each half-hour episode of tasteMAKERS visits a dedicated maker from around the country to learn more about their craft. From an oyster farm in the icy waters off the coast of Washington and a tofu factory in the urban heart of Chicago to an inland shrimp operation in the rolling hills of Indiana and a tiny wood-fired bakery nestled in the forests of North Carolina, tasteMAKERS exposes the hard work and artistry of the individuals who are defining American food. Viewers witness what drives the makers, inspires them, how they learned their craft and approach their creative process. The show is a journey to the unique corners of the country showcasing the maker's story and production while ending in THE KITCHEN with a taste of the products and how to use them. To see the pilot episode with artisan distiller, Gary Hinegardner of Wood Hat Spirits in New Florence, Missouri, see here.

The potential for tasteMAKERS came to fruition thanks to the support of St. Louis' Nine Network of Public Media President and CEO Jack Galmiche. "Catherine has an extraordinary talent to identify individuals who have a unique story to tell. Her warm and enthusiastic spirit makes even humble MAKERS feel comfortable so she can highlight their stories in the most impactful way possible. It makes for great television."

With Feast TV's success in the Midwest, the idea of tasteMAKERS was a natural fit for larger distribution across the country with American Public Television (APT). Cynthia Fenneman, the President and CEO of APT states, "We've seen the success of exploratory culinary shows on public television stations nationwide. tasteMAKERS promises to offer a new creative format to further explore the American food movement."

"These stories matter," Catherine says. "My work over the last 20 years has led me to discover and appreciate the risks these MAKERS take and the determination required to follow their passion. I've seen first hand the positive impact experienced by those who work each day to create something that is unique and personal and, in tasteMAKERS, I am excited to share their stories with a national audience. There is a lot of food television out there that spotlights chefs and restaurants or shows viewers how to cook, but the story of the American maker has been missing. My vision for tasteMAKERS is that viewers will learn the how and the why of food while they meet people who are defining the way we eat and drink today."

Catherine is particularly excited at the prospect of producing a national culinary television show out of the St. Louis market. tasteMAKERS will be produced in partnership with St. Louis-based Tybee Studios, which also films and produces Feast TV. She will also maintain her commitments at Feast Magazine, the regional culinary publication highlighting Missouri, Kansas and southern Illinois, and for Feast TV, which is currently in production for its 2018 season.

"Feast is entering its eighth year and I am working with the magazine's amazing team to balance my commitment to Feast's success with my ability to focus on this independent project," she says.

tasteMAKERS is currently in development with plans to start shooting in early 2018. As with most public television programming, tasteMAKERS will be made possible with the support of sponsors and donations. To contribute to making the show a reality, visitwatchtastemakers.com.