Written By: Heather Ray of The Saturday Evening Post

Before the TV shows, celebrity guest appearances, cookbooks, restaurants, and “Bam,” there was a time when the celebrity chef we know today, Emeril Lagasse, was but a teenage drummer, baking bread in a Portuguese bakery in his hometown of Fall River, Massachusetts. Declining a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, he took the first step to following his heart, marching to the beat of his own drum on a culinary journey that would lead him to stardom.

Upon earning a degree and honorary doctorate from the highly respected Johnson & Wales University, Lagasse traveled to France to refine his skills and master the techniques of classic French cuisine. Shortly after returning to the United States, he opened his first restaurant in the Big Easy, aptly called Emeril’s. Two years later, he launched his second restaurant; three years later, his third; three more years, his fourth… Read more »

Fifth Annual Gala & Wine Auction Unites 40 of the Country’s Top Chefs & Vintners – Proceeds to Benefit Children’s Charities in Las Vegas and the Gulf Coast

NEW ORLEANS (June 18, 2009) – The special fifth anniversary Carnivale du Vin gala and wine auction benefiting the Emeril Lagasse Foundation will bring together over 40 prestigious names in the culinary and wine worlds on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. As a result of this event, which continuously ranks among the “Top Ten U.S. Charity Wine Auctions” in Wine Spectator magazine, the foundation has granted over $3 million to charities on the Gulf Coast since the inaugural gala held in Las Vegas in October 2005. Read more »

Renowned winemakers, spirits, producers, chefs and culinary personalities will gather this summer for the 2009 TD Bank Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival July 30 through August 2, 2009.

The Festival promises to be the premier event of Atlantic City’s summer season with four days of events, tastings and celebrity appearances. Chefs from the Food Network and Bravo will host, demonstrate, mix and mingle with guests at more than 20 events filling the schedule throughout the weekend.

Check out some of these events for a chance to see Chef Emeril: Read more »

Two ‘Operation Emeril’ Specials Celebrating Military Families Launches the Week of July 4

Silver Spring, Md. – Celebrity Chef extraordinaire Emeril Lagasse, host of Planet Green’s Emeril Green, is whipping up four new specials that will have viewers hungry for more. The first course of this delicious trio, dedicated to the men and women of the armed forces, will be served on Monday, June 29 beginning at 8:00 p.m. E/P. Read more »

Emeril Lagasse, host of Planet Green’s “Emeril Green” and “Emeril Live,” brings big, bold flavor to backyards across America this spring. His new book “Emeril at the Grill: A Cookbook for All Seasons” arrives in stores April 28 – just in time to kick start your summer grilling season.

Packed with 158 all-new recipes for both indoors and outdoor cooking, everything from “Burgers, Kabobs and Meatballs” to handhelds like “Sandwiches, Wraps, and Pizzas” – each perfect for an easy family dinner or a big summer gathering. There are even full chapters dedicated to the refreshing tastes of summer - cocktails, coolers and “Sweet Endings” – root beer floats, freeze pops, ice cream sandwiches and more. This is a grilling book like none other. Read more »

Ted Allen to Host Annual James Beard Foundation Media Awards

New York, NY (April 16, 2009) – Cat Cora, Emeril Lagasse and Stanley Tucci will host the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards taking place at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall on Monday, May 4, 2009.  The highly-anticipated celebration, which honors excellence and achievement in the food and beverage industries, has become the gastronomic highlight on the calendar each year.  This year’s Awards festivities celebrate “Women in Food” and will feature a star-studded line-up of presenters and attendees as well as a post-show Gala Reception with some of the nation’s top female chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and artisanal producers.  In addition, television host and author Ted Allen will host the annual Media Awards on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the Hudson Theatre in midtown Manhattan. Read more »

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW VIA COXTIX

Cooking fans all over Hampton Roads are getting ready to “kick it up a notch” when the Virginia Culinary Expo presents Emeril Lagasse cooking live from the Constant Center on April 19!  Emeril will have two presentation times, with VIP seating available at both for the opportunity to sample his cooking!  The day also includes a culinary expo, as well as opportunities for a beer, wine, and spirits tasting.

In addition to Emeril’s cooking presentations, separate tickets can be purchased to experience a VIP luncheon and meet and greet with Emeril himself!

Tickets for cooking presentations are priced at $30 and $67.  Price of admission to cooking presentation includes admission to the culinary expo.  See www.COXTix.com for more information and pricing for VIP luncheon and beer, wine, spirits tasting.

Tickets are on sale now through COXTix.com, 888-3-COXTIX and the Ted Constant Center Box Office. Visit www.ConstantCenter.com for more information and join the free All-Access Club to receive advance notice and special offers to future events.

The Global Spectrum-managed Ted Constant Convocation Center is home to the Monarch’s and Lady Monarch’s basketball programs, as well as concerts, family shows and other attractions for the Norfolk, Hampton Roads region.

Global Spectrum is the fastest growing firm in the public assembly facility management field with more than 70 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The Philadelphia-based company is part of Comcast-Spectacor, which also owns the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia Phantoms, Flyers Skate Zones, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Ovations Food Services, New Era Tickets, Front Row Marketing Services, and 3601 Creative Group.

For more information, please visit www.virginiaculinaryexpo.com

Receive Live Updates from Chef Emeril Lagasse, plus the Latest Restaurant News.

Emeril is now on Twitter, the micro-blogging service that lets you send and receive instant updates on the web or your mobile device. Read more »

Finalists Heat Up The Competition In A Two-Part Finale –
Part 1 Premieres Wednesday, February 18 At 10 PM ET/PT;
Part 2 Names Winner On Wednesday, February 25 At 10 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK – January 20, 2009 – The final chef’testants will need to “kick it up a notch” to impress famed chef and restaurateur Emeril Lagasse in the eclectic city of New Orleans as part of the two-episode finale of Bravo’s “Top Chef: New York,” beginning with a supersized episode on Wednesday, February 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The winner will be revealed on Wednesday, February 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In a surprise twist of events, there will be extra special challenges in the finale of “Top Chef: New York.”

Lagasse, chef/proprietor of Emeril’s Restaurant, NOLA, and Emeril’s Delmonico in New Orleans said about his experience on “Top Chef”:

“In Louisiana, we have an amazing selection of local ingredients: andouille sausage, frog legs, turtle, catfish and rabbit. I was interested in seeing if the chefs would venture out and really try to explore our local flavors and culture. The challenge for some was finding a balance between the bold spices we love and their own personal style. All I can say is that you’ll definitely want to go back for seconds for some of their final dishes!”

Premier Wine Event Funds First “Edible Kitchen” in the Southeast

NEW ORLEANS (November 19, 2008) –  The Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s annual Carnivale du Vin, rated a “Top 10” charity wine auction in the nation by Wine Spectator magazine, raised $1.7 million dollars to benefit children’s arts, culinary and education programs in the Gulf South.  More than 600 guests attended the premier wine auction and gala at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Saturday, November 15.

To further the growth of the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans at Samuel J. Green Charter School, Chef Emeril Lagasse announced a $200,000 grant from the Foundation to fund the new Edible Kitchen & Cafeteria. Chef Alice Waters was present to receive the grant as a special Carnivale du Vin honoree. Read more »