The Urbanite – Jon Liedtke – Dec. 18, 2013
You’ve Gotta Eat Here!, The Food Network’s popular television show is coming back to Windsor in January to film a segment at Rino’s Kitchen and Ale House.
Owner Rino Bortolin has known for eight months that his downtown establishment was selected, but was forced to keep his lips sealed.
“The vetting process was nerveracking because obviously we wanted it and it sort of took a good month or two before we got a [final yes],” said Bortolin. “For us, for a small place like this when we’re trying to get word out, to be on The Food Network is kind of a godsend. It’s definitely going to have a huge impact for us.”
Show producer Rachel Horvath said the show employs a team of four researchers whose job it is to find restaurants.
“It really is [a strong vetting process],” said Horvath. “It takes a long time because we have 26 episodes per season and three restaurants in each episode. It’s a lot of restaurants and it’s a lot of vetting. We want to feel confident that each place that we’re recommending and endorsing [is] right.”
“What’s great about Rino’s is he really just does amazing classic comfort food. [It’s] the sort of stuff that would be your favourite home cooking but better than you could ever cook it at home,” said Horvath. “Rino’s is in a quaint historical house, so it just lends to the whole feeling of comfort. It really goes well with the food and it’s a really attractive place to go.”
Bortolin will prepare a total of nine dishes. for filming, of which three will be focused on by the host in the kitchen. An airdate for the episode has not been determined, but will be sometime in the first quarter of the year.
“It’ll be nice to [be featured] on national television. Friends and family in [different] parts of the country can watch and sort of relish in the attention equally as much as the people here [in Windsor],” said Bortolin. “You can’t deny that it feels good to be on national coast-to-coast television.”
You’ve Gotta Eat Here! will also feature Walkerville resturant The Twisted Apron this season. Windsor restaurants Bubi’s Awesome Eats, Motor Burger and Smoke & Spice have also been profile in past episodes.
JON LIEDTKE – DEC 18, 2013
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Jonathon Liedtke is the managing editor of The Urbanite, Windsor’s alternative newspaper. He is also a member of Windsor’s “Punk with Horns” band The Nefidovs, and as such, is committed to enhancing and sustaining the arts community.
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