Amateur Gourmet
Encyclopedia
The Amateur Gourmet, or Adam Roberts, is an American food and humor blogger who resides in Los Angeles, California.
Roberts, born in 1979, started the blog while a frustrated law student in Atlanta in 2004, and it was initially popularized after Roberts appeared on CNN
with cupcakes resembling Janet Jackson
's breast after the Super Bowl XXXVIII
"wardrobe malfunction
" incident. Roberts moved to New York in 2005, and published a book based on his blog in 2007.
The blog depends largely on Roberts' own public persona—the Boston Globe describes him as "skinny and nebbishy, with a nasally musical theater voice that would fit perfectly on NPR's 'This American Life'" -- and combines irreverent accounts of Roberts' own cooking attempts with foodie
essays and restaurant reviews. There are also short videos intended to be humorous, such as "Great Moments in Musical Theater Featuring Eggs." Roberts' roommates, friends, and romantic interests were regular characters from early on, but his eccentric family has been featured most prominently, including his celebrity-photographing parents from Boca Raton
, Florida.
Roberts has also been the Food Network
's official blogger for the competitive cooking program The Next Iron Chef
, and in 2008 became the host of their weekly web show, the FN Dish. He currently hosts a show on their newest site, food2.com.
In 2010, Roberts sold his first cookbook to Artisan, the publisher of such notable cookbooks as the James Beard Award winning "Ad Hoc at Home" and "A Platter of Figs." Roberts's book has a planned release of Fall 2012.
Roberts, born in 1979, started the blog while a frustrated law student in Atlanta in 2004, and it was initially popularized after Roberts appeared on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
with cupcakes resembling Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's breast after the Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
"wardrobe malfunction
Wardrobe malfunction
A wardrobe malfunction is a euphemism for accidental exposure of intimate parts. It is different from flashing, as the latter implies a deliberate exposure...
" incident. Roberts moved to New York in 2005, and published a book based on his blog in 2007.
The blog depends largely on Roberts' own public persona—the Boston Globe describes him as "skinny and nebbishy, with a nasally musical theater voice that would fit perfectly on NPR's 'This American Life'" -- and combines irreverent accounts of Roberts' own cooking attempts with foodie
Foodie
Foodie is an informal term for a particular class of aficionado of food and drink. The word was coined in 1981 by Paul Levy and Ann Barr, who used it in the title of their 1984 book The Official Foodie Handbook.- Distinguished from gourmet :...
essays and restaurant reviews. There are also short videos intended to be humorous, such as "Great Moments in Musical Theater Featuring Eggs." Roberts' roommates, friends, and romantic interests were regular characters from early on, but his eccentric family has been featured most prominently, including his celebrity-photographing parents from Boca Raton
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
, Florida.
Roberts has also been the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
's official blogger for the competitive cooking program The Next Iron Chef
The Next Iron Chef
The Next Iron Chef, is a limited-run series on the Food Network now in its fourth season. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program Iron Chef America....
, and in 2008 became the host of their weekly web show, the FN Dish. He currently hosts a show on their newest site, food2.com.
In 2010, Roberts sold his first cookbook to Artisan, the publisher of such notable cookbooks as the James Beard Award winning "Ad Hoc at Home" and "A Platter of Figs." Roberts's book has a planned release of Fall 2012.
External links
- amateurgourmet.com
- Amazon page for Amateur Gourmet: How to Chop, Shop and Table Hop Like a Pro (Almost)
- http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2007/09/26/famous_wardrobe_malfunction_gave_him_great_exposure/ Boston Globe coverage of his book
- http://blogs.foodnetwork.com/food/nic/ The Next Iron Chef blog