Dinner: Impossible
Encyclopedia
Dinner: Impossible is an American
television program
broadcast by the Food Network
. The first episode aired on January 24, 2007. Food Network began airing the eighth season on March 3, 2010.
Each episode, the host is given a challenge that must be completed within a given period of time. Challenges have included preparing a large dinner aboard a luxury train, an "authentic" 18th century American colonial dinner (prepared with period cooking methods and tools), and a luxury meal on a small, isolated, New England
island.
, the program explores whether a multi-course meal for a large group can be prepared by the chef and his team with limited resources, no advance planning and in a fixed period of time. In a scene echoing the opening sequence of Mission: Impossible
, each episode opens with the chef receiving his assignment, detailing where, for whom, in how long and under what conditions he must prepare the week's meal. From this point forward, a countdown
timer is periodically shown, displaying the amount of time remaining.
Having received his challenge, the chef travels to the assignment location where he is met by one or more of his team of sous chefs and any local assistants provided by the facility. After surveying available ingredients, tools and appliances, the menu is planned and preparation organized. Often, the chef recruits additional chefs as the episode goes along. At this point, the team is often able to go shopping for additional ingredients, although the availability of items and the limited time often make selection of ingredients difficult (e.g., there may not be enough time to fully defrost a frozen item). At the location itself, preparation space can be restricted, with limited access to oven
s, stove
s, and cooking tools. Under these varying conditions, the chef must execute the menu within the time limits he is given. During the mission, curve balls are sometimes also thrown into the mix mid episode by the representatives; including adding extra guests, entrees, ingredients, etc.
As the countdown reaches its final minutes, the chef and his team rush to put the finishing touches on each dish before service. Because the meal is typically served to a large number of diners (although there are episodes with smaller numbers), service sometimes occurs in several courses. While the chef is not always successful in meeting all the stated terms of the challenge (due to scenarios like lack of ingredients or appliance malfunction), he generally meets the majority of them, and is thanked by the guests nonetheless.
for four seasons. When "embellishments and inaccuracies in [Irvine's] résumé" came to light in 2008, Food Network released Irvine from his contract and replaced him with Chef Michael Symon
, who hosted the show for ten episodes beginning in mid-2008. On November 20, 2008, Food Network announced that it would reinstate Irvine as host for six episodes which began airing in April 2009. Irvine continued as host when the show began it seventh season in August 2009. He was retained for the 2010 season as well.
A related show, Restaurant: Impossible
premiered in January 2011. Restaurant: Impossible
references Dinner: Impossible with a similar opening.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
broadcast by 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....
. The first episode aired on January 24, 2007. Food Network began airing the eighth season on March 3, 2010.
Each episode, the host is given a challenge that must be completed within a given period of time. Challenges have included preparing a large dinner aboard a luxury train, an "authentic" 18th century American colonial dinner (prepared with period cooking methods and tools), and a luxury meal on a small, isolated, New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
island.
Premise
With its name and other elements suggesting the 1960s television series Mission: ImpossibleMission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
, the program explores whether a multi-course meal for a large group can be prepared by the chef and his team with limited resources, no advance planning and in a fixed period of time. In a scene echoing the opening sequence of Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
, each episode opens with the chef receiving his assignment, detailing where, for whom, in how long and under what conditions he must prepare the week's meal. From this point forward, a countdown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
timer is periodically shown, displaying the amount of time remaining.
Having received his challenge, the chef travels to the assignment location where he is met by one or more of his team of sous chefs and any local assistants provided by the facility. After surveying available ingredients, tools and appliances, the menu is planned and preparation organized. Often, the chef recruits additional chefs as the episode goes along. At this point, the team is often able to go shopping for additional ingredients, although the availability of items and the limited time often make selection of ingredients difficult (e.g., there may not be enough time to fully defrost a frozen item). At the location itself, preparation space can be restricted, with limited access to oven
Oven
An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking or drying of a substance. It is most commonly used for cooking. Kilns, and furnaces are special-purpose ovens...
s, stove
Stove
A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...
s, and cooking tools. Under these varying conditions, the chef must execute the menu within the time limits he is given. During the mission, curve balls are sometimes also thrown into the mix mid episode by the representatives; including adding extra guests, entrees, ingredients, etc.
As the countdown reaches its final minutes, the chef and his team rush to put the finishing touches on each dish before service. Because the meal is typically served to a large number of diners (although there are episodes with smaller numbers), service sometimes occurs in several courses. While the chef is not always successful in meeting all the stated terms of the challenge (due to scenarios like lack of ingredients or appliance malfunction), he generally meets the majority of them, and is thanked by the guests nonetheless.
Hosts
Dinner Impossible was hosted by Chef Robert IrvineRobert Irvine
Robert Irvine is a celebrity chef who has appeared on a variety of Food Network programs, including Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, and Restaurant: Impossible.-Career:Irvine began his cooking career upon enlisting in the Royal Navy at the age of fifteen...
for four seasons. When "embellishments and inaccuracies in [Irvine's] résumé" came to light in 2008, Food Network released Irvine from his contract and replaced him with Chef Michael Symon
Michael Symon
Michael D. Symon is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America, Food Feuds, and The Best Thing I Ever Ate, as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel...
, who hosted the show for ten episodes beginning in mid-2008. On November 20, 2008, Food Network announced that it would reinstate Irvine as host for six episodes which began airing in April 2009. Irvine continued as host when the show began it seventh season in August 2009. He was retained for the 2010 season as well.
A related show, Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible is an American reality television program aired by the Food Network. It is jointly produced by Marc Summers and Shooters TV and stars British chef and restaurateur Robert Irvine, and premiered on January 19, 2011...
premiered in January 2011. Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible is an American reality television program aired by the Food Network. It is jointly produced by Marc Summers and Shooters TV and stars British chef and restaurateur Robert Irvine, and premiered on January 19, 2011...
references Dinner: Impossible with a similar opening.
Guest chefs
- Homaro CantuHomaro CantuHomaro Cantu is an inventor, entrepreneur, chef, and molecular gastronomer. He owns and operates the Cantu Designs Firm in Chicago, Illinois, United States as well as Moto Restaurant in Chicago.-Early childhood :...
- Molecular gastronomyMolecular gastronomyMolecular gastronomy is a subdiscipline of food science that seeks to investigate, explain and make practical use of the physical and chemical transformations of ingredients that occur while cooking, as well as the social, artistic and technical components of culinary and gastronomic phenomena in...
expert and chef/owner of Moto restaurant in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... - Guy FieriGuy FieriGuy Fieri is an American restaurateur, author, television personality, and game show host. He co-owns five restaurants in California and is widely known for his television series on the Food Network....
- host of Diners, Drive-Ins and DivesDiners, Drive-Ins and DivesDiners, Drive-Ins and Dives is an American food television series that premiered in November 2006 on the Food Network. Produced by Page Productions, the program stars and is hosted by Guy Fieri...
, Guy's Big BiteGuy's Big BiteGuy's Big Bite is a Food Network show starring Guy Fieri, winner of the second season of The Next Food Network Star. The inaugural six-episode season premiered on June 25, 2006 in the 10:00 am/EST timeslot. Currently Guy's Big Bite airs Sundays at 11am EST/PST.Food Network renewed the series after...
, and Ultimate Recipe ShowdownUltimate Recipe ShowdownUltimate Recipe Showdown is a program which airs on Food Network. The program was originally hosted by Marc Summers and Guy Fieri. As of the second season, Fieri hosts the program alone.-Format:... - Jeff HendersonJeff HendersonJeff Henderson is an award-winning chef, bestselling author and popular public speaker. He is also a former felon, having served nearly a decade in prison for drugs. Having run kitchens as Executive Chef at Café Bellagio and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, he became an inspiration to others.In 2001,...
- host of The Chef Jeff ProjectThe Chef Jeff ProjectThe Chef Jeff Project is a Food Network reality television program that aired in the fall of 2008. Chef Jeff Henderson is a former drug dealer and prison inmate who has transformed his life to emerge as a successful chef and owner of a catering business, Posh Urban Cuisine.-Premise:Chef Jeff...