Hosting a Food Network show is a stressful job but John Catucci admits the weight of the culinary world actually rests a little further south than his shoulders.
“What I show people is the food I think they want to eat but can’t because their doctor says they shouldn’t, so they eat vicariously through me,” said the charismatic funny man and star of You Gotta Eat Here! “The only problem is now my doctor is giving me shit about it.”
He and his production crew were in Penticton Sunday and Monday to shoot some footage for upcoming episode of the popular series.
According to Catucci, when he got a letter from a viewer named Tracy about this funky joint operating out of a former tire shop, well, he just had to eat there.
“It’s pretty cool alright,” he said sitting outside watching another happy customer chowing down on one of the house specialities. “It’s just so unique because you’re in wine country and you’ve got this little burger shack in the middle of it. It’s perfect and owners Chris (Boehm) and Steve (Jones) have been great to us.”
Catucci, who has been an actor/comedian/singer during his career doesn’t profess to be a chef but just someone who likes to eat and will happily go where ever his stomach takes him.
Right now he’s loving his job and is very excited to be traveling to some out-of-the-way spots and meeting some great people.
“And they’re feeding me, what more could you want?” he asked patting his belly. “Where I go are the kind of places that if you had family and friends from out of town this is where you would bring them.”
The 26-episode series starts its second season in January however a date for the Penticton segment has not been set.
