The International Home Housewares Show was a great place to meet and learn from my favorite celebrity chefs.

It was really cool when I met George Duran…

George talked awhile with every ecstatic fan who waited to meet him, invoking many laughs with his hammy slapstick humor.

Everyone who met him that fine day left with a big smile on their face and a personalized autographed copy of his cookbook, Take this Dish and Twist It.

After meeting George we talked awhile about his style of comfort food, then he inscribed “Enjoy my comfort foods” and gave me an autographed copy of…

Take this Dish and Twist It includes more than 100 reinvented familiar recipes for home cooks who are interested in “unleashing your inner gastronome” with a little help from the the host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off.

George’s witty anecdotes (Georgisms?) are spattered between drool inducing high resolution food pics and many of his twisted (Georgified?) easy to follow recipes.

This impressive culinary instructional manual should be found somewhere between “hysterical”,  ”foodporn”, “how to” and “masterpiece” at your local book store.

Take This Dish and Twist It Video

I decided to get ahold of George and ask him a few questions that were boiling in my brain.  I figured he might want to let off a little steam…

Brad: While reading Take This Dish and Twist It I found myself laughing and drooling at the same time.  How did you select the lucky taste testers for the 100+  recipes and how do I get on the waiting list to judge recipes for your next cookbook?

George: Taste-testing my recipes is really important to me. Everyone’s palate is different and I wanted to make sure that my recipes cheer mouths across the nation. Fortunately I had eager friends, neighbors, and co-workers who were happy to taste and give me honest feedback. If you want to get on this lucky list, you need to be ready to wash some dishes…that’s all!

Brad:You define many of your oddball culinary terms In the “Durantionary” at the beginning of Take This Dish and Twist It.  Have you fulfilled your fantasy of the “SPA Gras” (defined as a fantasy spa treatment where your entire body is submerged in a vat of warm butter)? Was it better than eating Foie Gras?

George: Oh man, nothing is more precious than foie gras to me. And being in a spa and being served this delicacy is a fantasy I have yet to fulfill. After all, you go to a spa to feel good about yourself and your body…but the last thing you need is something that’s going to add more curves! Everything in moderation folks (except bacon, of course)!

Brad: Cooking and humor, how do you manage to blend them together so effortlessly?

George: Cooking was a passion I have had for many many years. But comedy, I need that to breathe. Everything I’ve done in my life has had some humor…I can’t keep a straight face! Personally I like to use humor as a tool to spark interest in people to cook.

Brad: Your Blue Cheese Bacon Burger recipe, now that’s my idea of comfort food!  What is your favorite bacon recipe in Take this Dish and Twist it? (And thank you for confirming my belief that there are bacon gods…)

George: Besides my burger (which I believe beats any burger out there…bring it on Bobby Flay), I think my BLT Hot Dog is amazing. As long as you’re eating bacon, it’s important to use a high-end thick slab of pork belly…remember, naturally smoked bacon is best!

Brad: On an average leisurely evening at home, what do you cook for dinner or do you just order take out?

George: I’m ALWAYS cooking at home. In fact, I try to cook seasonal foods. Right now I’m part of a Community Shared Agriculture and I love exploring different ways to cook veggies. But more often than not…I’m grilling on my balcony!

Brad: “Care packages from mom” seemed to have gotten you through meager times after leaving home for New York University, what was in them?

George: My mother would always send me Armenian food (stuffed grape leaves, lamb, etc.). I was known in my dorm room as “the guy with all of those empty Tupperwares”.

Brad: If you could be transformed into any cartoon character for a day, which would you be and what would you do for the day?

George: Oh man…that’s an easy one: Popeye. I get to eat spinach all day and then smoke a bubble pipe. And olive oil is a hotty! Oh, and did I mention how much I LOVE spinach? When I was a 5 I thought I was Popeye and I would go out to the playgrounds and eat grass and “get strong” to beat up all the bullies. I would go up to them and just throw up instead. Yep, they never teased me again.

Brad: I completely agree with you that “music adds inspiration to even the most mundane moments in my kitchen.”  What artists and songs do you like to listen to while cooking and creating?

George: I can listen to almost any Radiohead album while I cook. But honestly, it depends on the occasion. From electronic to salsa to Sinatra…there are many genres that inspire me to cook better.

Brad: Take This Dish and Twist It includes many tasty recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.  Which of these daily meals is most important to you and why?

George: The most important meal of the day (yep, it’s true) is breakfast. It really gets your appetite rolling and really makes a difference on how balanced the rest of the meals of your day are.

Brad: What advice can you offer to home cooks that want to “twist” their favorite comfort foods and reinvent their recipes?

George: Don’t be afraid…go in there with all your might and remember that almost every mistake can be fixed. Choose two recipes that you absolutely love and find an ingredient that can be blended. And worst comes to worst, shoot me an email, I’ll help you with your problem: george@georgeduran.com

Hence, George’s Twinkie Tiramisu…

And who else but the former Ham on the Street could get random people to eat a twinkie in one big bite?

Twinkie Tiramisu Street Comedy Video

I’m really excited that George has offered to share his cookbook with Eatnlisten.com readers!

Three lucky email subscribers will each win a personalized & autographed copy of Take this Dish and Twist It!

Details about the twisted giveaway will be announced next week.

Thank you to George Duran for inspiring my culinary creativity and for the many laughs over the years.  I have been a big fan since Ham on The Street.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Brad