« All News

Search RealityWanted News

Loading

 

 

 

 


 



 


 

 

 

$24 In 24: Exclusive Interview with Food Network Star Season 7 Winner Jeff Mauro

Posted on 09/19/2012 by Gina in The Next Food Network Star and Cast Interviews

| More

Winner Jeff Mauro from Food Network Star Season 7

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

Last year, Jeff Mauro took his tasty sandwiches all the way to the finish line in season 7 of Food Network Star. He landed his own show, Sandwich King, on the network and is now about to unveil his newest program, $24 in 24. In the half-hour series, Jeff hits up a new city each week in search of the best meals that won't break the bank. Today, we caught up with Jeff in an exclusive interview to hear more about his new show and life since Food Network Star.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It seems like your life has been a bit of a whirlwind since winning Food Network Star. Is that how you would describe it?
A. Jeff: It's definitely a whirlwind and you know what? It's weird because when you spend your whole adult life working one job, 9-5, or nights, you get used to it. Now, it's like I'll have two to three weeks of insanity and then two to three weeks of nothing. Maybe taking calls, writing recipes, but it feels like I've never been home as much. This is legitimate. Since the end of June, I have been to thirteen cities and two of those I've been to twice. It seems like I spend a lot of time away from home but maybe because I'm doing what I love, it doesn't seem bad. It's wonderful and a blessing.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: They must like you over there since you've now gotten a second show with Food Network! Tell us about $24 in 24.
A. Jeff: Maybe they like me today! I'm trying to keep a good head on my shoulders. First of all, $24 in 24 is the greatest show ever. Second, it's probably the most difficult show made because we have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack, plus tip, for $24 in 24 hours. It took a lot of research and digging to find places that fit into our parameter. We successfully did it in each city though, big and small.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Is it tough to find good quality food for reasonable prices or do people just need to look hard for those diamonds in the rough?
A. Jeff: People have to look! Just look! Don't follow the herd into the most popular places or the tourist spot. I think that's where people go wrong. Hit the pavement, ask locals, go off the beaten path. You're bound to find somewhere that doesn't have a line out the door.


Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Of the cities you visited in the first season, which had your favorite food item?
A. Jeff: That is a great question! It's like picking your favorite child. I have more than one, I easily do. Let's see... it was probably a toss-up between the corned beef hash in Cleveland at Danny's Deli. Something about it - I love corned beef hash and it was the best I ever had. And, go figure, another breakfast item: bacon cheddar egg bagel at Bagel Store in Brooklyn.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You have a lot to cram into thirty minutes each week, eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack! Will we see you interacting with store and restaurant owners?
A. Jeff: Tons of interaction! We make it as much about them as the food. I'm cooking in every location. I'm serving in some, getting in line for the others. I'm embedding myself in both places.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's different about $24 in 24 compared to Sandwich King?
A. Jeff: I think they're going to see that it's still me - it's the same personality I brought to Sandwich King. It's just me with a slicker shirt on. I'm not at home, I'm not in the kitchen, I'm a little more out and about in this show. It's slightly more irreverent and a little pushing the lines of comedy more than Sandwich King. I also want people to get a sense of "Hey, I can do that!" Granted, if you have a family of four, you're not spending only $24 in a day but multiply that and spending $100 for a family in NYC is not bad at all. It encourages people to travel more and discover new places.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you keep up with your fans and stay in touch through Facebook and Twitter?
A. Jeff: Yes, I do but only when they're nice to me! That was the hard thing in the beginning was not to be like, "I hate you too!" Rule number one: ignore, ignore, ignore. I can't imagine how people did it ten years ago, pre all this social media. I have a direct line to my fans through Facebook and Twitter. I try to answer as much as I can and when I can. I tell you man, there could be 99 great comments and one that spoils the bunch. I still have a lot to learn at this. I'm still very new at this and it's gonna take some time to learn how to ignore those comments.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You've got two shows now on the network. What do you do when you're not filming?
A. Jeff: Like I said, when I'm home, I'm home! I wake up, I work out because I have to counteract all the eating... when I'm not on the road, I work out like a machine. I should be 160 lbs but evidently, that will never happen! So I work out, I love making dinner, we love planning our meals. We're firm believers in not eating out a lot. While I was talking to you, I just pulled chicken out of my chicken lemon rice soup that I'm cooking. I love to cook and spend time with my son and I'm going to my mom's tonight. I live in a tight knit community and my family is very close. I have literally 30 relatives that live with a 2-3 mile radius!

 

Check out Jeff's new show on Food Network and follow him @JeffMauro

 


$24 in 24 premieres Monday, September 24, at 10:30/9:30pm ET.

 

(Image courtesy of Food Network)

 


Follow Gina @ginascarpa


  


Rate this article

  • Currently 5.00/5

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast) (Log in to vote!)


blog comments powered by Disqus

Go back to the previous page