De Orio's hiring has been known in the halls of WTTW for weeks, but kept under tight wraps. Producer David Manilow told the Sun-Times De Orio nailed down the job with her mock show taping. "She pops off the screen. She's engaging, lively, smart, quick-witted,"
De Orio works in recipe development, event consulting, public speaking, brand ambassadorship and travel and lifestyle writing via her company, Culinary Curator.
(Image: Catherine De Orio from WTTW)
The show's new host is jumping into the thick of things with the second annual "Farm to Table Fest." The event brings together an all-star lineup of award-winning chefs to The Round Barn Winery, a working farm in Michigan on Sunday, September 1. This unique fest will pair chefs with family-owned Michigan farms and boutique food artisans for an afternoon of sampling and sipping of the local bounty. Festival-goers can travel to the source of their food and experience outdoor cooking demonstrations, sample gourmet tastings, meet renowned chefs and interact with working farmers - all celebrated under a big-top tent! Tickets are available at ticketweb.com.
Speaking of Alpana Singh, one of the places you might consider taking Dad for Father's Day is her restaurant, The Boarding House, 720 N Wells, especially if Dad is a fond of the grape. The 450-bottle wine list curated by Singh, paired with Mediterranean fare, is the perfect fit for the father who prefers the finer things in life. The River North restaurant will be open for its regular evening business hours on Father's Day, providing bar provisions in the bar and adjoining patio, as well as a full dinner menu available in Call (312) 280-0720 for reservations.