Kid in a Candy Store: Q&A with Adam Gertler

CALLING ALL CANDY LOVERS AND CONNOISSEURS OF SWEET TREATS ALIKE!
There’s a new show premiering on the Food Network designed to cater straight to your sweet tooth and bring out the gluttonous (and giddy) side of you. Kid in a Candy Store is set to debut Monday July 12 and show host Adam Gertler is sent on a wild and crazy trip around the country to discover the most creative, not to mention delectable, treats around. And in a Q&A with the host, and former Next Food Network Star contestant, Gertler talks favorite sweets, the Next Food Network Star, and Black Pepper Ice cream.

The concept of the show sprang up from need. The Food Network though varied in its culinary programming, had yet to tap into a show involving extreme sweets. And the idea of a full show centered around over the top sweets was very intriguing to Adam, himself already dubbed by production crew a Kid in a Candy Store. Thus the show got its name. As for purpose: Adam hopes that the show will not only display fantastic foods, but will let the viewer have a good time while learning how to make her favorite snacks. Take for example the new pretzel M&Ms, in an upcoming episode Adam goes behind the scenes and face-to-face with the chocolate wheel (yum!) showing viewers how these treats are made.

Speaking of treats, there are some amazing and fantastic treats coming up. And among the most unusual is found in the Big Top Candy Shop in Austin Texas: the Vanilla Wasabi Milkshake. And while I’ll give you a few moments to mentally digest that (vanilla + wasabi=?), Adam assures that this dessert is not terrible, just very confusing to the palate. And even after the fact, it seems he still hasn’t been able to wrap his head around the unusual combination. Another surprising combo, but with pleasantly surprising results, is the Sweet Corn Black Pepper Ice Cream which Adam says “totally works.”

Aside from having an insatiable sweet tooth (which, by the way, loves ice cream and anything with bananas) Adam loves this show because the format is exceptionally suited for his personality. An in-studio cooking show is just not his style. And although he wouldn’t turn one down if offered, he loves that the format of Kid in a Candy Store allows him to utilize his people skills as well as his naturally inquisitive mind.

And as for the Next Food Network Star, Adam totally watches it and in fact each week he meets with the eliminated contestants. Having been in the same position that they were once, Adam feels an immediate camaraderie with them. They are bonded through their experience.

I have to say, I love the fact that the present contestants meet up with Adam after they are eliminated. He is probably one of the greatest beacons they can have to show: you can lose the Next Food Network Star, and still come out a winner, even bettered by experience.

Kid in a Candy Shop premieres next Monday, July 12 at 8pm on Food Network.

For more on The Next Food Network Star, click here.

Photographs courtesy of Food Network.