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Oliver show attracts national attention
Cameron Mathison, a correspondent for "Good Morning America," does a live segment with Jamie Oliver along with Gov. Joe Manchin and his wife, Gayle Manchin, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at Jamie's Kitchen in downtown Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Stir-fry was on the breakfast menu Tuesday, as the spotlight of national television attracted people from across the region to downtown Huntington.
People traveled from eastern Kentucky, the Kanawha Valley and many points in between to take part in "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." ABC featured the planned healthy eating television show Tuesday in live segments on "Good Morning America." Crews also shot footage for a "Nightline" report scheduled to air this winter.
The six-episode, unscripted television series chronicles Oliver's efforts to revolutionize cooking practices in Huntington. The series is scheduled to premiere on ABC in February.
Tuesday's live studio audience included West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and first lady Gayle Manchin. The governor expressed support for the show and told producers he hopes it stands as a platform to spread healthy eating initiatives across the state and nation.
Kelly Sallie was among more than 50 who participated in healthy cooking classes Tuesday. The 40-year-old war veteran and prison cook supervisor traveled from his home in Willard, Ky., in southeastern Carter County.
Sallie, who recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan, delivered military meals ready to eat to Oliver's crew. He arrived at the television shoot with a passion to learn something new from Oliver, a world-renowned cook known to many as "The Naked Chef."
"Any time I can get a chance to get out and experience any other person's cooking techniques, I try to go for personal education," he said.
Tuesday's event included many quirks of live television, from last-minute microphone adjustments to a flying noodle that landed on Cameron Mathison, the "All My Children" soap opera star who served as ABC's "Good Morning America" correspondent. Mathison cooked alongside local resident Sara Loftus, 40. Food flew out of their wok as Loftus shook the pan's ingredients.
"I'm a bit of a lefty, so I added the noodles and we had momentum," she said. "I'm thinking, 'Oh good. I'm hoping my children are not watching this right now.'"
The Manchins arrived just in time. Crews hurried the governor onto the set and then adjusted his microphone as a pre-recorded report aired. The state's first couple then prepared their own 10-minute stir-fry with Oliver's direction and advice. The couple enjoyed the experience.
"She was excited to see me cooking," Joe Manchin said.
"We've never been at a stove together, unless it was Joe coming over to sample something that was being cooked," Gayle Manchin replied.
The Manchins participated in their cooking demonstration across from stay-at-home mothers Jeannie Fuentes, 41, of Hurricane and Shannon Elliot, 35, of Charleston. Taking a lesson across from the first couple was unexpected. Both enjoyed the experience. Elliot had rallied her group to attend Tuesday's taping.
"I need to improve my cooking skills, so I figured I would learn something new and healthy at that," Elliot said.
Among the morning's first group of cooks were Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe and Cabell County Schools Superintendent Bill Smith.
The "Good Morning America" segments provided the nation a glimpse of Oliver's recent efforts. He told the national audience the television series is designed to look at the public's relationship with food. He said the community kitchen, located on 3rd Avenue across from Pullman Square, is an example for many towns needing help nationwide.
"I want to show Huntington as a shining example of what we need to do in America," Oliver told the nationwide audience.
Tuesday's taping of Oliver's show gave the chef an opportunity to claim victory over disc jockey Rod Willis of 93.7 FM The Dawg's "Rocky and Rod" morning show. The two men had wagered a beer on Oliver's claim that his show and its cooking lessons could attract 1,000 participants.
Willis bet against Oliver's claim. By late morning he became the 1,000th participant.
"This was one bet I was happy to lose," he said.
The "Good Morning America" crew and that of the network's late-night news show "Nightline" were joined by cameras from local television and newspaper. The Dawg also conducted a live remote broadcast. Oliver described it as chaos as he arrived Tuesday morning.
Oliver gave a big sigh following the final live segment, suggesting he feels more comfortable in television's pre-recorded world.
"God Bless live TV," he said.
The festivities also attracted Rachel Pope, 22, of Pensacola, Fla. She is an intern with Reformed University Fellowship, a ministry group at Marshall University. She appreciated the extra tips.
"Being on my own, I'm kind of wanting to learn how to cook," she said. "It was a really tasty meal and easy to make."
The Manchins' trip involved more than cooking. The first couple's appearance also included a lengthy on-camera talk with Oliver. Cameras rolled as the two men talked next to the show's wall of 1,000 photos, which depicts each person who has taken Oliver's class. The governor then conducted another on-camera question-and-answer session for the show, followed by an interview with "Nightline" correspondent Vicki Mabrey.
Manchin said unhealthy diets are prevalent throughout the state and nation. He believes healthy-eating initiatives, such as Oliver's community kitchen, play a critical role in transforming unhealthy habits. He hopes to seize upon Oliver's example by locating similar community kitchens throughout the state. Manchin was unsure as to the amount of state funding such a project would require, but he said success in Huntington can spread the effort statewide and nationwide.
"We are committed to making this successful. We are committed to making this work," he said. "People have to know they are responsible and they can do a better job of taking care of themselves."
West Virginia's governor called upon the White House to support Oliver's example nationwide. Manchin said local schools have cooks ready and able to prepare healthy meals, once the federal government provides healthy ingredients. He and the first lady said current school menus contain too many processed foods.
"Maybe the federal government better be looking at what they are sending," he said.
The first couple finished their Huntington visit by joining Oliver at a closed-door meeting in the Pullman Plaza Hotel. Others scheduled to attend were Smith and State Schools Superintendent Stephen L. Paine. Manchin described it as a last chance for him and others to inquire about Oliver's project and express their full support.
