Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (often nicknamed Triple D and stylized as Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives) is an American food reality television series that premiered on April 23, 2007, on the Food Network. It is hosted by Guy Fieri. The show originally began as a one-off special that aired on November 6, 2006.[2] The show features a "road trip" concept, similar to Road Tasted, Giada's Weekend Getaways, and $40 a Day. Fieri travels around the United States and Canada looking at various diners, drive-in restaurants, and dive bars. He has also featured some restaurants in European cities, including London, England and Florence, Italy)[3], as well as Cuba (see the episodes page).
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives | |
---|---|
Genre | Food reality television |
Presented by | Guy Fieri |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 31 |
No. of episodes | 411[1] (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Production company(s) | Page Productions (2007–2011) Citizen Pictures (2011–present) |
Release | |
Original network | Food Network |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
Original release | April 23, 2007 – present |
External links | |
Website |
Premise
Each episode generally has a unifying theme (such as burgers, ribs, or seafood) with the host visiting multiple restaurants within a single city to sample the food that corresponds to this theme. The program focuses on small, independent eateries featuring traditional comfort foods (such as barbecue, smoked meat, hamburgers, deep-fried food, pizza, steak, and bacon-and-egg breakfast), regional styles, or ethnic specialties. Often, the chosen restaurants will use fresh ingredients, home-style recipes, and gourmet culinary approaches to what is usually not considered gourmet food. The host interacts with both the customers, to get their opinion on the food, and with the kitchen staff, who demonstrate how to prepare one or more of the dishes.
Guest appearances
The show has had various stars appear in the kitchen alongside Guy Fieri, including fellow chefs Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Michael Symon, Emeril Lagasse, and Geoffrey Zakarian, as well as celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Gene Hackman, Rosie O'Donnell, Joe Theismann, Kid Rock, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Clint Bowyer, Gene Simmons, Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth, E-40 and Mick Fleetwood.
Lawsuit
In May 2011, Page Productions, the original producers of the show filed a lawsuit against Food Network. The lawsuit alleges that the network failed to pay required production costs, and failed to make the show's host, Guy Fieri, available for taping.[4]
A week after Food Network counter-sued the producer, a settlement was reached in August 2011, allowing the 12th season of the show to resume, with a new production company, Citizen Pictures.[5][6]
Impact
Throughout the years, more than 800 restaurants have been given recognition from this Food Network show and has dramatically drawn in more customers for said businesses. Due to the show's popularity, long term effects have been incredibly visible; increase in sales, large crowds, and even substantial sales increases.[7] Even in 2010, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives had "jump started" Northern Waters Smokehaus's mail-order businesses. In an article by Twin Cities Business, the owner of said story had nothing but positive things to say for the show stating that thanks to the airing of the episode, the growth in business "hasn't slowed".[8]
Another example of the show’s positive impact on small, local businesses is when Donatelli’s, a restaurant located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, shares that their appearance in Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives “saved us from going out of business.” experiencing an average, sustained 20% increase in sales since the airing of the episode, which was in 2008. The restaurant, over ten years later, is still reaping the benefits of their appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.[9]
See also
References
- "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Episodes". DDD Location Guide. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- "World chefs – Powers finds history is made in diners". Reuters. March 27, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- List of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episodes#Season 29 (2018–2019)
- "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives producer says Food Network wants to dash " Twin Cities Business Journal; May 16, 2011
- Satran, Joe (August 18, 2011). "Food Network's Legal Battle With Producer Of Guy Fieri's 'Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives' Comes To End". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- Parker, Penny (October 7, 2011). "Parker: Food Network show switches to Denver production company". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
- "The Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Effect". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- "The Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Effect". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- "The Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Effect". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved 2020-02-27.