George Duran is an international chef and entertainer, known for his Food Network show Ham on the Street and most recently host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off. Born and raised by Armenian parents in Caracas, Venezuela, George’s diverse background helped him succeed at NYU as the host of the award winning radio talk show, HYE Time Radio. Post college, Duran continued to follow his Radio Muse, working as an on-air personality for comedy segments at WPLJ-FM in New York. By 2000, Duran told his Radio Muse he’d like to “take a break” and after hosting on the Latin music television station HTV he moved to Paris, France to study French cuisine at the Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise, Groupe Ferrandi. Six months into his studies created and hosted in French a culinary show called Pop Cuisine on France’s Cuisine TV network. His unpretentious, quirky culinary style was a hit—garnering Pop Cuisine a nomination for a 7 d’Or (French Emmy) for Best Cable Show. In 2005, Duran returned to New York, taking his career as a TV Chef to the next level—creating and hosting Food Network’s popular Ham on the Street. The program showcased George’s keen interviewing and culinary skills—and determined once and for all that you can’t fry a fudge-cicle. In February 2007, Duran expanded his presence on Food Network, hosting The Secret Life of…, a light hearted exploration of the history of the foods we love. In October, 2008, George’s first book, Take This Dish and Twist It hit bookstore shelves. As colorful and funny as the chef himself, Duran’s book is packed with highly useful tips revealing his delectably unexpected take on comfort food. During this period, Duran partnered up with the number 1 Hispanic cookware company, IMUSA as its spokesperson and shortly afterwards with Hunt’s Tomatoes. The enormous success of both campaigns resulted in the expansion of George’s role with both companies including all ConAgra products on a national and Hispanic stage. Most recently he has hosted on HSN for kitchenware products by IMUSA and T-fal. In 2010 George was asked to join TLC’s prime time line-up by hosting Ultimate Cake Off where the nation’s top cake artists compete against each other to build the ultimate cake.DAVID SHAW - CORPORATE CHEF, IHOP
Kids 12 and under can order a “Scary Face” pancake and be able to make it into as scary—or funny— a face as they want. The Scary Face pancake comes with one of IHOP restaurant’s world famous buttermilk pancakes, a whipped topping mouth, a glazed strawberry nose and a set of delicious decorations: two mini-Oreo® cookies to create eyes and eight pieces of candy corn to add teeth or fangs… Let your imagination run wild!
And kids over 12—and grownups—will get a treat too, when the most popular seasonal favorite, pumpkin pancakes return to the menu at participating IHOP restaurants. The “Scary Face” pancake will only be available through the month of October. Hurry before they vanish…like ghosts!
ERIKA LEHMANN BROWN - “CHIC SHOPPER CHICK” & MOM BLOGGER - OCT IS NATIONAL APPLE MONTH
SNACKING IS ON THE RISE FOR KIDS, BUT HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO EAT NUTRITIOUS SNACKS?The Chic Shopper Chick shares how to find nutritious snacks that can fit a busy family schedule Snacking now accounts for more than 27 percent of a child’s daily caloric intake…so it’s up to parents to give them healthy choices. The Chic Shopper Chick and mom blogger, Erika Lehmann Brown, reveals her tips and tricks for busy moms who want to provide their kids with the best snacks.
Erika Lehmann Brown, Chic Shopper Chick - Erika is a fashion, style, beauty, and travel writer. She is the publisher of Chic Shopper Chick, a site dedicated to kid-friendly products, fashion and style, as well as the Beauty and Style Editor of Lifetime Moms, a digital property held by Lifetime and A&E Television Networks. Erika is currently a Walmart Mom, one of Frito Lay's Fabulous 15, and a member of the Hanes Comfort Crew. She's featured in Johnson & Johnson’s Real Moms Video Series, highlighted as a shopping expert in Woman’s World Magazine, and is the former host of the radio show "Feel Good Fashion", which is now syndicated in iTunes. Her site, Chic Shopper Chick is a Women's Day favorite fashion site. She's speaks frequently at conferences about social media and blogging best practices.