by Melinda Crow
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Mon October 16, 2017
Guy Fieri comes off as a genuinely nice guy. He made his mark in the world of celebrity chefs with more than a hint of snark, but when the cameras turn off, he remains both funny and considerate.
We caught up with Fieri at the State Fair of Texas where he and Carnival Cruise Line co-hosted a timed, on-stage, barbecue sandwich-making event, featuring the three finalists from a contest among local 4H members-all under the age of fifteen.
Here is what we learned from an evening of food and fun with Guy Fieri.
The Food is Real
One of Fieri's catchphrases is "real deal." Before he agreed to expand with Carnival beyond the current Guy's Burger Joint restaurants, he insisted that, if there was going to be barbecue, it had to be the real deal-smoked meats and all.
The strict safety world of cruise-ship cooking without flames posed challenges that seemed, in one word, "impossible" according to Fieri.
With his input, Carnival eventually satisfied his requirements and Pig & Anchor began lunchtime counter service of "real-deal" barbecue and homestyle sides on four ships: Breeze, Dream, Magic and Vista.
Carnival is Bringing the Beer
But what's good barbecue without good beer? Carnival's newest ship, Horizon (launching in April 2018), takes the Pig & Anchor concept one step further by combining it with its innovative onboard craft brewery-first incorporated on Carnival Vista-to create the Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse full-service barbecue restaurant.
Lunch service will be a no-extra-charge included venue, as it is on the previous four ships. Dinner will have an expanded menu and will incur an additional charge.
Both Fieri and Carnival Love Kids
It was not an accident that Fieri was in Dallas for an event featuring kids. His Cooking with Kids Foundation promotes getting children into the kitchen and teaching them about cooking and healthy eating. Onstage in Dallas, he quietly gave the kids advice off-mic, teaching them knife skills and offering tips. Mid-way through the competition, he presented the 4H Clubs of Texas with a check for $20,000 from his foundation.
The event was the perfect showcase for Carnival, which continues to increase its family-friendly offerings onboard ships. Horizon will feature an IMAX theater, a new attraction called SkyRide and a Dr. Seuss-themed waterpark.
He is a Cruise Convert
Fieri is honest about the fact that he was not a cruiser in the days before Guy's Burger Joint.
"I do outside stuff like dirt biking," he said, explaining why he had never been on a cruise before partnering with Carnival. "I went on one and loved it. I don't get paid to say that. It's not part of my deal."
Guy is Loved by His Fans
As the young chef-testants worked diligently onstage to create masterpieces that earned them Carnival cruises for their families, Fieri took questions from the audience of fans.
It's no surprise that the questions included queries about his favorite Dallas restaurants (which he artfully dodged).
But when the audience turned to more personal matters like inquiries about his family and his home in Sonoma County where wildfires are raging, it became obvious that Guy Fieri followers already know he is a nice guy that they will happily follow across the country and (now) across the seas.
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