Craig Melvin wears his heart on his sleeve and his taste buds on his face.
When asked if he can name the best thing he's ever eaten during a TODAY Food segment, Craig visibly looks through his catalog of memories and finally shakes his head.
“I can't answer that question because every month or two I think, 'Oh, my God,'” he says, his eyes lighting up.
He is preparing to take the audience through a cooking demonstration in TODAY Fan Fest “Taste of TODAY” event hosted on the platform by the James Beard Foundation.
There are also plenty of super fans watching TODAY Food's real-life segments, interacting with world-class hosts and chefs, and enjoying snack demos.
“We had Korean fried chicken this morning; she’s here today,” Craig says of Chef Judy Joo and her recipe. “I thought, 'Oh my God, this is the most amazing Korean fried chicken I've ever eaten.'
Craig adds that earlier this week Chef Brian Lewis prepared Roast pork with spices during the third hour, he thought the same thing: “Oh my God, this is the best pork I've ever eaten,” he recalls.
Sheinelle Jones had a similar reaction to another Lewis dish that day: Roasted Beet and Burrata Salad.
“It looked like beet salad, but it’s not just beet salad,” she says, waving her hands emphatically. “It had fennel and pistachios in it. amazing“
Along with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Dylan Dreyer, the three chefs prepare dishes from “TODAY Loves Food” cookbook. While sampling these dishes, diners are also served wine, beer and cocktails such as Savannah's. Savanitacourtesy of Diageo, Rockaway Brewing Company and Brooklyn Winery.
Today on the menu: Ayesha Nurjaja. Chicken shawarma with white sauceDavid Rose's Grilled Ancho Steak with Chipotle Chimichurri and Kathie Lee Biegel's Dill Pickle Salad are all prepared live for the audience by each chef.
Craig says his favorite thing about the food segment is the experience on display.
“It's just the quality of the food,” he says, especially from food stars such as Siri Daly, Edie Massey and Priyanka Naik, who are all in attendance. “The untold part of the TODAY Food story is the TODAY Food team, and they do an amazing job.”
He likes most of the foods he eats in the series, but every now and then he tries a dish he doesn't like, and his face makes it clear.
“I can’t hide it,” Craig admits.
“My mom said the same thing. But listen, I'll try everything,” he says, adding that not everything is for everyone. “I think I feel better.”
Sheinelle says she took food from the show with her, which she really liked, but her kids don't always like it.
“My kids don't like their food touched, so they're still like, 'We like chicken, we like potatoes,' so sometimes I'll bring something home and they'll be like, 'I'm not sure.'
But the easiest way to tell if the host liked the dish is to look at his plate at the end of the segment. If it's empty, it means it was a success.
“I get asked a lot about how much food I eat,” Dylan says during the event’s opening remarks. “When you are surrounded by the best of the best chefs, you want to try their food.
“And then my mom texts me: ‘Is it really as good as you say? Should I try this recipe? and I say, “Yes, you should try this recipe.”
