A thriller for our griller

[Food Network Fan]

A thriller for our griller

By Laura Reiley, Times Food Critic

Published Friday, October 17, 2008 6:16 PM

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He does not have the blindingly white smile of Giada De Laurentiis, nor Paula Deen's easy folksiness. Still, St. Petersburg Times copy editor Jim Webster may just have a future for himself in one of the Food Network's studio kitchens.
He is, in fact, the Ultimate Grilling Challenge champion, an intergalactic honor bestowed upon him Friday by none other than Food Network darling Mario Batali. The announcement was made on Rachael Ray's daytime talk show.
It's easy to see why Webster's Pig-Wrapped Pig-Stuffed Pig stomped the likes of semifinalists Gabriel Campbell's Memphis-style pulled pork sandwich and T.J. Palmrose's grapewood grilled squab in a tomatillo-ancho marinade served with polenta. The former? Too down-home. The latter? Too froufrou. Webster's PWPSP has all the allures to catch Mario's eye. It's elegantly simple (only 7 ingredients), gutsy (crisp pancetta encircling a pork tenderloin stuffed with homemade pork sausage flavored with orange zest and toasted fennel) and it's molto Italiano. A culinary achievement somewhere between Isabella Rossellini and Al Pacino.
Most importantly, it's a whole lot of pork.

MORE HERE

[Food Network Fan]

Congrats GB2002!!!!! How EXCITING!!!

[Pluff Mudder]

WTG Mr and Mrs. GB2002!

I see the recipe for it will be in Wed.'s paper and I can't wait! Been wanting to make this since I watched the video!

[BerryBaby]

Ok, how am I missing it is GB2002...how do you know this? In any case, congratulations!

[Food Network Fan]

She told us what he made in the avatar thread and we know this was his dish.

[GB2002]

Thanks for the well wishes, guys.
Yes, it's true!
The Prince of Pork is my husband. Friday was a whirlwind day. The announcement was made on the Rachael Ray Show, which isn't on in our market until 2 p.m. My husband was DYING to know who won. I wasn't sure he'd make it until 2. But I had a plan.

I figured out that her show is on at 9 a.m. in Miami, where we used to live. (Since her show is syndicated it's on at different times on different networks all over the country.) We started calling people to see if someone could watch the show for us. We reached a friend (recently retired) and got him to watch the show and hold the phone up to the TV. An hour later a friend in D.C. did the same thing when it came on there. Then we went to work and watched it ourselves at 2 with a room full of cheering co-workers. It was awesome.


--pam

[Food Network Fan]

Fantastic. I am thrilled for you. I am glad you have been here sharing with us. It makes it so much more exciting.

[BerryBaby]

Yes, yes, congratulations! How exciting!

[GB2002]

If you didn't happen to watch the Rachael Ray Show on Friday, here's the video clip ...

gastroblog

[Pluff Mudder]

I had checked her website late last night and the video wasn't up yet, so "thanks" posting it here. Again... a BIG CONGRATS to your DH and I bet you're really looking forward to tailgating with Mario at TMS.