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By Ed Murrieta


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Jan. 25, 2009 at 7:22pm

Southern Kitchen rises to Food Network spotlight

'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' program will run this summer

Posted by Ed Murrieta in Media, Tacoma
Comments (7)

Southern Kitchen was packed and polished this weekend as a production crew for the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" program spent two days and 20 hours taping inside the down-home Tacoma restaurant.

skgloriacook
Southern Kitchen owner Gloria Martin prepares jalapeno hushpuppies for the crew
of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" program.

"I am exhausted," Southern Kitchen owner Gloria Martin declared late this afternoon after Minnesota-based Page Productions packed up its lights, cameras and microphones. "Now I know what it's like to make a movie: 20 hours of shooting for 10 minutes on screen."

Martin and her staff spent 10 hours with the production crew Saturday and another 10 hours with the crew today. Today, Martin spent two hours in the kitchen (newly adorned with gleaming pots and shiny stainless steel filters on the stove hood) with spiky-haired host Guy Fieri making fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, jalapeno hushpuppies and cornbread dressing. After Fieri left, Martin stayed on for retakes.

"We don't want to be celebrities," Martin said of being chosen for the show. "We just want to be the cute and homey restaurant we've always been. But it was flattering. I have a lot of respect for the Food Network and what they're doing for food."

The "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" crew will be in Seattle Monday and Tuesday, taping at Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack & Watering Hole, Gorgeous George's, Bizzarro Italian Cafe and Pam's Kitchen.

Producers for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" said the show featuring Southern Kitchen and the Seattle restaurants will run after the show's current season ends, some time this summer.

skgloria
Gloria Martin chats with customers during a lull in the two-day, 20-hour taping.

skgloriahat
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" host Guy Fieri gave Gloria Martin a souvenir cap,
with the inscription, "Gloria great job on triple D. Guy."

skposter
Southern Kitchen's Paul Russell shows off a poster signed by
Food Network host Guy Fieri.

Comments (7)

I have ate twice at Southern Kitchen. Both times I thought the food very boring. I asked the chef what was in the gumbo and his reply was "I don't know". My dining companion informed me that my fried catfish was way more tasty. Very bland was his comment. The service was extremly slow and it seemed the servers were more interested in what was on the television than waiting on their customers. Just thought I would offer my 2 cents worth.
1 | Left by Pegsterdtown | Jan. 26, 2009 at 3:43pm


Gordon says:

I had a good breakfast at Southern Kitchen on Inauguration Day watching the festivities on CNN with my friend Krista.

We met the owner, Gloria who was delightful. She was busy trying to put her recipes down on paper for the show, and sharing her "nervousness". But not too busy to chat with us.

I'll be back.
2 | Jan. 26, 2009 at 6:00pm


This will be great for the Southern Kitchen. Whenever Guy features a restaurant, their business quadruples. His cookbook is a blast and Guy's focus on downhome diners is a welcome respite from most of the Food Network's offerings.
3 | Left by Leper | Jan. 26, 2009 at 6:33pm


Gordon I am curious was this your first visit?
4 | Left by Anon | Jan. 28, 2009 at 9:08pm


I have started a facebook page for fans of the restaurant. I love the food there... It is also special cause the building they are in was my grandmothers restaurant as well (Bun on the Run) in the 50's i believe
5 | Left by Stuart Fleck | Feb. 3, 2009 at 10:03am


I've been to Southern Kitchen many times for breakfast and I thought it was wonderful my mother loved the cat fish. The service has always been wonderful. I can't imagine people not liking it.
6 | Left by Becca | Jun. 21, 2009 at 10:20pm


my sister works at southern kitchen her name is Alyssa and ko the cook is one of the coolist people ever
7 | Left by Gabrielle Harris | Jan. 10, 2010 at 3:06pm


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