Where Would You Like To Cook?

Well, you're a long way from home, Mahalo! As you may know, we have filmed the last three seasons of my show on PBS, "Primal Grill", in Arizona. My crew has first-hand knowledge of your temperature extremes, though mostly, we have been blessed with great weather and plenty of sunshine. 

The place I prefer to cook is at my summer home on Martha's Vineyard. My wife and I can go to the local farmer's market for produce and a fresh-baked blueberry pie, stop at the local grocery store for a bottle of wine, and swing by a place that sells line-caught swordfish that we serve with a butter and caper sauce.

I will have to think about your second question. Political troubles have sometimes defined the borders of my travels, and so yes, there are places in the world I haven't been to yet. Places I'd like to investigate as I have read about great grilling traditions. 

So how do you pick locations for the show? Why Arizona for example.

As you can imagine, it's not easy to find a location with consistent weather, a great background, and a hotel or resort that is willing and able to accommodate our crew and the physical needs of our shoot. (A great grocery store nearby helps, too.) We shot our first year of "Primal Grill" at Tubac (famous because of a Kevin Costner movie), but most recently, have been shooting at the Esplendor in Rio Rico. 

Not at this time, kaneohegirlinaz. Our shoots are pretty intense: everyone on the crew has a job to do, and can't play host or hostess. Not only that, but our insurance company won't allow it. There are wires and cords snaking everywhere, lots of live fire, hot grills, etc. Someday, we'd like to be able to accommodate an audience. That would be fun for me.