Playing with Fire (2013 TV series) explained

Playing with Fire is an American reality documentary television series on E! and premiered on March 17, 2013.^{[1] [2]}

Premise

The series chronicles the personal and professional lives of five chefs, stars and taste-makers who have risen to the top of New York's culinary world.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Cast

Main

• Anna Boiardi — Boiardi is an Italian-born, New York socialite. She is the great niece of the founder of Chef Boyardee, her father being the nephew of the Chef. Within the series, Boiardi's new business venture which brings traditional Italian cuisine to today's modern kitchens is shown plus her home life as being a wife and a mother.^[6]
• Candice Kumai — Kumai participated in the first season of Top Chef, sat on the judging panel of Iron Chef America and hosted Cook Yourself Thin.^[6]
• Daniel and Derek Koch — The Koch brothers' first career choice was modeling until the duo opened their boutique and hospitality company, Dual Groupe. They also own restaurant-and-nightclub TOY, French-inspired restaurant Chateau Cherbuliez and are known for their Day & Night brunch parties.^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Julie Elkind —Elkind is a pastry chef and an accomplished kick-boxer who was voted onto Zagat's list of 30 Under 30 Hot Chefs in New York in April 2012.^[9] Her struggle to find her biological mother and taking her relationship with her boyfriend, Kyle, are shown in the series.^[5]

Guest appearances

• Jennifer Esposito —Esposito, who was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2009, is shown as she opens her gluten-free bakery, Jennifer's Way, and partners with Anna Boiardi to instruct a cooking class featuring gluten-free Italian meals.^[10] Despite the series even starting, E! is working with Esposito to possibly have her own spin-off series which documents the day-to-day operations at her bakery now that it's open.^[11]
• Todd English^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bibel. Sara. 'Playing With Fire' to Premiere Sunday, March 17 on E!. https://web.archive.org/web/20130719133604/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/03/06/playing-with-fire-to-premiere-sunday-march-17-on-e/172315/. dead. July 19, 2013. TV by the Numbers. March 17, 2013. March 6, 2013.
2. Web site: E! Turns Up the Heat on New York's Culinary Scene When "Playing with Fire" Debuts Sunday, March 17 at 10:00PM ET/PT. The Futon Critic. March 17, 2013. March 6, 2013.
3. Web site: O'Connell. Michael. E! Orders Ryan Lochte Reality Series, Culinary Foray 'Playing With Fire'. The Hollywood Reporter. March 17, 2013. January 7, 2013.
4. Web site: Bibel. Sara. New E! Reality Series 'Playing With Fire' Features Stars of New York's Culinary World. https://web.archive.org/web/20130116103312/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/07/new-e-reality-series-playing-with-fire-features-stars-of-new-yorks-culinary-world/164317/. dead. January 16, 2013. TV by the Numbers. March 17, 2013. January 7, 2013.
5. Web site: E! Serves Up New Series "Playing with Fire" Going Inside the Spicy Professional and Personal Lives of The Chefs, Stars and Tastemakers Who Make Up New Year's Culinary World. The Futon Critic. March 17, 2013. January 7, 2013.
6. Web site: Meet the Cast of E!'s Playing with Fire. TV Guide. March 17, 2013.
7. Web site: Montini. Madelina. Derek & Daniel Koch's "Day & Night" Brunch Makes Vanity Fair. Joonbug. March 17, 2013. February 7, 2011.
8. Web site: Vilensky. Mike. Meatpacking District Gets New Playground. The Wall Street Journal. March 17, 2013. June 4, 2012.
9. Web site: Squires. Kathleen. 30 Under 30: NYC's Hottest Up-and-Comers. Zagat. March 17, 2013. April 23, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131112032851/http://blog.zagat.com/2012/04/30-under-30-nycs-hottest-up-and-comers.html. November 12, 2013.
10. Web site: Lee. Ashley. Jennifer Esposito Talks Post-'Blue Bloods' Career as a Gluten-Free Baker. The Hollywood Reporter. March 17, 2013. March 12, 2013.
11. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. Jennifer Esposito To Topline E! Reality Pilot. Deadline Hollywood. March 17, 2013. March 12, 2013.