User:Dravecky/sandbox/Food Court Wars

Food Court Wars

General

CBL and Associates Properties Inc. officials have seen a lot go on at their myriad of malls over the years, but a “food war”? A half dozen of the Chattanooga-based shopping center company’s malls are serving as battle sites in the Food Networks’ “Food Court Wars” series, which ends Sunday. [...] CBL is willing to take a look at participating again in the series if it’s renewed, she said.

The show is a production of One Potato, Two Potato, a company co-founded by well-known food television personality, Gordon Ramsey.

Q. What's the story behind the new show, "Food Court Wars"? A. The new show is based on the success of the food truck show. The niche we've carved out for young entrepreneurs with a food truck has spawned an industry that is so exciting. I really think we've created a disruptive environment in the food court industry. [...] We want to create a new wave of food culture that happens in a mall. We're going to give them a restaurant, but they have to earn it. It is not so much a competition as a vetting process. We want to leave behind a great restaurant that makes a difference in the community. [...] Q. How did you end up in Wausau? A. We partnered with a company called CBL. They own 120 malls coast to coast. We wanted to go to a mall with two empty spaces in their food court, or the show wouldn't work. Wausau happened to be a nice slice of American pie. It's beautiful. [...] These guys win a lease rent-free for a year. They win $10,000 from the Food Network; the entire package is worth about $125,000. [...] Q. Which cookbook or show is most representative of your style? A. I think two shows. "Tyler's Ultimate," that was pretty pure. Eight seasons, five years. We're taking about getting back in the kitchen again, it's time. I think "Food Court Wars" is the show that is the most me, because the show is really stripped down.... It is absolutely unscripted. I didn't know anything about the teams before I got there. I get their names and their concepts an hour before I meet them.

Season 1

"Perkins & Sons vs. Kettle n' Spouts"

When Tyler Florence came to Huntsville last August to film a TV pilot called “Food Court Wars,” producers asked The Times’ Food Editor to participate. If you passed by the mall’s food court last August you saw the lights, cameras, and yes, the action as crowds lined up to sample each team’s specialties. Producers arranged for the hot dog crew to set up a stand on a blistering day at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Kettle and Spouts, the shrimp vendors, got prime space at a shrimp festival at the Von Braun Center. My part was to act like I was interviewing each crew about their recipes and inspiration. I had to walk in with Tyler, sample the hot dogs on camera, then rush off to the VBC. At the shrimp festival, Tyler and I cut in line (sorry, folks) to try the shrimp dish as the cameras rolled. When “Food Court Wars” finally aired Saturday night on the Food Network, I had grown so self-critical about my “performance” that I wouldn’t watch. My husband did watch, and told me sadly that he didn’t see me at all. My breakthrough role had been digitally deleted.

Free rent for a year at Huntsville's Madison Square Mall is at stake when aspiring restaurateurs square off in the pilot episode of Food Network's "Food Court Wars," premiering 9 p.m. Saturday. The episode was filmed at Madison Square Mall Food Court earlier this year. The two teams and their restaurant concepts were required to "be based and have ties to the Alabama region," and teams were also required to have pre-existing relationships, such as being friends, family, couples and/or co-workers. According to the "Food Court Wars" casting website, a year's free rent at Madison Square Mall Food Court is worth $100,000. The show's winner was chosen based on a variety of competitions and factors including taste, customer interaction and feedback. The teams were mentored by the show's host, celebrity chef and Food Network personality Tyler Florence, who also stars in the Food Network programs "Tyler's Ultimate" and "The Great Food Truck Race." "Food Court Wars" is produced by British chef Gordon Ramsay, star of Fox TV's "Hell's Kitchen" cooking competition show.

Kettle n' Spouts is the soul-food venture from the victorious team in the pilot episode of "Food Court Wars," the Food Network project shot at Madison Square Mall in 2012. The prize: a year's free rent at the sizable, venerable Huntsville mall. Within the Madison Square Mall Food Court, Kettle n' Spouts is housed in a trapezoidal space formerly occupied by a Chick-fil-A, about 20 feet from an enclosed children's play area containing a giant orange frog. The "kettle" in Kettle n' Spouts is a reference to the preparation of grits, a staple ingredient at the restaurant, while "spouts" is a nod to the fruit-infused sweet tea they serve. Kettle n' Spouts' black-tee-wearing staff gave us on-point service (including reading back our order at the register and bringing out food in a timely manner) with just the right amount of lighthearted sass. OK, Kettle n' Spouts could use a cooler name. (Soul Kettle, anyone?). But if you're running errands on University Drive and need to grab a bite, this food court venture belongs on a short list with other University-area standouts such as Chipotle. And if you're into soul-food, Kettle n' Spouts is a pretty good excuse to cruise the mall.

Davis said CBL is considering several options for revitalizing Madison Square including continuing as an enclosed mall, a "partial tear down" to create a more open-air feel and bringing in a mix of shopping, restaurants, office space plus an extended-stay hotel. In the meantime, Davis said CBL is trying some "out-of-the-box thinking" to attract more shoppers to Madison Square. The mall hosted an episode of Food Network's "Food Court Wars" and gave the winning team, Kettle n' Spouts, a year of free rent valued at $100,000. Unfortunately, the restaurant recently went out of business.

"Suck the Shuck vs. Po'Boy Station"

• https://www.facebook.com/maryjohottamales

The winners of the episode of the Food Network show, Food Court Wars, that was shot in Meridian are getting closer to opening in Bonita Lakes Mall. Mary Jo's Hot Tamales won a space at the mall rent-free for one year.

Meridian's newest restaurant opened its doors Wednesday, about five weeks after winning a Food Network reality show. Mary Jo's Hot Tamales opened at Bonita Lakes Mall's food court. You may recall Mary and Thomas Jordan competed and won the first episode of Food Court Wars. That win got them a spot at the mall rent-free for a year. [...] This was the restaurant's soft opening. The Jordans are planning an official grand opening later, when they have some of the kinks in their operation resolved.

Mississippi teams dish tasty meals with competitive flair in the opening episode of the Food Network's new competition series, "Food Court Wars," premiering at 9 p.m. Sunday and hosted by Tyler Florence. The dangling carrot: the chance to open a restaurant, rent-free, for one year in a mall food court - which, in the series opener, is at Meridian's Bonita Lakes Mall. In one corner, we have the long-wed Thomas and Mary Jordan, whose Suck the Shuck Hot Tamales, sold out of a Shell gas station in Clinton, are the culmination of Thomas' decades of trial-and-error research to recreate and perfect

Clinton couple Thomas and Mary Jordan may have lost the battle, but they won the war in Sunday's premiere episode of the Food Network's "Food Court Wars." The show pits two teams dishing up regional favorites, competing for a restaurant space in a shopping mall, rent-free for one year. The season opener was set at Meridian's Bonita Lakes Mall. It's hosted by celebrity chef Tyler Florence. Oxford best friends Erika Lipe and Stevo McCain, both originally from Batesville, competed with Po-Boy Station and actually snagged the show's win with a slim $29 margin in the final tally of most money ...

Erika Lipe http://www.facebook.com/erikalipe/posts/10151709981282580 July 8, 2013 "OMG y'all have killed me with support an kind words on facebook. Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE. My friends and fam and hometown are the best!!! So now that I can talk about it, Stevo and I declined the winnings based on our decision NOT to move to meridian for a food court restaurant, and also upon the fact that we would like to open one closer to home, and that Mary and Thomas would be much better suited for that environment. We are very happy with our decision, and kinda hate that we got cut out of so much of the show, but ya know what? We won that thang. Freaking killed it. You didn't even see the half of it."

• http://www.meridianstar.com/local/x1981932729/Benoit-native-brings-hot-tamales-to-Meridian

August 10, 2013 Benoit native brings hot tamales to Meridian by Terri Ferguson Smith The Meridian Star

• http://www.bonitalakesmall.com/shop/bonita.nsf/StoresAlphaWeb/Mary+Jo%27s+Hot+Tamales

Phone: 601.924.6644 Store Location: Main Level, 720

"Tirado's Empanadas & More vs. The Taco Spot"

• http://tiradosislandflavors.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/TiradoFoods

Three University of South Carolina Upstate Mass Media students had the right ingredients when the Food Network came to town to film an episode of its new show “Food Court Wars.” Tyris Hall, Daniel Eplee and Somazia Pelzer worked as production assistants for the week-long shooting of the show at WestGate Mall. They were responsible, in part, for setting up lights and equipment, shooting footage around Spartanburg, and performing other tasks as assigned, such as transporting producers and keeping the set clean and orderly. [...] Upon completion of the Spartanburg show, Hall, a rising senior, worked on a follow-up program in Charleston and is planning to move to California to do further freelance work with the production company.

Tirado's, a new restaurant in the food court at Westgate Mall, serves Puerto Rican cusine. It won the “Food Court Wars” on the Food Network. [...] The names and tastes of Puerto Rican food are mostly unknown in the Upstate. This caused the Tirado family some problems when they began selling traditional Puerto Rican fare out of a food cart in Greenville during the spring of 2012. [...] As the business faltered, the family decided to take a break from the cart for a while. After a tip from the friend, the Tirados filled out an application to compete in the Food Network show “Food Court Wars”. After the application process, the network decided that the mother-daughter team of Trish and Jean Tirado might be a good fit for the show. [...] The Food Network disagreed with Jenn, and Tirado's Empanadas and More was invited to compete on the show against The Taco Spot from Charleston. Filming took place in WestGate Mall over five days. The two teams cooked their signature dishes and were judged based on the quality of the food as well as its marketability. [...] Trish and Jenn had to keep quiet about their win for three months until the show was aired on television. During this time, they were given the opportunity to customize their food court spot and prepare for the busy months ahead. Tirado's food court restaurant opened a little over a week ago.

An episode of Food Court Wars, featuring Charleston’s own The Taco Spot, aired last week on The Food Network. Since the episode premiered owner J.V. has seen an increase in emails and phone calls. “It’s exciting,” he says, “Food Court Wars is a spoiler show so we had to keep it quiet until the show aired, the publicity comes after.” The taco joint squared off with Tirado’s Empanadas from Spartanburg at the Spartanburg mall. Due to the location of the competition Tirado’s had an advantage says J.V. “We feel like we won just by being there. It was a big honor to compete for The Food Network,” he says.

"Casual Joe's vs. The Wrap Trap"

• http://casualjoes.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/eatatcasualjoes

A new neighbor joined the Wausau Center mall food court Monday and finally broke the silence surrounding a film crew’s invasion of the Wausau area. Owners Tyler Sailsbery and Sarah Smith opened Casual Joe’s after winning a Food Network contest on “Food Court Wars,” which was filmed in the Wausau area in late April. [...] Sailsbery is the culinary talent behind the restaurant, while Smith works as operating general manager. Sailsbery also owns a fine dining restaurant in Whitewater, where the business partners went to college. The Wausau menu features Wisconsin classics including brats and bacon macaroni and cheese, along with pulled pork, corn bread and cranberry coleslaw.

The "food court war" is over at Wausau Center and the winner is open for business. Casual Joe's may have beaten out Carlie and Company but their stories didn't end when the Food Network cameras stopped rolling. [...] In the months since the episode was taped, Smith and co-owner Tyler Sailsbery have been working hard to have everything ready for Monday's opening day. But both say there are a few things you didn't see on the Food Network. [...] But fans of Carlie Peterson and Briana Shidell of Carlie and Company needn't worry, they haven't gone far. In fact, Carlier and Briana now sport special Casual Joe's shirts that say it all: "If you can't beat them, join them." "They're instrumental for us in this too," Sailsbery says of Peterson and Shidell. "Passionate, they're passionate about what we're doing, what they're doing and they're actually doing some of the dressings. So it's fun to be able to promote their products too and what they're doing because they do a great job." [...] But if you missed out on Carlie's signature salads, there's still hope. Peterson and Shidell cater on the side, and they're branching out through social media sites including Kickstarter and Facebook. "We plan to eventually get a food truck going and have it for the surrounding area," Shidell said.

• http://www.waow.com/story/22897044/2013/07/22/food-network-show-comes-to-wausau-center-mall
• http://news.mywalworthcounty.com/?p=7611

"Oasis vs. Chip-n-Wich"

• http://www.chipnwich.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/chipnwich

Craig Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2007. Upon graduation, Jones relocated to Detroit for a position in one of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants and later moved on to a chef appointment with the MGM Grand Detroit. A few months ago, a culinary colleague encouraged Jones to submit his concept for a new eatery to the Food Network’s new series: Food Court Wars, hosted by Tyler Florence and produced by Gordon Ramsay.

In the grand scheme of things, a dozen customers isn't that many for a typical restaurant business. But when it came to Food Network's newest show, "Food Court Wars," those 12 people were the difference between winning and losing for Diana Hadad, owner of World Cafe in Bay City and Melania Paster, a pastry chef. The two finished second with their Lebanese fast food idea called Oasis, to Jonathan Neely and Craig Jones, line cooks at the MGM Grand in Detroit. Neely and Jones will now be operating Chip-n-Wich for a rent free year at the Midland Mall. The segment aired Sunday night, July 29, on the Food Network. “The winner was chosen in terms of dollars worth of food sold,” said Hadad. “It was extremely close and we lost by a handful of dollars. If we had served a dozen more people, we could have won.” [...] Hadad and Paster also came in second in the horse race, part of the show filmed at the Dow Diamond. The two hopped on the bouncy horses in a competition held during a Great Lakes Loons game.

After months in the making and more than just a little bit of necessary secrecy, the Midland Mall episode of “Food Court Wars” will air this weekend on the Food Network. At 8 p.m. Sunday, the Great Lakes Bay Region will learn who will take possession of the paid one-year restaurant lease at The Midland Mall Food Court in the episode titled “Oasis vs. Chip-n-Wich.” Although many applied for the chance to compete on the program, only two teams were chosen to do culinary battle that lasted five long days. Diana Hadad of Bay City said that it was an experience she will never forget. Hadad is the owner of the Bay City-based World Cafe restaurant, an eatery that specializes “fresh, modern cuisine with international influences.” Hadad said her culinary partner Melania Paser was a good fit for the competition. “Melania is someone I met through participation in the Farmer’s Market in Bay City. She is a wonderful pie baker,” Hadad said. “We became friends and decided to apply to the show. We were the dynamic duo.” Paser also sells her baked goods at Midland’s Farmers Market. The restaurateur said that the team was quite surprised when they were contacted by the production company for the show. The two were interviewed and eventually spoke with the producers via Skype. A short time later, they were in the running as contestants for the show. “He is a TV star, but he really has an expansive knowledge of cuisine,” Hadad said of Florence. “He was not there to just be the host — he mentored both teams on what might help us in the competition. He helped us as far as talking through some of the realities of the pace of the show.” She said that when she and her partner explained the menu items they had decided on for the show, Florence helped put in perspective how the time constraints and crowd sizes would make some of their dish choices difficult. The two teams went through a series of challenges during the filming of the show. The teams were tasked with creating their signature dishes, along with marketing their food and brand ideas to a hungry audience. Coupled with interview segments with Florence, Hadad said it was a long five days. One of the challenges faced by the teams was a trip to Dow Diamond to feed samples of their cuisine to about 200 people. “I have opened two restaurants, but it was just unusual to serve dozens and dozens of meals to so many people in just 2 1/2 hours,” Hadad said.

Sandi Schumacher of Midland said. “It was nice to see Midland and the Loons so well represented. This is an all American town and the show represented that well.” [...] Dan Irvin, general manager of the Midland Mall, helped facilitate film crews made sure everything ran smoothly on his end. “It was a very long week while they were filming,” Irvin said. He had to be on duty the entire time the film crews were in the building, sometimes up to 16 hour days.

Food Network's show “Food Court Wars” tries to explore this idea — in the tried-and-true form of a reality TV competition, of course. Two teams must test their concept, market it and run it for a full day. The team that makes the most profit wins space for their eatery, a prize estimated by Food Network at $100,000. [...] Craig Jones, 29, originally from Johnstown (with a bachelor's degree in culinary management from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh), is one of the competitors. His episode, “Oasis vs. Chip-n-Wich,” will premiere at 8 p.m. July 28 on Food Network. He and business partner Jonathan Neely are up against a pair of women with a Middle Eastern food-court concept. The winner gets $10,000 in start-up capital and a year rent-free at a mall in Midland, Mich. [...] Jones' concept for Chip-n-Wich is “sandwiches, chips and floats.” In a Pittsburgh-style twist, the unique, homemade potato chips are placed in the sandwich. One typical sandwich features pulled chicken in Jones' signature BBQ sauce (which is also sold online, and at Market Basket grocery in Johnstown), smoked gouda cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, cilantro and handmade chipotle ranch-flavored chips. “Yeah, Primanti Brothers (influence is) all over it,” he says. “This is something I've been doing since I was a kid, and this is a way to elevate it. “With the floats, we only use local pop,” Jones says. “We only use Faygo (based in Michigan). We do it all-natural. We use fresh fruit and soak it in water, then use the soda stream to carbonate the water. So it's fruit-flavored soda with half the sugar of a regular soda. That's something different.”

It's a dream come true for Jonathan Neely and Craig Jones, winners on the latest episode of Food Network's 'Food Court Wars.' Their prize - a spot at the Midland Mall for their restaurant, Chip n Wich, rent free for an entire year, along with $10,000 in start-up money. [...] The episode was shot at the mall back in May, with the guys facing off against another potential start-up, Oasis. [...] One challenge involved was feeding fans at a Great Lakes Loons game. Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda even stopped by to take a bite, and then there was the interaction with celebrity chef and host Tyler Florence. [...] Before their bid for reality TV fame, the guys worked at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant at the MGM Grand in Detroit. Jones and Neely plan to employ eight people - and serve up a menu of Michigan-made products, including a variety of gourmet sandwiches. [...] "Chip n Wich plans to open on Sunday at the Midland Mall, and the hope is that this grand opening is the first of many more to come."

The Food Network show “Food Court Wars” will pit two Michigan businesses against each other in a July 28 episode. Middle Eastern restaurant The Oasis will battle sandwich shop Chip-n-Wich to see which will get its own rent-free food court restaurant in Midland, for one year. The episode is set during a local minor league baseball game, and a baseball legend is scheduled to make a surprise appearance.

• http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/saginaw/index.ssf/2013/08/midland_food_court_opening_the.html
• http://www.ourmidland.com/news/chip-n-wich-welcomes-long-line-of-customers/article_f78f6590-0882-55be-8512-fbd8f514be92.html
• http://www.pgplate.com/forks-blog/43-food-tv/474-local-boy-makes-good-reality-tv

"Slum Dogz vs. Pimento Jamaican"

• http://pimentogrille.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/PimentoKitchen

A pair of would-be restaurateurs will go on TV to win the rights to open a food-court shop at Burnsville Center. [...] The Burnsville contest will pit Slum Dogz, which sells Indian-flavored hot dogs, against Pimento Jamaican Kitchen.

Two teams of Twin Citians will battle it out for a spot in the Burnsville Center food court on the Food Network show "Food Court Wars" on Sunday. Siblings Aaron Skoglund and Kirsten Shabaz are offering hot dogs with an Indian flair, and neighbors Yoni Reinharz and Tomme Beevas are cooking up some Jamaican jerk.

Siblings Aaron Skoglund and Kirsten Shabaz take classic, American hot dogs and give them an Indian spin to create their dream restaurant Slum Dogz. Neighbors Yoni Reinharz and Tomme Beevas bring spiced-up Jamaican cuisine to the table, with jerk-everything at their joint effort on the show, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen.

Minnesota hot dog vendor, Slum Dogz, is competing in a Food Network challenge "Food Court Wars" that pits two teams of aspiring food gurus against one another as they attempt to win their own food court restaurant rent-free for one year. Two-month old Aaron Skoglund was adopted from India and it's now his mission to add Indian flair to the typical American hot dog using zesty flavors customary in the country.

• http://blogs.mspmag.com/foodiefile/2013/08/now-open-pimento-jamaican-kitchen/
• http://sunthisweek.com/2013/08/29/business-courts-shoppers-jamaican-jerk/
• http://www.burnsvillecenter.com/store/pimento-jamaican-kitchen/2137050113/2138842454

"Charleston Gourmet Burger Company vs. Holy City Pizzeria"

• http://www.holycitypizzeria.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/HolyCityPizzeriaCharleston

Holy City Pizzeria, the winner of Food Network's Food Court Wars in the episode filmed in he Lowcountry's Citadel Mall, is officially open for business. The reality competition show was filmed at the Citadel Mall back in June, but aired on Sunday, August 11. Restaurateur hopefuls Topher Pecora and Kacie Fauling had to compete against the potential owners of the Charleston Gourmet Burger Company for a year's worth of free rent at the food court, including money for opening expenses. [...] According to their Facebook page, the couple will be serving hand-tossed pizzas, salads, pastas, and pastries, combining a modern approach to family recipes dating back 150 years. Topher is the son of Phil Pecora, owner of Toffino's Italian Bakery in the Market Common. Topher grew up in the Myrtle Beach area and played football for Socastee High.

Christopher “Topher” Pecora, who grew up in Myrtle Beach, was a Socastee High School football player of note and who is the son of Toffino’s Italian Bakery owner, Phil Pecora, will be on the Food Network program “Food Court Wars” on Sunday. Topher Pecora will be on the show, which airs at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, with his fiancé, Kacie Faulling. About seven weeks ago the majority of the episode was filmed at Citadel Mall in Charleston. [...] “They film in the space you are competing for,” Phil Pecora said. “If you win you keep it rent free for a year and [get] $10,000 for opening expenses.” [...] Topher was a familiar face at Toffino’s Italian Bakery in Myrtle Beach since he was a young child as he helped his father with everything from making pizzas to opening the newly remodeled Toffino’s in 2012. He graduated from the College of Charleston in 2011 with a degree in business administration and economics.

The Holy City Pizzeria is now open for business after winning a local competition of Food Court Wars. The Food Network reality competition show was filmed at the Citadel Mall back in June. The restaurant beat out the Charleston Gourmet Burger Company for a year's worth of free rent at the food court.

The Food Network is filming a new show, “Food Court Wars,” at Citadel Mall Food Court from 3 to 7 p.m. today. Hosted by celebrity chef and Upstate native Tyler Florence, the show will give the winners their own restaurant for a year. The way it works, the winner is determined by the most people who show up to eat their food and support them. The public is invited, and it's free. Two local couples are competing. Kacie Faulling and Topher Pecora, who met in their senior year at the College of Charleston and are now engaged, are operating Holy City Pizzeria as the name of their restaurant for the show. Chevalo and Monique Wilsondebriano of Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. make up the other couple. They have a booth at the Charleston and Mount Pleasant farmers markets and also sell their own bottled burger marinade sauce.

• http://www.holycitysinner.com/2013/08/12/holy-city-pizzeria-opens/
• http://www.myrtlebeachrestaurantnews.com/myrtlebeachrestaurantnewsarticles/food-bytes/3639-myrtle-beach-native-wins-own-restaurant.html
• http://www.citadelmall.net/store/holy-city-pizzeria/2137050672/2138845203
• http://westashley.live5news.com/news/news/98052-winner-food-network-competition-show-opens-business

Season 2

• http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130926/business/709269490/
• http://www.record-eagle.com/local/x1442599375/Food-Court-Wars-in-TC
• http://cravedfw.com/2013/09/11/food-court-wars-wants-you/
• http://www.fastcasual.com/article/221479/Food-Court-Wars-returning-with-focus-on-local-offerings

"Rouse Properties Inc., a national owner and operator of regional enclosed malls, announced its partnership with One Potato Two Potato, a joint venture production company founded by Gordon Ramsay and Optomen Television, for the second season of Food Court Wars, a competitive reality series that airs on the Food Network. Food Court Wars will visit 13 Rouse malls throughout the country, with a different mall food court serving as the "battle site." Hosted by Tyler Florence, each episode features two teams competing head-to-head for the chance to open a restaurant and receive complimentary rent for one year in a mall food court. The two teams are tasked with creating a locally inspired food court concept in 48 hours and then outselling the other team in a single day of business. The winner will be awarded a prime location in their local mall's food court."

• http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Oct/08/casting-food-court-wars-south-county-san-diego/
• http://www.planitnorthwest.com/articles/2013/10/09/fe8bf612966a4636bd63ef70e36dac08/index.xml
• http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/23758277-418/story.html
• http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/56983566-223/court-wars-coming-episode.html.csp
• http://www.traverseticker.com/story/food-court-wars-impacting-two-local-businesses
• http://www.traverseticker.com/story/house-of-doggs-matts-beignets-in-food-court-wars
• http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/10/16/rouse-properties-partners-with-gordon-ramsays-prod/
• http://www.foodnetworkgossip.com/2013/10/food-network-news-shows-castings-etc.html

Food Court Wars is casting two person teams within 100 miles of the following cities: Chula Vista, California, Hickory, North Carolina, Jonesboro, Arkansas, Kelso, Washington, Lewisville, Texas, Newark, California, Plano, Texas, Shreveport, Louisana, Sierra Vista, Arizona, Traverse City, Michigan, West Dundee, Illinois, and Zanesville, Ohio (Audition Rush). There have also been ads on Craigslist for casting.

• http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20131120/NEWS01/311200036/
• http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20131116/news/711169909/
• http://www.hollywood.com/news/brief/55041896/fascinating-fact
• http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/food/index.ssf/2013/11/tyler_florence_talks_thanksgiv.html