"Happy Hour" – a new Atlanta-based web cooking and cocktail show for novice foodies, cocktail enthusiasts and wannabe kitchen rock stars – debuted this week on YouTube.
Hosted by Atlanta actor Terri James, the show features local celebrities, chefs and sidekicks every month, as they experiment in her kitchen and enjoy the party. The show focuses on creating great experiences and not on the cooking steps or extravagant pairings. Thus, the show's theme is "the party starts in the kitchen." And no party is complete without great music. The house DJ is Apres Diem's very own Santiago Paramo.
Terri James is a food junkie. She also happens to be an actor who has appeared in numerous primetime TV shows and movies, including "Drop Dead Diva", "Vampire Diaries", "Single Ladies" and this summer's American Reunion. She's not a professional chef. She's like you - the do it yourself enthusiast, living the big city grind, the girl next door who sometimes laughs too loud. Her introduction to cuisine began at a young age.
James came up with the idea for her own show when she realized many of the friends had negative views about cooking and shrank at the idea of ordering from a wine menu. "I named it Happy Hour because that's the traditional answer to a long work week, and it's the time you are relaxed, happy, and with friends. Why not bring the same experience to the kitchen?" said Ms. James. "This is not your grandmother's cooking show and that's a good thing. If you haven't already committed to mixing it up in the kitchen, chances are you aren't watching food television."
And it is obvious that Terri's condo kitchen is her happy space. There's a DJ spinning original tracks, cocktails, snacks, and energetic guests. The show encourages people to embrace the idea of cooking for enjoyment. To that end, the show is informal by design- showing that you don't have to be a "foodie" or a "beer and wine snob" to have a great time.
The show's first guest, NFL tight-end Reggie Kelly.
Michael Gallagher, co-owner of Decatur's Brick Store Pub and guest, said that the show was, "fun, energetic, community-driven and focused on tasty local foods with beer and wine. Of course it's all the better when you get to share it with friends."
Give it a view on YouTube.
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