New Berlin, WI – Sportsman Channel’s ground-breaking original lifestyle series MeatEater was honored Wednesday as a finalist for the 2013 James Beard Awards, the culinary industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honor. The Awards recognize the most elite of professionals in the culinary world-from restaurants and chefs to cookbook authors and media. Nominees in 59 categories were announced, including Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design, and Book, Broadcast and Journalism. MeatEater was honored for the category “TV Program on Location.” MeatEater, which airs Sundays at 9pm ET/PT exclusively on Sportsman Channel, is one of the network’s most popular and highest-rated series.
MeatEater introduces viewers to the unique and adventurous lifestyle of author, hunter, chef and outdoorsman Steven Rinella. In this adventure-packed, eye-opening series, Rinella takes viewers along as he pursues his lifelong relationship with nature through travel, cultural, family, cooking and hunting adventures across the globe. In its third season, MeatEater features several celebrity guests joining Rinella, including famed “4-Hour” series author Tim Ferriss and TV personality Joe Rogan, as they are introduced to the carnivorous lifestyle of a “MeatEater.”
“We are extremely proud of the work Steven and his crew dedicate to every episode of MeatEater, truly giving our viewers one of the most unique and entertaining experiences on television today,” said Sportsman Channel CEO Gavin Harvey. “MeatEater has cut across demographics and struck a chord with many different passionate audiences, creating a series that inspires, informs, entertains and educates.”
“We wanted to make a show that not only highlights the adventure of hunting, but also the fantastic culinary opportunities that a successful hunt can bring,” said Rinella. “It’s great to have those efforts validated with a Beard nomination, and it speaks to the dedication of everyone on the MeatEater team. This honor makes us even more motivated to keep hammering out a solid, authentic hunting show that speaks to a variety of audiences.”
Covering all aspects of the industry-from chefs and restaurateurs to cookbook authors and food journalists to restaurant designers and architects and more-the Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America. The awards are presented each spring at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Nominees and winners are fêted at a weekend of events in New York City that has become the social and gastronomic highlight of the year. The restaurant and chef winners will be announced on May 6 at New York’s Lincoln Center. The journalism and media award winners will be announced on May 3.
“This is a great honor for everyone on the MeatEater team,” said Executive Producer of Zero Point Zero Joe Caterini. “MeatEater crosses many genres and is a great example of how the hunting and culinary worlds can collide in thoughtful programming that challenges the convention of popular entertainment. We are very honored to partner with Sportsman Channel on this groundbreaking show and look forward to more exciting hunts and meals with Steven.”
Steven Rinella is an avid outdoorsman, writer, and television personality best known for this ability to translate the hunting lifestyle to a wide variety of audiences. He is the author of “MeatEater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter,” “The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine” and the award-winning “American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon.” Rinella has been featured on CNN, Fox News, NPR and NBC; and his writing has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Glamour, Men’s Journal, Outside, New Yorker and more traditional outdoor publications like Field and Stream.
About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel, and Sportsman HD, is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities. Sportsman Channel reaches more than 31 million U.S. television households and is available in HD. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl) and Like on Facebook,facebook.com/sportsmanchannel
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