Famecrawler

Exclusive: Interview With the Stars of Food Network’s Family Style

Posted by tonifitz76 on August 26th, 2010 at 3:55 pm

Melissa Joey Family Style 1 200x300 Exclusive: Interview With the Stars of Food Networks Family Style“Melissa and Joey” is a hit on ABC Family. Will a second Melissa and Joey make a similar mark on the Food Network? The new Food Network show “Family Style,” starring sister-brother duo Melissa and Joey Maggiore, debuts tonight at 10:30 p.m.

Like any siblings, Melissa and Joey have their fair share of disagreements. She’s organized; he’s go-with-the-flow. They grew up around the food business with their Italian father and mother, who help with the launch of the new restaurant Tommy V’s Italian Chop House, which is the focus of this new show.

The show’s “Family” title isn’t just a cute, catchy phrase. Their parents have long been in the food business. Now Melissa is a single mother of two, and Joey and wife Cristina have three kids, and Melissa and Joey bring the kids to work as well as making sure to carve out time for them despite their hectic schedule.

The two parents took time out of that schedule to talk to Famecrawler earlier this week.

Melissa on cooking for their dad: “He’s more traditional. We do some things that have an Asian influence. My father will come in and taste a big seller and go to Joey and I, ‘What the hell have you made?’ Like we offended the national of Italy.”

Melissa on balancing work and parenting: “I don’t necessarily think I’ve perfected the balancing act yet. I spend as much time as possible with my children. At different times I feel like I’m sacrificing, but I’m working for them. I do try to spend quality time. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality.”

Joey on special time with his kids: “I take them to school and pick them up. That’s our bonding time. I work late hours and I don’t get to kiss them at night, but like Melissa says – it’s the quality they remember.”

Joey on their parents: “They had the most influence in our lives. They taught me everything I know. I learned a love and passion for food, wine, the service industry and sense of humor from them – but I perfected it, of course.

Melissa on bringing the kids to work: “I have a 4-year-old son who loves making the dough. It’s a family affair.”

Joey on whether he cooks on his day off – “Cooking is not a task, it’s recreational. It’s something new and different. It brings family together, and it’s second nature to us.

Melissa on the prospects for our show: “I hope America loves us as much as Joey loves himself.” Joey: “That’s rude!”

Melissa on Joey: “He’s the only chef I know that cooks with a diamond pinkie ring.”

Joey on Melissa: “Melissa comes in in 22-inch heels. She’s glamorous while I’m slaving away all day in the kitchen.”

Melissa on Joey again: “If I say black, Joe says white – even if he agrees it’s black.”

Photo: Food Network

 Exclusive: Interview With the Stars of Food Networks Family Style

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