The Surreal Gourmet is a program on Food Network hosted by Bob Blumer. The show features creative techniques for cooking and the memorable Toastermobile. Generally the foods prepared on The Surreal Gourmet are intended to be served at parties or other get-togethers. Past episodes included "Salmon in the Dishwasher," "Claw and Disorder," and "When You Fish Upon a Car." Cookbooks related to the series include The Surreal Gourmet: Real Food For Pretend Chefs, The Surreal Gourmet Entertains: High-Fun, Low-Stress Dinner Parties for 6 to 12 People, and Off the Eaten Path: Inspired Recipes for Adventurous Cooks.
Bob aims to give carb addicts a fix that satisfies. In order to spice up the life of anyone attempting to stick to a low-carb diet, Bob prepares several mouthwatering and mind melding dishes that look like a carb-fest, but are actually carb-free. Appetizer: Mini tuna burgers Entrée: Spaghetti squash and meatballs, Breadless garlic bread Dessert: Say Cheese Cake Beverage: Cucumber-mint water
It’s time for baby’s first food and the new moms are rejoicing. We’re cooking for two now, so inspired by ingredients that are encouraged for baby’s first bites, what do the new parents eat with those same ingredients. Bob creates dishes that satisfy the foodie’s palette and the newbie’s palette using the same ingredients. Appetizer Adult: Roasted beet salad Baby: Pureed beets Entrée: Adult: Pineapple-marinated chicken flower Baby: Pureed chicken and yams Dessert: Adult: Peach cobbler Baby: Baked peach and banana puree Beverage: Adult: White Russian
Bob visits a busy pottery studio where he puts a surreal spin on the ancient practice of clay-pot cooking. Entrée: Clay-baked chicken Sides: Pomegranate-glazed carrots, Morrocan-style chickpeas, Flowerpot bread Dessert: Cardamom baked apples
Bob pulls into a trailer park and hooks up with comedian Judy Tenuta. He demonstrates that in the time in takes to make classic convenience foods - frozen pizza, mac & cheese, frozen chicken dinner - you can make a yummy, healthy meal Entrées: Macaroni and butternut squash, Mushroom and leek pizza, Chicken Parmesan Dessert: Chocolate pecan caramels
Bob takes taste sensation to a new level when he invites friends over for dinner in the dark. Inspired by his recent Paris restaurant excursion where patrons eat in complete darkness and the waiters are blind, Bob creates a menu that is all about taste, texture and scent. Amuse: Cherry Tomato Amuse Bouche Appetizer: Trio of Textures Entrée: Tea Smoked Duck, Green Mango Salad Intermezzo: Wasabi Granita Dessert: Camembert Cappuccino
Bob visits an urban playground where he creates a kid-friendly meal that is not only healthy, but is tones of fun to eat. Appetizer: Chicken little salad Entrée: Spaghetti pie Sides: Cauliflower popcorn, Carrot lollipops, Spinach "slime" Dessert: Chocolate soup Beverage: Blueberry Brain Freeze
When asked to cater a wedding dinner, Bob says I DO and then marries traditional wedding icons with his surreal approach to food and fun. Bob, the wedding couple and their friends and family commit to good times and good food til death do them part. Appetizer: Passion Fruit Soup Entrée: Lobster Pot Pie Sides: Bride’s Bouquet Salad Dessert: Ice Cream Cone Cake Beverage: Kumquat Champagne Cocktail
Inspired by innovative architecture, Bob takes classic dishes, breaks them down into their parts, then re-constructs them in a fresh, new way. Joining Bob on this design-driven dinner is a group of architects and style visionaries. Appetizer: Deconstructed Bloody Caesar Entrée: Deconstructed Caesar Salad Sides: Deconstructed Coq au Vin Dessert: Deconstructed Pina Colada
The Toastermobile revs up with some other food-inspired vehicles, including the Weinermobile, and The Kissmobile and The Big Squeeze to jam on meals that play off their signature food. Starter: Toasted Antipasto Sandwich, Orange salad Entrée: Octopuses Garden Dessert: Chocolate Kiss Wonto Beverage: Creamsicle Cocktail
Bob challenges the clock - as well as an escape artist, opera singer, canine agility team and contortionist - to prove that you don’t need tones of time to make an amazing meal. Helping him with the count-down is Bob’s pal and SNL Alumni, Julia Sweeney. Entrées: 5 minute Turkey Dinner 4 minute Pernod Shrimp 3 minute Midnight Snack 1 minute Maple Candy
Joined by a threesome of triples, Bob cooks in 3’s - 3 delicious dishes that only require 3 ingredients. Each of the triplets helps him on a course. It’s the Holy Trinity of meals. Appetizers: Forgotten onion cheese dip, Prosciutto-wrapped stuffed figs Entrée: Macadamia nut-crusted lamb chops Sides: Brussel sprouts with bacon, Orange-mashed yams, Traditional southern biscuits Dessert: Marshmallow pops
Stuck in a traffic jam, Bob daydreams about escaping to a desert island, where he gets to make and eat his favorite foods. Joining him for his fantasy dinner is a hula dancer and a group of musicians, providing some great tunes to eat by. Starter: Huevos Chorizo Appetizer: Deep-fried Artichoke Hearts Entrée: Pan-seared Branzini, White Bean Cassoulet Dessert:Frozen Mangogo Cocktail
