Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (often nicknamed Triple D and stylized as Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives) is an American food reality television series that premiered on April 23, 2007, on the Food Network. It is hosted by Guy Fieri. The show originally began as a one-off special that aired on November 6, 2006.[2] The show features a "road trip" concept, similar to Road Tasted, Giada's Weekend Getaways, and $40 a Day. Fieri travels around the United States, Canada, and Mexico looking at various diners, drive-in restaurants, and dive bars. He has also featured restaurants in European cities, including London and Florence, as well as in Cuba (see the episodes page).

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
GenreFood reality television
Presented byGuy Fieri
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons45
No. of episodes419[1] (list of episodes)
Production
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesPage Productions (2007–2011)
Citizen Pictures (2011–present)
Release
Original networkFood Network
Original releaseApril 23, 2007 (2007-04-23) 
present

Premise

Each episode generally has a unifying theme (such as burgers, ribs, or seafood) with the host visiting multiple restaurants within a single city to sample the food that corresponds to this theme. The program focuses on small, independent eateries featuring traditional comfort foods (such as barbecue, smoked meat, hamburgers, deep-fried food, pizza, steak, and bacon-and-egg breakfast), regional styles, or ethnic specialties. Often, the chosen restaurants will use fresh ingredients, home-style recipes, and gourmet culinary approaches to what is usually not considered gourmet food. The host interacts with both the customers, to get their opinion on the food, and with the kitchen staff, who demonstrate how to prepare one or more of the dishes.

Takeout

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the show's format shifted to feature chefs sending Fieri boxes of ingredients and guiding him through the process via video link.[3][4] Takeout episodes of the show were filmed at Fieri's home in California with the help of his children, Hunter and Ryder.[5]

Guest appearances

The show has had various stars appear in the kitchen alongside Guy Fieri, including fellow chefs Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Michael Symon, Emeril Lagasse, and Geoffrey Zakarian, as well as celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Gene Hackman, Rosie O'Donnell, Joe Theismann, Chris Rock, Kid Rock, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Clint Bowyer, Martin Sheen, Gene Simmons, Steve Harwell, E-40 and Mick Fleetwood.

Lawsuit

In May 2011, Page Productions, the original producers of the show, filed a lawsuit against Food Network. The lawsuit alleges that the network failed to pay required production costs, and failed to make the show's host, Guy Fieri, available for taping.[6]

A week after Food Network counter-sued the producer, a settlement was reached in August 2011, allowing the 12th season of the show to resume, with a new production company, Citizen Pictures.[7][8]

Impact

Throughout the years, more than 800 restaurants have been mentioned on the show, resulting in a dramatic increase in customers. Due to the show's popularity, long-term effects have included increases in both customers and sales.[9]

In 2015, the owner of Duluth specialty market Northern Waters Smokehaus said that being featured in a 2010 episode had "jump started" its mail-order business, and that the long-term growth in business had proved consistent.[9]

Donatelli's, a restaurant in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, said that their appearance on the show "saved us from going out of business." They experienced an average, sustained 20% increase in sales since the airing of the episode in 2008. Over ten years later, the restaurant was still reaping the benefits of their appearance.[9]

See also

References

  1. "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Episodes". DDD Location Guide. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  2. "World chefs – Powers finds history is made in diners". Reuters. March 27, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  3. White, Peter (April 15, 2020). "Food Network Delivers Guy Fieri Quarantine Series 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Takeout'". Deadline. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  4. Pomranz, Mike (April 16, 2020). "Guy Fieri Is Hosting a Special 'Takeout' Edition of 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'". Food & Wine. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  5. Rao, Sonia (April 7, 2020). "Guy Fieri is in quarantine with 400 goats, a peacock problem and a plan to help restaurant employees". Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  6. "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives producer says Food Network wants to dash " Twin Cities Business Journal; May 16, 2011
  7. Satran, Joe (August 18, 2011). "Food Network's Legal Battle With Producer Of Guy Fieri's 'Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives' Comes To End". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  8. Parker, Penny (October 7, 2011). "Parker: Food Network show switches to Denver production company". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  9. "The Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives Effect". Twin Cities Business. June 8, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
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