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My girlfriends and I spent 5 days and 4 nights in New York last weekend, October 8 - October 12, 2008.

The highlight of the weekend was our dinner with Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, among other shows on the Food Network.

We arrived at the Food Network Studios in Chelsea, Manhattan, New York on Wednesday at 6 bells. After some difficulty getting up the then-secured elevator, a very nice man named Joe took us on a tour of the studios. We saw where the majority of Food Network TV shows are filmed, and had a fascinating conversation with Chris, a carpenter in charge of setting up and tearing down the sets.

We were led into the Food Network kitchens, where three chefs were preparing our meal. It's also the place where Bobby Flay's "Throwdown" opening scenes are filmed, and where all the recipes for Food Network dishes are tested.

We were all served champagne and met Lauren Mueller, publicist for the Food Network, who led us to the seating area where we'd eat. She is adorable, very kind, and an incredibly competent business woman. I think she wanted some pomp and circumstance for a grand entry by Guy, but he just walked in like he owned the place. *smiling* I liked his casual style.

First thing out of Fieri's mouth, "Hi Girls, so who's in charge of this?" Everyone pointed at me, and I got a big hug. We all got introduced, brief hugs, talked about our kids, family, where we're from, what we did for a living, all of that, while nibbling on hors d'oeuvres made from Guy's recipes. Yakitori chicken and Cuban pork. You've gotta make 'em. Absolutely delicious.

I told him that it was largely due to my daughter that the four of us were there. I've been teaching her to cook, and together we'd watch several of the FN cooking shows. He said, "Get her on the phone." I did, and they had a nice conversation. His message to her: you have influence on people. What you say and what you do inspires other people to action. You matter. That message had all of us choked up with emotion. Incredibly empowering message from a celebrity to an 11 y.o. girl.

We moved to a seating area, where we presented Guy with the gifts we brought: a SL,UT shot glass (he got the joke right away), a bottle of Blue Ice potato vodka (highest quality stuff, made in Rigby), a bottle of Buddy's salad dressing (he loves garlic!) and a Royal Bliss CD (exactly his taste in music).

It's hard buying gifts for a man! Let alone, a man you don't know, a man who has enough money to buy anything he wants. But I'd done a lot of research on this Guy, and I think we nailed four thoughtful gifts, with just the right sentiment, things that represent our area, our interests, and his interests too. He said as much, and told us that even just the shot glass and vodka gifts were a "10."

I made it clear to Guy that although his successes both at his restaurants and with his TV shows are impressive, what I admire most about him, and one of the motivating reasons why I wanted to meet him and give him token gifts of thanks, is the quantity of work that he does for charities and his support of his home community of Sonoma County. He is, truly, a philanthropist above and beyond being a restauranteur and celebrity chef.

That's what it's about. Family, kids, friends and community. The rest is gold gilding the lily. Or perhaps gravy on the pork chops?

Time to get to the dinner table. We were served an appetizer of muscles, clams and scallops over rice. We were offered a choice of entrees, halibut or lamb. As I made my choice, Guy changed his mind and asked the chef to make us each a plate of "surf n turf," that is, we'd each be served a portion of his halibut and his lamb chops. Hard to say which was my favorite - I like fish more than lamb, but the lamb had this incredible basil - mint pesto that was amazing.

More conversation, more laughs, and way way too too much wine, oh my gosh! The entire experience, come the end of the night, was incredibly overwhelming. I barely remember our cab ride back to our hotel (thoughtfully provided by the Food Network).

We visited briefly with Guy the next day and again on Saturday. The whole weekend was full of memories over which I'll be lingering for a very, very long time.

 --L. Alexander

For more information on Guy Fieri, visit www.guyfieri.com. Tell him Lana "the wild one" Banana sent ya.

:-)