Metro Monthly

By Ron Flaviano
Special to the Metro Monthly

I’ve been an avid fan of cooking shows since I was a child. My sister and I would tune in to PBS on Saturdays to watch their lineup of food-related programming. With the advent of the Food Network, cooking shows came into their own, making celebrities out of many of the hosts. I always thought it would be great if there were a show produced about all the great food in our Valley.

Metro Monthly publisher Mark C. Peyko and I discussed the possibility of such a program in the fall of 2007. We began researching local food shows from other markets. Some were great, while others were lacking. We agreed that if the Metro Monthly were going to produce a food program, it would need to be consistent with the quality and standards of the newspaper. We also would need to keep the audience interested. And the host would have to be engaging enough to carry the show.

Around the same time, local radio talk show host Casey Malone entered the picture. We were using Casey as our voiceover talent for Metro Monthly’s radio spots, and loved her personality. I thought she would make the perfect host for our local food program. Mark, who had known Casey for years, agreed. Still, we had no name and only a vague concept of how the show would flow. But once we suggested the show idea to Casey, she was on board.

After a few dinner meetings with Mark, Casey, her husband, Ken, and myself, we devised a concept and a shooting schedule. The name “Homeplate” came after a lot of brainstorming. We felt that name captured the philosophy and feel of our new program: local food and local people. I designed the logo, and we started advertising the venture in The Metro Monthly.

At first, we just teased the show, then we put up a few video promos. However, the general public still had no real idea what we were trying to do. Some had questioned how we determined who was featured. Was it simply a vehicle for advertisers? No. Venues featured on “Homeplate” are not necessarily Metro Monthly advertisers and no fees are involved.

We look at merits of a candidate, the local angle, what might make for an interesting story, and the overall quality of a venue. We also thought fun was a necessary ingredient. So we folded that into the mix by adding the wit and sparkle of Casey Malone and basically we had the show.

Over the next few months, Mark, Casey and I shot hours of video at eight different local restaurants. At each location, Casey’s radio fans would run up to her and say how much they missed her, and wondered what she was doing. Those who asked were always told, “We’re working on a new show called ‘Homeplate!’” All of the restaurant owners we profiled loved working with Casey, and it shows in the program. After a few profiles, we knew we were on to something great.

With the final editing of several segments completed, all of us agreed that the Mahoning Valley was ready for this type of local programming. The first segment of “Homeplate” began airing on the Metro Monthly’s Web site in early August to much acclaim. George Dubic and his staff at the Palm Café in Youngstown were great hosts for the first “Homeplate.” After a busy summer, “Homeplate” is cooking and we are still taping and editing more segments. If you haven’t seen “Homeplate,” check it out on metromonthly.net. There’s a video screen right in the center of the home page. Every few weeks we will add new segments, and within a few weeks have an entire “Homeplate” Web site devoted to the show.