The Food Dude

'Man v. Food' on the Prairie

Posted May 11, 2010 by David Cathey Comment on this article Leave a comment
The Steak and Catfish Barn recently hosted Adam Richman and the crew of Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" for a catfish challenge.
The Steak and Catfish Barn recently hosted Adam Richman and the crew of Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" for a catfish challenge.

Production crews for the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” were in the Oklahoma City area last week to visit three local restaurants for an upcoming episode.
The show, hosted by Adam Richman, highlights an eating challenge in a given city or area while featuring two other eateries in the same locale.
The challenge segment was shot Thursday at the Steak and Catfish Barn, 5175 E Waterloo Rd. in Edmond. Dino Smalley, who owns the place with his wife Maria Vitale, said Richman was going for the title of Top Cat, which is a yearly challenge to customers. The record for most catfish eaten in a single sitting is 28.

"Man v. Food" host Adam Richman flanked by Steak and Catfish Barn owners Dino Smalley and Maria Vitale after a recent shoot for Richman's show, which airs on the Travel Channel.
"Man v. Food" host Adam Richman flanked by Steak and Catfish Barn owners Dino Smalley and Maria Vitale after a recent shoot for Richman's show, which airs on the Travel Channel.

The Steak and Catfish Barn opened in 2004, it was previously Vitale’s Italian Kitchen. Smalley and Vitale also own second Steak and Catfish location at N Walker Ave. where they still offer Italian food. Smalley said Richman was genuinely nice guy who didn’t shoot and run.
“After the shoot was over, Adam spent at least an hour in the restaurant with Maria and I just — just talking about food.”

The crew also spent time shooting at Adam at Sid’s Diner in El Reno for an onion burger and steaks and lamb fries at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse on Mother’s Day.
Owner Dick Stubbs said he was surprised when producers for the show called, because Cattlemen’s doesn’t offer any eating challenges.
Richman and film crew spent all day Sunday filming in the kitchen and throughout the restaurant. Stubbs said he tried to change the shooting schedule, since Mother’s Day is the restaurant’s busiest day of the year, but the show’s production schedule wasn’t flexible.
Cattlemen’s, which has been in operation since 1910, also has been featured on the Food Network program “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” with Guy Fieri.

"Man v. Food" host Adam Richman with Drunken Fry general manager Ian McDermid.
"Man v. Food" host Adam Richman with Drunken Fry general manager Ian McDermid.

Richman also dined at The Drunken Fry and Big Truck Tacos for eats and drinks during his visit, but no filming was done at either place. Big Truck Tacos partner Chris Lower said Richman visited Big Truck Tacos based on a recommendation from chef Rick Bayless, an Oklahoma City native, at the James Beard Foundation Awards dinner.
Smalley was told by producers that the episode of “Man V. Food” will air some time in August.

98 Show / Hide Archive Comments