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Hi there,

You can never have too many cookbooks, and believe me, I have a lot.

Everything from vintage 1940s and 1950s to Rachael Ray’s latest My Year in Meals (F11004). That’s why I was so excited about David Venable’s new cookbook In the Kitchen with David: Comfort Foods That Take You Home (F09693), inspired by his love of comfort foods. I had the chance to sit down with David in the Host Lounge at Studio Park where he shared some of the highlights from his whirlwind book tour.

The Rachael Ray Show, October 12

“Rachael and I have been friends for a long time, we worked together on QVC, so I had no apprehension about being on her talk show. They tape two to three shows a day with a different audience and we were to be on the second taping. When we arrived they were just wrapping up the first taping and my green room wasn’t ready for me. So I was standing there waiting with all these celebrities nearby. Tyra Banks walked past me and Nancy O’Dell was around the corner—it was just crazy. I met with the food stylist and had about 30 seconds to say hello to Rachael. She gave me a big hug and asked if I was ready to go. They ran a clip of Rachael and I together on QVC, she introduced me, I walked out, we started cooking, and eight minutes later it was over. We cooked the Cheesy Cheeseburger Casserole from my book because it was her ‘casual Friday’ show and she wanted something that was family friendly.”

Wegmans, October 11

David did a book signing at one of his favorite grocery stores, Wegmans in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. “It was a real joy for me because it’s my local grocery store. I love the prepared foods, the beautiful meats and cheeses and seafood, and the bakery. Oh, my word, I could spend half a day in there if the ice cream wouldn’t melt!

“There were lots of QVC customers there. One woman said to me, ‘I want you to know that I moved Heaven and Earth to get here tonight.’ I asked her what she meant and she said, ‘My daughters and I got half way here and I realized I left my wallet at home, and I live an hour away. But that wasn’t the worst of it. We ran out of gas on the way here and I didn’t have my wallet to buy any. We had to borrow money for gas and I went back home to get my wallet, returned to the gas station to pay the guy who loaned me the money, and then I came here.’ I stood up and gave her a big hug and she just kind of collapsed in my arms. I said, ‘God bless you!’ and signed a book for her.”

Barnes & Noble, October 18 & 19

“I had signings at two Barnes & Noble bookstores in North Carolina, one in my hometown of Charlotte and one in Cary. There were about 100 people at the signing in Charlotte and one woman said, ‘David, I have a question for you. Did you go to Idlewild Elementary School?’ When I told her I had, she said, ‘I think I was your third grade teacher.’ I looked at her and asked, ‘Are you Miss Clark?’ and she said, “I’m Mary Clark!” She gave me a big hug and the whole place erupted into applause. It was just so unbelievably amazing.

“The book signing in Cary was just outside of Chapel Hill, where I went to college. My brother lives in that area so he was able to come to that signing and my mom was at the one in Charlotte.”

The Today Show, October 25

“The Today Show was an incredible experience. I’ve been a fan for such a long time, and when we found out we were going to do a cooking demo and promote the book I was thrilled. When we got to the studio at Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan that morning I was waiting to take the elevator up to where the kitchen set is and there was all this hubbub going on in the lobby. I didn’t realize it until I walked up beside him and there was Adam Levine from Maroon 5 (he was performing on the show that morning). That was exciting.

“Al Roker was my host and it was really interesting for me to be the guest and not the host. When you’re on with someone who is as wonderful at what he does as Al Roker, you feel so secure because this is someone who is wildly talented at their craft and they’re going to take great care of you, and he did. Natalie Morales came on at the end of the segment, which was incredibly fast, about 3 ½ minutes. I did the pot roast recipe from the book and I was joking all day that I never made a pot roast in 3 ½ minutes before. It went smoothly and I was very happy with it.”

Our visit ended when someone came into the lounge and told David that Anderson Cooper’s producer wanted to talk to him about an upcoming segment on Anderson Live.

If you have a question for David about any of the recipes in his cookbook , send it to QVCInsider@QVC.com. I’ll bring them to David and share his answers in an upcoming blog. And be sure to check out David’s Facebook page!

Happy trails!

Troy

Editor, InsideQ magazine