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Best Friends for Frosting editor, Molly Allen, had the very fun job of interviewing David.  His answers were just too good not to share with you!  Check out Molly’s interview with David below to find out more about your favorite foodie.

If you’ve ever watched QVC, then you certainly know the ever-popular David Venable, the face of In the Kitchen with David. He’s been in the food industry for years, and he hasn’t slowed down yet. QVC’s Resident Foodie shares everything from gourmet foods to gadgets to cookbooks with his viewers every Wednesday and Sunday, but today, he’s sharing all sorts of information with us. Find out how David found his way into the kitchen, why he’s such a big fan of Mac and Cheese, and, of course, his favorite dessert.

According to your biography, you earned a bachelor’s degree in radio, television, and motion pictures. When did your love affair with food begin, and how did you turn that into such a successful career?

My love affair with food began when I was a little boy. Both of my grandmothers were excellent cooks, and my mother had me helping in the kitchen from the time I was old enough to reach the counter. Mom worked full time and raised my brother, sister, and I, and my “job” growing up was to get dinner on the table. It wasn’t long until that obligation became a passion. So, when I came to QVC and became the host of In the Kitchen with David, it was like a dream come true. I could cook, eat, and share my passion for food with the world. I truly love my job.

As a “foodie,” you are exposed to so many different types of foods and recipes. Sometimes, though, you just need to get out and have dinner on the town. Where, in your opinion, is the best place for a great meal out? What’s your favorite thing to order?

If I go out for a nice meal, I go to a white linen tablecloth steakhouse and order a dry-aged New York strip steak (prepared medium-well). If the restaurant has roasted broccoli and potatoes au gratin, I’m in heaven. For an appetizer, I usually order a wedge salad with blue cheese and bacon. And, I’ll enjoy it all with a beautiful red wine.

Your first cookbook, debuting 150 comfort food recipes, came out in October, 2012. What is your all-time favorite comfort food and why?
Mac and cheese. It’s the quintessential all American comfort food. My favorite recipe is now in my cookbook, In the Kitchen with David: Comfort Foods That Take You Home, and it was inspired by my mother’s recipe. My version contains a blend of five delicious cheeses and my all-time favorite ingredient: hickory-smoked bacon (a.k.a. The Divine Swine!).

QVC recently collaborated with Best Friends For Frosting, and our Founder, Melissa Johnson, had the opportunity to hang out with you on Google Plus.  We were thrilled! What is it like meet and collaborate with such a variety of people in your field on a daily basis?

I count myself truly lucky to rub elbows with some of the most celebrated chefs and personalities in the cooking world. Every person I meet inspires me to up my game and to further share my passion for great food with like-minded people.

We know you focus on all dishes from appetizers to soups to beverages. But, because we’re all about dessert, we have to ask about the best thing you’ve ever made. Whether it was a success in your home kitchen, or one that you have shared publicly, what is your go-to sweet treat?

Peach cobbler. I remember having this at both my grandmothers’ tables. I’ll never forget…one year, we were driving home from Georgia after having a family vacation, and before we crossed the border, mom insisted that we stop at a farmers’ market. We came out with two big bags full of fresh, ripe, Georgia peaches, and when we came home that afternoon, mom made a peach cobbler. Then, we made homemade peach ice cream with one of those old-fashioned crank machines. There’s NOTHING better than homemade peach ice cream. It was the greatest day ever.

You are such an influential voice, not only in the world of food, but also when it comes to television. What’s it like for a day in the life with David Venable?

It’s exciting because my schedule is always changing. If it’s a Sunday or Wednesday, it’s almost a guarantee that I’ll be hosting In the Kitchen with David at Noon or 8pm ET, but we just wrapped up a bustling media tour for the cookbook, and I was all over the country doing everything from signing books to appearing on ABC’s The Chew. On my “off” days, I’m at the office preparing for our live show, attending meetings, doing promo tapings and photo shoots, and my favorite “job,” demonstrating recipes!

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