| My name is Nancy Goodman Iland and I am the | | | | show's initial season, the food has been |
| “Food Stylist to the Stars”!!! | | | | stepped up a notch. "We've upped |
| What is a food stylist you ask? Well, when | | | | artiness; our food is now high-end; it's |
| you are watching a television show or movie | | | | towering, it's textured. We want |
| and they are eating a meal like breakfast on | | | | fabulous-looking dishes." She loves |
| the show… I make the food that you see | | | | creating recipes for the show and enjoyed |
| them eating. I was as surprised as you that | | | | appearing as an extra in a recent episode. |
| this is a real job and that I actually get | | | | "I had a good hair day, and they used |
| paid to do something like this. I have now | | | | me," she quips. After a brief |
| been working in this industry for over 15 | | | | interruption to answer a crew member's query |
| years and featured in many interviews like | | | | about the whereabouts of shaved cheese, Iland |
| the one below. I hope that you enjoy this | | | | insists that most of the show's food is real |
| article. ~Nancy | | | | -- yes, those are tasty filet mignons, New |
| | | | York steaks, and ribs (though she had to have |
| "When it comes to "Kitchen | | | | the ribs cut longer to accommodate a |
| Confidential," the food is the real | | | | director's request). Exceptions are ice cream |
| deal, so delectable that the stars, extras | | | | and sorbet because both will melt before |
| and crew want to devour the professionally | | | | scenes can be shot; mashed potatoes are |
| prepared cuisine before resident food stylist | | | | substituted for ice cream and a mixture of |
| Nancy Goodman Iland says it's no longer safe | | | | lard and powdered sugar becomes |
| for consumption.Though the prime-time | | | | "glistening" sorbet. When the |
| escapades (7:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays on Fox) | | | | script called for a chef's cut-off finger to |
| chronicle the secrets of the restaurant | | | | inadvertently be served to a restaurant |
| business through the story of chef Jack | | | | critic, Iland used saffron rice. "It |
| Bourdain (Bradley Cooper), Iland is neither | | | | concealed the 'finger' perfectly," she |
| compelled nor inclined to remain quiet about | | | | recalls with a chuckle. The California native |
| what goes on in the behind-the-scenes kitchen | | | | ("I'm a true Valley Girl!") polices |
| where the culinary creations are the | | | | what is eaten and when it's eaten on the set. |
| stars."This is a dream job!" | | | | "I don't recycle food -- I have to make |
| proclaims Iland, working her normal 5:30 a.m. | | | | certain there are no risky foods that people |
| to 7 or 8 p.m. hours on the set of the sitcom | | | | eat. After a scene, I'll say, 'Eat this, not |
| based on renowned chef Anthony Bourdain's | | | | that" because I don't want anyone sick |
| best-selling autobiography. While four on her | | | | from food that has been out of a refrigerator |
| crew do the prepping and cooking in the | | | | too long." Energy is high on the |
| "real" kitchen, Iland -- who owns | | | | "Kitchen Confidential" set, and the |
| her own company called FoodArt -- is on the | | | | cast and crew are like family. Iland's |
| "set" kitchen or she's teaching | | | | especially fond of Bradley Cooper, who plays |
| cast members how to handle fresh veal, chop | | | | the head chef who is trying to get back into |
| shrimp, serve sea bass with leeks, prepare an | | | | the New York restaurant scene after his |
| exquisite creme brulee or purposely ruin a | | | | excesses landed him in the gutter. "Yes, |
| Belgian chocolate souffle as cameras roll.In | | | | Bradley is that handsome, and he's so sweet |
| a phone call from the show's Los Angeles set, | | | | -- none of that 'I'm a star' attitude. He |
| Iland, a food stylist for 14 years who | | | | used to work in a restaurant so he's |
| declines to divulge her age ("A woman | | | | perfectly cast." Iland says the network |
| doesn't give her age"), nearly whispers | | | | is committed to the first 12 shows (filming |
| so she's not heard on camera. She admits that | | | | ends Oct. 31). "Then we find out in |
| much of the food footage winds up on the | | | | November if we are picked up for nine more |
| cutting room floor -- that's costly | | | | shows. Viewer numbers are coming in high, but |
| particularly when each shooting requires five | | | | the hard part for us is we follow 'Arrested |
| to 10 plates of identical dishes. | | | | Development,' which is critically acclaimed |
| | | | but doesn't have viewers." Though she's |
| Most food is refrigerated, and extras usually | | | | usually too tired to cook when she returns to |
| eat pre-prepared food that is cold or at room | | | | her beachside home from work, Iland enjoys |
| temperature. "The main actors get the | | | | kitchen time with her 7-year-old son, Jared. |
| hot food, like lamb chops," explains | | | | "We like to fix steak, broccoli or |
| Iland, who worked in restaurants, owned her | | | | carrots because he's a good vegetable eater, |
| own catering company and worked as a food | | | | and dessert." So you're living your |
| stylist on "Murder, She Wrote" for | | | | dream, right? "I've never stopped to |
| four seasons before joining | | | | think about it, but, yes, I'm living my |
| "Confidential." | | | | dream," admits the food stylist who |
| | | | shares kitchen confidences but not her age. |
| She's excited that even this early in the | | | | |