by Garrick Moritz, Editor
Guy Fieri has been the face of the Food Network for more than a decade, and aside from his culinary successes, his Emmy award-winning show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (Triple D) has been running since 2007. And he was here, in Garretson, this past Saturday.
Now, I was one of twelve regulars at O So Good who got an invitation to be part of the filming on Saturday, June 27th. Omar and Renae had quietly invited 12 community stakeholders, friends, and regular patrons to be a part of the filming.
My wife Carrie and I first got this invitation on the evening of Tuesday, June 23. Obviously, it was extremely confidential as to what was going on, so we, and everyone else who were invited to take part in the shooting, had to keep silent.
Despite the secrecy, Fieri and Triple D have a huge fan following, and it didn’t take long for local fans to put two and two together and figure out what was happening.
From Wednesday onward, I had phone calls, text messages and in person visits in my office, all asking me if it was true, if Fieri was really coming to town and that Diners, Drive-ins and Dives was going to feature Omar and O So Good. I continued to repeat that I could not confirm nor deny anything. Omar himself has not, and in all likelihood will not, make any public statements about the experience, most likely because the practice of the business is to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement until the episode airs.
I, however, am under no such obligations. I was told that no cameras or selfies with Guy Fieri would be allowed, so despite my profession, I left my camera and notebook at my office.
All of us who were asked to be part of the filming were to report to O So Good by 2:30 in the afternoon on Saturday, June 27. Because of COVID19, we were also requested to wear masks.
Invitees get a selfie with Omar and the signature red Camaro in front of O So Good on Saturday, June 27. Photo by Carrie Moritz
After signing an appearance release form for the show and getting our temperature checked, we were lined up to go into the restaurant. Locals had lined up on the other side of the street from us, and I noted that several people had brought out their classic cars and were ready with home-made signs to greet Fieri.
The production crew informed us that Fieri was filming inside, but that presently he would come out and get in his car, and that when he came out we’d go in and get seated. He did just that and was greeted by cheers from across the street.
“That’s a lot of people for a little town!”, Fieri exclaimed as he came outside. I cannot confirm this story, but I heard from the production crew that Guy’s drive around Garretson got slowed down by the train, which would be typical and true to form if correct.
As the production crew seated us in a horseshoe formation around the restaurant, they gave us instructions. We were directed to keep masks on while not eating or drinking or directly being filmed. After everyone was situated, Guy came back into the restaurant. He greeted us briefly, and said that he hoped to use shots of the cheering crowd of Garretson area fans outside as some of the final shots of the episode.
He then went straight to work, and interviewed a local couple about Garretson, O So Good, and their food experiences here. (Who was this local couple you ask? Well, I’ll just leave that a mystery for now. NO SPOILERS! You’ll just have to watch the episode yourself. Several people were interviewed, and who knows how much or how little will actually be in the episode.)
It was clear from the questions he asked, that Fieri liked Omar, the flavor of Omar’s cooking, and the uniqueness of the restaurant.
After this personal interview, Fieri stepped out of the spotlight and took his leave. His production crew then did candid shots of all of us eating many of O So Good’s Signature dishes, interspersed with brief interview segments with the invited guests. We were asked what we liked most about Omar, his food and his restaurant.
Having myself been in many theatrical productions (as that was my other major in college), I can say that talking about how good Omar’s cuisine is while you’re eating it is probably the easiest acting gig I’ve ever done.
After the crew asked questions of us as patrons and did more candid shots of us eating, they had us do a few shots of us walking in and out of the restaurant. They declared things a wrap shortly thereafter and we just finished what food and drinks we had left and chatted with each other.
Conversations I had with production team members revealed that they had started filming at O So Good as soon as Wednesday and planned to come back again on Sunday to film a little bit more. The team had just come from filming up in Fargo, and one of the cameramen I spoke with said that regretfully they’d have to go back up there for a couple of reshoots to get some things they missed when they’d filmed up there earlier in the week.
Speaking candidly with another member of the crew, he said that it was a great show to work on. The conversation started when he asked me what he should order here.
“We go to all these great places to eat,” he said. “And it’s often the case that I have no idea where to start on the menu because it all looks and smells so good.”
I listed my top favorites, and told him that I’d never had a bad meal here, that even Omar’s meatloaf was gourmet and excellent.
The atmosphere was jubilant. All of us invited guests chatted amicably before, during and after the shoot. Some of the people we knew well, others we’d only met for the first time that day. Each of us had a personal connection with Omar, and he brought us together with a mutual love of good food and fellowship, along his charming and unique personality.
That’s what it comes down to folks. I’ve been singing Omar’s praises since he opened. I’ m happy to see him garner more success! A big national hit TV show coming to film with him here in Garretson is a big deal, not just for him and his business, but for our whole community to be showcased on national television.
I did overhear Guy Fieri say this to Omar just before he left. “We’re going to show everybody what you’re doing here. Your little restaurant is going to get a whole lot bigger now. You’d better get ready for it!”
