Locally Produced Cooking Show Premieres

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JAMESTOWN, NY (WNY News Now) – A television cooking show, where proceeds benefit a Jamestown area soup kitchen’s mission to help feed those in need, premieres this weekend.

‘So, You Think You Can Cook?’ is a joint venture between the St. Susan Center in Jamestown and Channel 716, a locally owned and operated streaming service.

“You have five ingredients, you have to use four, if you used the fifth one you get bonus points, but the ingredients were crazy,” explained show host Lee Cain.

The first episode, which was filmed back on February 25, features three local chefs Nathan Hallberg with Steeners Pub, Margo Stuart with Ariels Bed and Breakfast and Camille Hodnett who owns her own catering business and works at the center.

“My goal, that I wrote in a business plan two years ago: I want to be like St. Susan’s. The irony of it all, I called (to apply for the contest) by the time she (the center’s director) and I got done talking, I was her executive assistant and then a year later, here I am in the kitchen doing what I do, purpose meets passion,” explained Hodnett.

Producers hope to pair charity and a good time.

“I just wanna have fun,” said Stuart in a pre-show interview. “All the proceeds go back to St. Susan’s, and that’s the important part about it,” highlighted Hallberg.

Three local judges select a winner taking in the taste of two rounds and trying a pre-prepared soup.

“I’ve seen them cook, they cook with passion and with love,” explained Cain. “That was the overarching theme from each contestant is I really care, and I’ve put a lot of love and passion into my dishes and you see that.”