By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Thursday, May 7, 2015
Steven "Steak" Shapiro has expanded his three-year-old culinary media production empire with a new syndicated food show that will visit eateries in cities throughout the Southeast, dubbing it "Dish Worth the Drive: Southern Eats Edition."
The weekly show, with initial sponsors Kia Motors and RaceTrac, debuts at the end of the month in 53 markets and will air locally on CBS46 starting Sunday, June 14 at 2:30 p.m.
Under his umbrella company Bread n Butter Productions, Shapiro is already doing digital content and corporate videos for clients such as Moe's, Hartsfield Jackson Airport and the Venetian in Las Vegas (I saw some of the video while I was visiting there last December.).
The first 30-minute episode hosted by Shapiro will feature Atlanta with stops at St. Cecelia, Bone Garden, Gun Show, and Serpas. Later, he travels to Gulf Shores, Ala.and South Walton, Fla.
"We'll do each city through a culinary lens," he said.
Mara Davis continues to host the weekly Atlanta Eats radio show on 640/WGST-AM and does segments for the local "Atlanta Eats" show airing on CBS46. He has also hired former Bert Show host and curent Kicks 101.5 jock Jenn Hobby to do some writing and possibly some video content.
He is also working with CBS46 to create prime-time specials such as a fall dining guide in August.
Business has been booming, Shapiro said, with revenues in 2015 about to exceed all of 2014. "Everybody is trying to do content now," he said, be it brands, venues, restaurants.
Shapiro has now been on 680/The Fan on the Front Row from 9 a.m. to noon for 16 months and is enjoying it thoroughly.
His judging gig for Food Network's "Food Truck Face Off" is up in the air. The show has not been renewed yet. Even then, he said it was a grind and tough given his schedule.
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