Help me identify this cheesy '70s cooking show

July 16, 2009 8:00 AM

I'm going crazy trying to figure out the name of this 70's cooking show. It was a 1/2 hour show probably on a public broadcast station in the US. The star of the show was about 35 years old, heavy-set, maybe Greek or Italian, and always wore gold chains with his open shirt. The show was filmed on his boat/yacht (program started with the camera zooming down a dock to the boat). He had a side-kick named “Giovanni” who would help him in his kitchenette. At the end of the show, he always entertained some “swinging blonde.” It was called something-like… “Cooking with Elegance” or “A Touch of Elegance” or “A Taste of Elegance.” Help!
posted by madscientist01 to Food & Drink (6 answers total)

Part of your description sounds like Celebrity Cooks with Bruno Gerussi.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:39 AM on July 16, 2009

Alvy beat me to it! Yes, the ever charming Bruno Gerussi who was one wonderful actor.
posted by x46 at 10:43 AM on July 16, 2009

But he's skinny, older than 35, not on a boat, the word 'elegance' isn't in the title, there is no Giovanni, and it's filmed in Canada. I think the only part that fits is the gold chain/s.
posted by iconomy at 12:05 PM on July 16, 2009

The Galloping Gourmet?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:43 PM on July 16, 2009

I will never forget seeing Bruon Gerussi as Widow Twankey in a panto of Aladdin.

Shameless placeholder comment, because from the description alone I desperately want to see this slice of awesome.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:37 AM on July 17, 2009

Response by poster: Oh, I wish it was one of these, but no luck yet. The show started by showing a marina (though the fish catching was close), and the galloping gourmet is too thin & dressed too nicely. But thanks for the tacky shows, they look great too!

Keep 'em coming!
posted by madscientist01 at 1:13 PM on July 21, 2009