'Man v. Food' star excited about Iowa trip

“Man v. Food” star Adam Richman wants Iowans to gain a sense of pride over the contribution their state makes to the nation's food supply.

Richman will kick off his speaking tour Thursday at The Englert Theatre, 221 Washington St., Iowa City.

“It will be an entertaining night at the theater,” he says during a phone interview from his home in Brooklyn, N.Y.

His performance won't include an eating challenge like the ones he has become notorious for on “Man v. Food.” Instead, he'll talk about his travels, lead a question-and-answer session with the audience and conduct an onstage cooking demonstration using common ingredients, equipment and techniques.

“A lot of TV discussion is for the snooty foodie,” he says. “When I see people in grocery stores or on TV using things not everybody has in their home or can afford, I don't like it one bit. ”

What: Adam Richman of Travel Channel's ‘Man v. Food'

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Where: The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City

Tickets: $25 for students, senior citizens and children under 12; $30 adult available at the box office or http://www.iowatix.com

Can drive: Richman asks ticket holders to bring at least one non-perishable food item to the show. All food will be donated to the Crisis Center of Johnson County.

More information: (319) 688-2653 or http://www.englert.org

He wants to show the audience how to use items they would find in their own home or dorm room.

“With a few tricks, you can take what would be an average meal and elevate it,” he says.

Before joining the Travel Channel's highest rated show, Richman, 35, worked in the food industry supporting himself as an actor, doing everything from busing tables and washing dishes to cooking.

“But by no means do I consider myself a chef,” he says. “I'm just a guy who cooks.”

With a master's degree in fine arts from Yale University's School of Drama, Richman has traveled the country performing in regional theaters.

During his travels, he samples local dishes with local flavors.

“The restaurants we profile on ‘Man v. Food' are mom-and-pop places that are literally serving the recipes they serve at home,” he says. “The people give their blood, sweat and tears to keep these places going.”

The challenges he does at the end of the show aren't created just for him, he says. Most have been tackled by others, and even sometimes conquered. They typically involve either a large amount of food (think 6 pounds of burgers, hot dogs, chili fries and a milkshake) or ridiculously spicy food.

“I'm not a competitive eater,” Richman says. “I want people to go try these challenges.”

When not filming, he is mainly a vegetarian and watches what he eats.

“I take such care of my health,” he says. “I would be 9,000 pounds if I didn't.”

He doesn't condone making a habit of consuming excessive amounts of calories.

“I'm never suggesting eating like this as a lifestyle choice,” he says. “However, there is nothing wrong with indulging in a great dish.”

He encourages people to be responsible by keeping track of their caloric intake and cholesterol levels.

But he doesn't want anybody to deprive themselves of great regional food.

“If you're somewhere that has a signature dish, why would you ever miss it?” he wonders.

- By Angela Holmes, The Gazette