Cooking Channel’s Kelsey Nixon

With Cooking Channel on board as our title sponsor for next week’s SOLD OUT Turkey Leg Ball at Studio 450, we figured this would be the perfect opportunity for you to get to know their on-air talent a little better. We requested some time with fan favorite and local New Yorker, Kelsey Nixon, who hosts a show on Cooking called “Kelsey’s Essentials” – a fresh look into cooking basics and techniques. Her goal? To make you a semi-respectable home chef. Let’s face facts. Your special microwave chili nachos don’t count as cooking. Kelsey can help.

For more on Kelsey, make sure you tune in to Cooking Channel at 2:30pm on Saturdays (channel 51 on Time Warner Cable in NYC), and follow her on Twitter.

Kelsey’s “Perfect For” Picks

Chronic Brunch

Norma’s (118 West 57th St.) – “Norma’s takes the cake for me when it comes to brunch, even though you may have to be willing to wait. The Huevos Rancheros and Wa-za Waffle are favorites on the menu. It also positioned perfectly for a stroll through Central Park after brunch.”

Classic NYC Establishment

J.G. Melon (1291 Third Ave.)- “Best burger in the city no question. I appreciate the “no frills” atmosphere and simple, delicious food. They basically do one thing and they do it well. The fact that most of the waiters have been working there for years also contributes to its charm.”

Date Night

Little Owl (90 Bedford St.) – “Quaint meets quality. The food never disappoints and I could eat those meatball sliders every single day for the rest of my life. It’s located in one of our (me + husband) favorite parts of the city. My only wish is that I didn’t have to always make a reservation.”

Full On Pork Indulgence

Blue Smoke (116 E. 27th St.) – “I can’t get enough of the Memphis Baby Back Ribs and Kansas City Spareribs. The hot jazz club downstairs is a bonus as well as their Fry Bread with Chipotle Butter.”

Small Plates

Salumeria Rosi (283 Amsterdam Ave.) – “Fantastic Italian style tapas on the UWS. Don’t pass up the Caponata and the Porchetta Calabrese. Seriously so good that it is life changing.”

Kelsey’s Twitter People

@MarthaStewart – The domestic diva has a very active twitter account and I’m fascinated by her life and the incredible brand that she continues to build.

@Bethenny- – Bravo sold me on Bethenny. She seems to always say the things that I wish I had the guts to say.

@ChefSpike -Spike and I worked on a web project together on Food2.com and we’ve been
friends ever since. So happy for his success this year with his restaurants and cookbook.

@ThePioneerWoman- – Secretly want to be her one day with crazy kids running around making motherhood look effortless.

@CookingChannel – Food Network’s little sister where my show lives.