Famous foodie takes on tasty urban myths

Ted Allen joins the Food Network family with “Food Detectives,” scheduled to premiere July 29.

As a regular judge on both “Iron Chef America” and Bravo’s “Top Chef,” Allen broke out of the label of the food and wine guy on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”

Allen will team up with Popular Science experts to debunk or confirm classic myths including whether or not an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

According to reports Food Network was able to woo Allen away from Bravo, so don’t expect to see him on the next season of “Top Chef.”

A New Top Chef Crowned

Speaking of “Top Chef,” Stephanie Izard of Chicago won the $100,000 seed money for her own restaurant (she’s looking in New York City), a feature in Food & Wine, and a showcase at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

The chef, who left her own restaurant to travel, also won a trip to the French Alps as a part of her final win. She will also be able to go to Spain from her win in an earlier elimination challenge.

Ramsay’s on a roll

As “Hell’s Kitchen” ticks down to the finals, Gordon Ramsay is certainly kicking up his resume.

The final four on the show are battling for the executive chef position at Ramsay’s new U.S. restaurant, London, located off of the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. That eatery opened at the beginning of the month sans the “Hell” winner who is expected to start in the kitchen this summer.

Meanwhile, the acerbic celebrity is staying on the televisions around the world working on new programs.

If it’s not “Hell’s Kitchen,” then it’s one of two versions of “Kitchen Nightmares” (there’s one in England and one in the U.S. returning to Fox in September). “The F Word” on BBC 4 in the UK is in its third season. That show hosts celebrities who go head-to-head with Ramsay in the kitchen and a restaurant service progresses through the episode. Now he has a reality show in the works chronicling the opening of yet another new restaurant in Australia.

The first Ramsay venture Down Under will be at the Crown of Melbourne casino complex. The restaurant is slated to open in December.

For the aforementioned “The F Word,” now airing on the BBC (slated to be re-aired on BBC America in the near future), Ramsay donned combat gear and trained with the Royal Marines. The segment was a follow-up to cooking up a fortifying menu for the troops.

Perhaps the marine training will prepare the chef for his plan next year to climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.

Let’s hope the married father of four isn’t stretching himself too thin.

DVR Alerts

This week’s schedule features menus from around the world. Whether Italian, Indian or Mediterranean, international dishes are a welcome addition to the recipe collection.

Saturday 9 a.m. — Tyler’s Ultimate (Food Network) — Ultimate Orecchiette Tyler Florence shows how to use fresh ingredients to make simple Italian fare. The menu includes bruschetta, pasta and dessert.

9:30 a.m. — Jamie Oliver at Home (Food Network) — Peas and Broad Beans Jamie makes spiced bean fritters and adds pears to a spaghetti recipe.

Sunday 9:30 a.m. — Chic and Easy (Food Network) — Team Bonding Brunch Mary Nolan’s show premiered just last month, and on this episode she brings in her touch football team for brunch with recipes for egg pie, fruit salad and chocolate cheesecake cupcakes — all with unique twists.

1:30 p.m. — Guy’s Big Bite (Food Network) — Indiana Jonesin’ Contrary to the title, this has nothing to do with Harrison Ford. This show is all about Indian-inspired cuisine, including Lamb Curry Empanadas and Blackened Green Beans.

10 p.m. — The Next Food Network Star (Food Network) — You … in a Jar Look for Martha Stewart to judge the contestants on how they market themselves and signature products.

Monday 9 p.m. — Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) — The Mother of All Challenges Down to the final four, Chef Ramsay calls the next task “the mother of all challenges.” The finalists will have to prepare a dish of their own for 80 customers.

9 p.m. — Unwrapped (Food Network) — Cozy Cuisine Host Marc Summers visits Campbell’s soup, the Boston Chowda Company, the American Pie Bakery, Manischewitz, Amy’s Kitchen and Thee’s Continental Pastries to follow some of the best comfort food around.

Wednesday 10 p.m. - Top Chef (Bravo) — Reunion Find out who’s the fan favorite and gets a check for $10,000, and catch up on what contestants have done since the show finished taping.

Thursday 10 p.m. — Supper Club with Tom Bergeron (Planet Green) — Chest Waxing, Homework Recycling and Mercury Poisoning The host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars” hosts another eco-friendly dinner with guests Catherine Oxenberg, Kim Wayans, among others.

Friday 4 a.m. — Party Line with the Hearty Boys (Food Network) — Olive a Party-Global Cuisine Unless you’re a night owl, this program is a great example of why we need DVRs. This episode offers new takes for the common ingredient of olives.