Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse showcases Michael's On East

Food is a competitive, business-driven art form wrapped up in fun festivities for the taste buds and the palette. No one has better represented the fusion of successful, delicious and entertaining cooking than celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. And Chef Emeril is bringing his patented “BAM!” attitude to Sarasota with his Cooking Channel program “Emeril’s Florida.”

Accredited and lauded local institution Michael’s On East will be featured in an upcoming episode of “Emeril’s Florida,” which showcases the best restaurants and attractions the Sunshine State has to offer. Filmed in November 2014, the episode will premiere at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11 and re-air Monday, Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday, Jan. 15 at 10:30 a.m. The Cooking Channel is available locally through Xfinity/Comcast channel 122, Verizon channel 166, Bright House Networks channel 1253 and Direct TV channel 232.

“It was such an honor to be contacted by Emeril’s team for this production,” says Michael Klauber, co-proprietor, in a press statement. “I know many of us feel like we have been welcoming Emeril into our personal kitchens for decades, so it was great fun to welcome him into our kitchen at Michael’s On East.”

Michael’s On East didn’t disappoint in the food department and lived up to its stellar and award-winning reputation. Klauber, his business partner Phil Mancini and their staff presented Emeril with four diverse courses including the restaurant’s Porcini-Rubbed Colorado Rack Lamb, Michael’s original bowtie pasta recipe, a custom-made Mote Sturgeon Caviar dish prepared by executive chef Jamil Pineda, and, for dessert, their gigantic brownie ice cream stack.

Along with Michael’s On East, Emeril will be giving his culinary approval to Salt at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island and Casa D’Angelo in Ft. Lauderdale.