italianchef

I would like to quote a great man who has inspired me over the last 31 years: "A man who hits a woman is not a man" - Italian Chef's PROUD PAPA

As author of The Unofficial Guidebook to Paramount's Kings Island...I was MORALLY obligated to try all the pay rides.....and they all came out of my pocket. I wouldn't elimate them...just lower the cost. Sling Shot made me scream more than any time in my life. It was and truly is awesome. I highy recommend it. Xtreme Skyflyer is cool too - but not as much. Italian Chef

I was there that day and I was interviewed at the exit of Kings Island and Mianin Valley Railroad. We had to stop filming several times due to people exiting the ride and one case of a physically chalenged lady and her family entering from the exit. It wasn't the grooviest place to film at.

I concur with STxBomber. Indeed the James Bond film was THE BEST. And even Mrs. Chef agrees. However, I do like the current film, Secret of the Lost Temple and even SpongeBob SquarePants. But I think that 007 was THE BEST. In some ways I am like James Bond: 1. We both own tuxedos. 2. We both speak English. 3. We both are Caucasian. 4. We both have 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 nose, 2 legs, and 2 arms. 5. We both like to drink. 6. We both have been to Japan and loved Japanese women. And that's about it. Sincerely, Secret Agent Italian Chef

Your Highness, If you read carefully, you would've seen that the statue is of Alexander the Great. Though I am proud of my Italian heritage, I must admit that Alexander the Great was a Greek, not a Roman. However, if we are going to get technical, he was actually Macedonian - not Greek. Nevertheless, he was leader of what we today called Greece and led the Greek expansion from Greece to modern India. And the statue is in fact for the Tomb Raider show. Sincerely, Italian Chef

Based on my research for The Unofficial Guidebook to Paramount's Kings Island, I concur with Mr. Shaggy that The Kings Island Resort was sold in the mid-1970s because it was not very profitable. Additionally, based with my communications with high ranking park officials, I cannot see PKI buidling or purchasing a hotel any time soon. HOWEVER..........I would like to express my opinion of the situation. In the 1970s The Kings Island Resort was not very profitable. That was 30 years ago - and things have changed. The fact that many hotels have propped up all over Exits 19 and 25 is proof that there is profit to be made in the hotel business in Mason. It would NOT be prudent for PKI to build its own hotel as the market is already saturated and little if any profit would be made. The soundest decision would be for PKI to purchase an existing and profitable hotel on Exit 25, refurbish it, theme it, and replace the senior management staff with people who can operate the hotel like a low tier Disney Resort. Due to its historic ties and close geographic proximity to the park, I'd recommend purchasing the Kings Island Resort. In addition to the PKI guests that keep it in business, the Kings Island Resort also attracts revenues from conventions, family re-unions, etc. PKI would be able to hold character breakfasts AND CHARGE FOR THEM LIKE DISNEY all year round on Saturdays at what is now the Main Street Grill. They would be able to charge more for family re-unions and/or conventions if Hanna-Barbera and/or Nickeloden characters made appearances. That is my business commentary for today. Italian Chef

OhiocoasteR, Thank you for buying the book. I'm glad that you like it. Italian Chef

I was the producer and star of HOME COOKING WITH CHARLES. It was a cooking-comedy (we didn comedy skits while cooking) show that ran in Northern Kentucky from early 2002-early 2003.

As author of The Unofficial Guidebook to Paramount's Kings Island, the former producer and star of public access TV show, and in Mrs. Chef's words "a looky looky American"......I HAD to take the day off from work to participate in The Travel Channel's PKI show. Mrs. Chef couldn't take the day off from work and none of my friends would......so I went alone. Mrs. Chef dropped me off at 6:50 AM - and we saw DragonLord at the park on duty. He's a nice guy and I appreciate his manners towards my wife. I reckon he's a real gentleman with ladies in general. There were 2 segments being filmed that day, 1 for Tomb Raider and 1 for Delirium. The vast majority of people were there for Delirium. While chatting with many people....I met BoddaH1994. He was scheduled to hang out with his lady friend after the filming and graciously invited me to hang out with them so I wouldn't be stuck by myself all day. BoddaH1994 is a very nice and intelligent young man. Plus I met DanielRadsgrl. She seems like a nice and intelligent young lady. She was almost chosen to narrate TR:TR for The Travel Channel. And attractive (Brother Charles appreciates older ladies) lady old enough to be her mother beat her for it in rock, paper, scizzors. The filming was not pleasant - it lasted at least 4 hours. We had to be filmed riding Tomb Raider: The Ride 2 times in a row. We were filmed putting on our safety restraints, entering the ride, and doing other things several times. After putting on our safety restraints for the filming - we didn't actually ride - just sat there locked up for 20 minutes. It was tough. To make a long story short....it was well worth the experience because I'll be on national TV for the first time in my life. That is so totally cool. And I had had a great time riding some of PKI's best rides with BoddaH1994 and his lady friend - and they are both very nice young people. Plus I got to introduce them to Jeff Siebert and David Mandt. It was a great time....but after spending over 4 hours in TR:TR, I need a long break from it. Italian Chef

As author of The Unofficial Guidebook to Paramount's Kings Island, the former producer and star of public access TV show, and in Mrs. Chef's words "a looky looky American"......I HAD to take the day off from work to participate in The Travel Channel's PKI show. Mrs. Chef couldn't take the day off from work and none of my friends would......so I went alone. Mrs. Chef dropped me off at 6:50 AM - and we saw DragonLord at the park on duty. He's a nice guy and I appreciate his manners towards my wife. I reckon he's a real gentleman with ladies in general. There were 2 segments being filmed that day, 1 for Tomb Raider and 1 for Delirium. The vast majority of people were there for Delirium. While chatting with many people....I met BoddaH1994. He was scheduled to hang out with his lady friend after the filming and graciously invited me to hang out with them so I wouldn't be stuck by myself all day. BoddaH1994 is a very nice and intelligent young man. Plus I met DanielRadsgrl. She seems like a nice and intelligent young lady. She was almost chosen to narrate TR:TR for The Travel Channel. And attractive (Brother Charles appreciates older ladies) lady old enough to be her mother beat her for it in rock, paper, scizzors. The filming was not pleasant - it lasted at least 4 hours. We had to be filmed riding Tomb Raider: The Ride 2 times in a row. We were filmed putting on our safety restraints, entering the ride, and doing other things several times. After putting on our safety restraints for the filming - we didn't actually ride - just sat there locked up for 20 minutes. It was tough. To make a long story short....it was well worth the experience because I'll be on national TV for the first time in my life. That is so totally cool. And I had had a great time riding some of PKI's best rides with BoddaH1994 and his lady friend - and they are both very nice young people. Plus I got to introduce them to Jeff Siebert and David Mandt. It was a great time....but after spending over 4 hours in TR:TR, I need a long break from it. Italian Chef

I was there today and saw 3 people from this site. I did the Tomb Raider filming, which lasted 4 hours. After that experience, I don't want to ride TR:TR for at least one month. I got burned out.

Since I'll be there by my lonesome self and I'm a relatively nice guy - I'll be happy to meet anyone there. Have a groovy day y'all.

I will be there by myself as Mrs. Chef has to work and none of my friends loves PKI enough to take vacation day for the event. Who else will be there? If anyone wants me to sign their book or just chat after the filming, I'd be honored. Additionally.......I'd really appreciate some company as there's only one car in my family and I have to wait for Mrs. Chef to pick me up after work. Italian Chef

This month's (June 2003) Cincinnati Magazine on page 22 has a small article about my book and a picture of my book - The Unofficial Guidebook to Paramount's Kings Island. If anyone has a chance to read it, I think that'd be cool. Sincerely, Italian Chef

I got the same e-mail today and laughed. First off, I am a man and sure as hell don't look like Laura Croft. Second, my wife is a different race than Laura Croft, so she surely doesn't resemble her either. Neither do any of my 3 cats. So, no one in my family can win that contest.

I fully agree with Tanner. No disrespect to whomever thought of the idea of a "lifetime season pass"....but it's stupid. First of all lets look at the cost. A season pass costs around $80 now. So, if they want to issue a "lifetime pass"....they would have to factor at least 20 years - that would make the cost around $1600. How many people can clam out $1600 at once - and I think that $1600 would even be too cheap. So, very few people could afford it anyway Second - what if they did make it cheaper - like $400. They would be LOSING big money. In the first 2-3 years PKI would reap huge profits from sales of lifetime passes. Then after the enthusiasts stop buying passes..........fewer revenues would flow into the park. People who buy season passes yearly would no longer need to. Third.......regardless of cost of lifetime season pass.....the park will make less money than it does with annual season passes. How will they make up the loss? Probably by increasing food and drink prices. That would turn people off - especially the people who make day and annual trips to the park. Hence, they may choose a different park. In conclusion, from the economic standpoint PKI would lose lots of money with a lifetime pass and should scrap the idea. As a park enthusiast the idea appeals to me. However, as a businessman - I would hate to see PKI make such a financially disastrous mistake.

DragonLord, Mrs. Chef & I enjoyed seeing you too again. I have 3 book signings next month and 1 in August (so far), so maybe you can stop by another one to say hi. I'm sure Homearam won't be that bad....but I hate so see awesome homes that I'll never be able to afford. Mrs. Chef & I are seriously thinking about going to Nights of Fire. The weather will be a deciding factor. Have a great day, ItalianChef

I would take Euro-Bungee out of Coney Mall and replace it with a Ferris Wheel. And as far as replacing a PKI coaster with a coaster from elsewhere....I'd remove Vortex and replace it with AeroSmith's Rockin Roller Coaster from Disney MGM Studios in Florida.

I wasn't bashing Cedar Point. If their food was so bad - I wouldn't need my family as judges. I was just being goofy. Sorry if you took it as otherwise. And to answer your question, I don't work for PKI. I'm still in the financial services industry. Rates are so low! Italian Chef

This weekend my wife is DRAGGING me to Homearama. I hope to go to PKI and visit Tomb Raider in 2 weeks.

Also during my week as GM of PKI I'd invite Cedar Point's best chef to PKI for a cooking contest against me alla Iron Chef style. I'd fly Kaga-san in from Japan to be MC and choose the secret theme ingredient. In this battle of the titans, PKI vs. Cedar Point culinary battle, I'd have the most impartial judges I know: my wife, my sister, my mother, and my father. Guess who would win the cooking contest??????

I reckon that Jeff will be flattered, as would I. Maybe someday you can design a game about me trying to cook up enough penne with sausage, chicken, peppers, and onions for the whole park while fighting off ninjas from a competing theme park. Just joking - MAYBE. Should you consider doing this endeavor commercially - you'll need Jeff's written permission for using his likeness. Additionally, if PKI's name or likeness is used....you'll need permission from Paramount Parks Corporate HQ in Charlotte, NC and thereafter Viacom's in NYC. Additionally, you'll wish to copyright your intellectual property: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright Please e-mail me with any questions. And I'd appreciate a copy of your game as well. Sincerely, Italian Chef homecookingwithcharles@yahoo.com

As author of The Unofficial Guidebook to Paramount's Kings Island, a PKI enthusiast, a man who watches Nick Toons often, and a person who has experienced character meals at Disney........I felt obligated to attend the Nick Toons Character Breakfast on Father's Day. My wonderful wife accompanied me. We were one of the few couples (but not the only) without children. First off the breakfast is free and is held in Festhaus. The first 1000 gold pass holders are admitted and the meal commences at 9 AM. While waiting on line Mrs. Chef and I ran into Dragon Lord the Security Guard, whom we met at my last book signing. He is a nice young man. Should PKI charge for it? Yes, but they don't. Everyone got a bag with 2 pastries (danish/donuts/muffins), a piece of fruit (apple/orange), a package of fruit roll ups, and a container of juice. Plus there was coffee - but demand seemingly exceeded supply. Everyone was given raffle tickets. Some very child oriented children's activities took place - including many prizes for the winners of raffles. My wife and I gave our tickets to a little girl who sat at our table. All of the Nick Toons appeared: SpongeBob Square Pants, Patrick (the idiot who irritates me), Dora the Explorer, Jimmy Neutron, Eliza Thornberry, Donnie, Angelic Pickles, Tommy, Chuckie, and Hey Arnold. They made rounds at the tables. It was a cute and educational experience for me as a freelance journalist and PKI scholar.........but unless Mrs. Chef and I have kids (and I HOPE we do), I wouldn't return for a second character breakfast. After our character breakfast, Mrs. Chef and I rode Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle twice - and both times my wife beat me! Then off to The Beast. And then Bubba Gump Shrimp Shack. We asked a stranger to take our picture - and I recognized his face from The Cincinnati Enquirer, Mr. David Zellner, PKI's food service manager and first executive chef. He is a really nice man and I was pleased that he was familiar with my book. Since Mrs. Chef and I were tired.......we called it an early day and headed home. Have a groovy day, Italian Chef

Brad, It was nice to meet you. Hopefully next time we'll have a few minutes to talk. Saturday was interesting because only 2 out of 4 people in my party showed up as my wife and my best friend's girlfriend got sick. My wife felt better the next day so I took her to the park but didn't have time to ride FoF. Charles

My wife wasn't feeling well so I went to the park with a friend. I rode SOB, The Beast, FoF (where I met STXBomber), The Paramount FX Theater (the action film that isn't SpongeBob), and Adventure Express 3 times. I tried Bubba Gump Shrimp Shack and was very impressed with the food, decor, and music. Great job PKI!