Claire Robinson: You Are Your Own Executive Chef

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 1st 2010 11:30AM

Claire Robinson hosts the popular '5 Ingredient Fix' on the Food Network, and now the chef is adding another show to her plate -- 'Food Network Challenge.'

Robinson stopped by PopEater headquarters to chat with the Girls on Pop about her two series, who she'd love to cook for and what advice she has for novice chefs out there.

"Everybody is the executive chef of their own kitchen in their own home," she tells us. "Do what you want to do. There's no right and wrong. The great thing about cooking is two plus two doesn't always equal four."

On creations falling on 'Food Network Challenge': "When you're there and it's an eight-hour competition -- so I'm with them all day long, you know, and I get to know them as the day progresses. And by the end of the day, I see something fall, and I'm not even a crier, but I was like, 'Oh my gosh are you kidding me?' I have seen a few fall. And it's really sad."

On what's coming up on 'Challenge': "We have a 'Sex and the City 2' cake show coming up, and there's cakes that are balancing on stilettos! And I'm thinking, 'I can't make a round cake look smooth and perfect and beautiful!' It tastes good, but it is certainly not attractive. So I would not be a competitor on 'Food Network Challenge.'"

Advice for cooking: "It should be fun! I say, put on your favorite music, pour a glass of wine or a cocktail or a soda, I don't care, whatever you like to do. Put your music on, put your favorite show on, put your favorite radio show on -- and relax. This should be a fun experience. It should be your time. Everyone is the executive chef of their own kitchen in their own home. So you're the boss, man!"

On who she wants to make a meal for: "I would love to cook for the President and his family. I think I would be scared to death. Wouldn't that be cool though? I'd probably only end up being able to cook for Bo. They're like, 'Five ingredients, no way, cook for the dog!'"