Today we have two special guests with us. Vinny Guadagnino, most well known for his hit reality show, “The Jersey Shore” and his mom, Paola. Together, they make for a hilarious and heart warming duo that everyone is about to get to know even better!
On January 31st, The Cooking Channel will be premiering a new show called “Vinny and Ma Eat America”. Here is the premise of the show: Vinny Guadagnino’s mom, Paola, is the best cook in their big Italian family, but the problem is she only cooks and eats Italian. Now, Vinny is taking his Ma across the country on a culinary road trip of a lifetime, to taste and discover delicious food she’s never tried before. No passport is needed on this trip — this mother and son adventure is all about eating America!
1. Tell us about your new show Vinny and Ma Eat America. What is it about?
My mom is an amazing Italian cook. Everyone who saw her on TV saw her bringing me and my cast mates trays of baked ziti like it was nothing. The only problem is she’s never really ventured out of her own kitchen and tried new things. This concept as sort of my fun way to celebrate food with her while also getting her out of her shell and taking her on the food road trip of a lifetime.
2. What is it like working together? Do you ever disagree on anything?
I’m very close with my mom so it was fun. We can all imagine a long road trip with our moms can have frustrating moments though. She doesn’t believe in using GPS systems. Getting her to try new dishes was a grueling process. But hey, that’s what the show is about!
3. What do you love to cook the most?
Paola: I love to cook my baked ziti and also making bread and pizza from scratch.
4. Do you have any cooking tips to share?
Paola: Less is more. People think Italian food is always drenched in sauce and cheese. But we actually cook very light with a lot of extra virgin olive oil and lemon finishes.
5. Vinny, you were on The Jersey Shore, what was that like?
It was an experience of a life time because it was such a massive hit. Now I enjoy pursuing my passions of entertaining from whatever doors the show opened.
6. Paola, what is it like trying something other then Italian? Did you find something else you really loved to eat?
Paola: I was very hesitant to eat new things but my son forced me. All I wanted while we were filming was a dish of spaghetti with garlic and oil but we couldn’t find it anywhere. I did find a few new foods that I liked. I loved the “hot chicken” in Nashville. There was even some sushi that I liked!
7. What made you guys want to do this Ma Eat America show?
VINNY: Well we love food and I really wanted to get my mom out of Staten Island. So this road trip is perfect. We get to eat, explore new things and share it with the world. Everyone loves watching it because they feel like they are with their mom.
8. What has been some of your best experiences while doing this show?
PAOLA: I love spending time with my son. Even though he can be a pain in my ass for making me try new food, I’m grateful for the experience.
VINNY: Not only do we eat new things we also do activities along the way. I laughed so hard watching my mom wear waders and go fly fishing. She also almost had a heart attack putting on a bee-keeper outfit to forge honey from a real bee farm.
9. Have you ran in to any bad experiences while doing the show?
PAOLA: My son will try anything to eat so when he was eating the extremely hot chicken from Bolton’s in Nashville I wanted to kill him because I thought he was going to hurt himself. He also tried to make me eat disgusting insects. You’ll have to watch the show to see what happens with that.
VINNY: Thank goodness the trip went well. No flat tires or anything and all of the business owners were very nice and welcoming. In fact, even though a lot of these foods were bizarre we found a lot in common with different cultures.
10. Do you guys have a favorite food you enjoy?
PAOLA: Spaghetti with garlic and oil
VINNY: Brick oven margarita pizza is probably my favorite. With some Tiramisu for dessert.
11. Paola, Do you have any favorite ingredients you cook with?
I love cooking with lemon, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Very simple but if you use them the right way it goes a long way.
12. Have you learned anything new from doing the show?
We learned a ton of new things. With every bite of food we took from around the country we also got a history lesson. We learned Chinese noodle pulling, how to make Kurdish naan by slamming it against the walls of an oven, how to milk a cow and much more.
13. Besides cooking, do you guys have any other hobbies you enjoy?
PAOLA: I love to draw. My son and I are both artists. I’m more abstract and he sketches anything. But it’s my favorite thing to do besides cooking.
VINNY: I have a bunch of hobbies. I love playing basketball, studying and performing improv, taking acting classes, writing sketch comedy etc…
14. Is there anything you’d like to add/say to my readers?
VINNY: When the pilot episode aired a few months ago everyone started messaging me that the show reminded me of their dynamic with their mom. Even some people who’s parents weren’t around anymore were loving it because it brought back great memories for them. We love entertaining and hope that you enjoy this show in many ways.
I would like to thank Vinny and Paola for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope you’re all excited to see this show like I am. Tomorrow is the day it will be on the cooking channel.
That sounds so great! I’ll have to check this out. I love to see a close relationship between a son and his mom. Plus, food!
Right! I love the cooking channel!
Sounds like they had quite an adventure and will make a great show. I learnt a lot too – and we are about to head off to Italy so we want to do the opposite and eat more Italian food.
That’s awesome! I’m sure you’ll have a great time there.
What a great interview. I will have to make sure that I check out this show.
I can’t wait to see it. It sounds really good, and I love the cooking channel.
What a fun show. I love that Paola like hot chicken in Nashville.
I can’t wait to see the show!
I love seeing Mothers and sons working together! This is going to be such a cute show!!
I completely agree! I can’t wait to see it.
What a cool interview! I enjoyed learning about their show!
Me too! I’m excited to see it.
Cooking shows are the best – my favorite and almost the only thing I watch! I didn’t know about this one until this post!
Cooking shows are my favorites as well. I love watching them.
It sounds like they are really close! What a fun way to entertain and try new things! The show sounds fun!
I think it’s going to be a great show. I love shows like these.
This sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to check it out.
Me either!
This is a great interview. I look forward to watching Vinny and Ma Eat America.
Me too!
I love these kind of shows. I will have to set my DVR to record it so I do not miss it.
Same here. They’re the best!
I just heard about Vinny and Ma Eat America. I will have to check it out with my Daughter. We love these kind of shows.
Same here. I love watching them. Can’t wait for this one either.
I remember watching him on The Jersey Shore! It’s nice to see him doing well and especially trying out food.
Same here! I loved that show as well. I’m glad he’s doing well too.
I had the awesome opp to interview them too! I think it is awesome that they are back on TV and I cannot wait to watch the show tomorrow.
I agree! The show looks like a great one.
i need to look for this show! It sounds great!
It sure does! I can’t wait.
He was always my favorite on the show and I remember when his mom brought the food that they were all raving about!
Right! I loved him on the show as well. I can’t wait to see this show now.
This is a great show concept. I love that Vinny loves his mom and that they are working together!
Me too. I think it’s great!
What a great interview. It must have been so exciting to meet both of them. I like their show.
This was a different type of interview. Sadly I wasn’t able to personally meet them. That would have been amazing too!
Wow! I love that his mother is ready for this big adventure! Such a great adventure I would love to follow! Thanks for the great interview, it made me so excited to see the show!
You’re welcome! It was fun to learn more about this show. I can’t wait to see it either.
This sounds like a really great show. I love watching foodie shows. I’ll have to see if I can get this up here.
Me too. I can’t wait to see this one.
This is really a cute and wonderful show idea. Its good to see family bonding together and I hope they have a good run together.
I agree. I can’t wait to see the show now either.
As a Staten Islander I am so excited to see this show! Thanks for putting it on my radar! I love that Vinnie and his mom go on this adventure together!
I love that as well! I honestly can’t wait to see the show. I’m sure it’s going to be great.
This is a fun interview. I haven’t had a chance to watch Jersey Shore and now that you shared a bit about him. I will have to check it out.
It was fun!
So cute! I’ve always loved the dynamic between Vinny and his mom. Can’t wait to check this out!
I completely agree! They have a great relationship.
I love Vinny and so this looks like something that I would enjoy. I can’t wait to see what the show brings.
Right! Definitely a show to watch.
omggg i love vinny. it is good to see him. i am gonna have to watch this. and his mom is a cutie. cant wait
Right! I’m sure the show will be a great hit too.
He was my favorite one of the Jersey hore! So excited to see him doing another show!
I agree. One of my favorites as well.
This is so much fun that you got to interview them! The show sounds like exactly the kind of show I love to watch – you got me intrigued, I will need to check it out!
Great! I sure love shows like these.
I love watching cooking shows! I am really going to check this show out. Love the idea of a mom and son tandem. Sweet!
I love cooking shows as well!
I’m officially craving Italian food now. This is such a great interview, I’ll be watching for the show.
Me too! I love Italian food.
What a great interview! I’ve got to check out this show !
Yes! A show you don’t want to miss.