Local Educator Turns Instagram Hot Dog Reviewer into Reality TV Star in Quest for Philly Fame
Emilie Dormer never thought her passion for food, coupled with a clever Instagram review of hot dogs, would catapult her onto a reality TV show. But when a casting agent reached out, the 30-year-old teacher from North Penn School District traded her line outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center with hundreds of hopefuls to audition for "Recipe Philly," a competition that aims to put homemade dishes on the menu at a new Center City restaurant.
"I've always been a foodie and it's always brought my family together," Dormer said, as she shared her signature dish - a hot dog topped with her grandmother's coleslaw recipe passed down three generations. "I learned that Recipe Philly is more about the story and less about the ability to cook, which I thought was right up my alley."
For Dormer, the audition wasn't just about showcasing her culinary skills; it was an opportunity to share a family tradition with her 1-year-old son and connect with like-minded food enthusiasts. "To be able to share [her grandmother's] legacy with my son and for everybody else to see the heart that she put into cooking was so incredibly special," she said.
Recipe Philly, a 6,600-square-foot space at 1401 Arch St., aims to become a high-end casual restaurant serving dishes straight from people's cookbooks. The show features a competition where contestants will vie for their recipes to be added to the menu, with cash prizes and free meals on offer. Ed Baumstein, executive producer of the show, initially conceived the idea during the 2008 financial crisis as a way to connect food lovers and bring people together.
"We're not just serving food; we're sharing stories," said Baumstein. "It's about common, everyday folks that grew up here in Philly." The show will feature a panel judging 100 contestants, slowly whittling down the list to 30 finalists before opening its doors in mid-May.
The production team is working on a tight deadline, with less than a month to complete construction and design for the restaurant. "We have no idea what we're going to be serving until the end of April," Baumstein said, adding that the show has not been picked up by any network or streaming service yet.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the show's future, the buzz around Recipe Philly has already garnered significant attention in the city. The open casting call drew a crowd of over 1,000 people, showcasing the diversity and passion for food among contestants. Caroline Sheets, who heads the recruiting agency responsible for casting, described the atmosphere as "heartfelt" and "tremendous."
As production prepares to take off, the team is busy plastering the walls with photos and recipes submitted during the open casting call. The restaurant's interior remains a work-in-progress, but its potential is undeniable. With a focus on storytelling and community, Recipe Philly aims to bring people together through food - and potentially launch its contestants into stardom.
Emilie Dormer never thought her passion for food, coupled with a clever Instagram review of hot dogs, would catapult her onto a reality TV show. But when a casting agent reached out, the 30-year-old teacher from North Penn School District traded her line outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center with hundreds of hopefuls to audition for "Recipe Philly," a competition that aims to put homemade dishes on the menu at a new Center City restaurant.
"I've always been a foodie and it's always brought my family together," Dormer said, as she shared her signature dish - a hot dog topped with her grandmother's coleslaw recipe passed down three generations. "I learned that Recipe Philly is more about the story and less about the ability to cook, which I thought was right up my alley."
For Dormer, the audition wasn't just about showcasing her culinary skills; it was an opportunity to share a family tradition with her 1-year-old son and connect with like-minded food enthusiasts. "To be able to share [her grandmother's] legacy with my son and for everybody else to see the heart that she put into cooking was so incredibly special," she said.
Recipe Philly, a 6,600-square-foot space at 1401 Arch St., aims to become a high-end casual restaurant serving dishes straight from people's cookbooks. The show features a competition where contestants will vie for their recipes to be added to the menu, with cash prizes and free meals on offer. Ed Baumstein, executive producer of the show, initially conceived the idea during the 2008 financial crisis as a way to connect food lovers and bring people together.
"We're not just serving food; we're sharing stories," said Baumstein. "It's about common, everyday folks that grew up here in Philly." The show will feature a panel judging 100 contestants, slowly whittling down the list to 30 finalists before opening its doors in mid-May.
The production team is working on a tight deadline, with less than a month to complete construction and design for the restaurant. "We have no idea what we're going to be serving until the end of April," Baumstein said, adding that the show has not been picked up by any network or streaming service yet.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the show's future, the buzz around Recipe Philly has already garnered significant attention in the city. The open casting call drew a crowd of over 1,000 people, showcasing the diversity and passion for food among contestants. Caroline Sheets, who heads the recruiting agency responsible for casting, described the atmosphere as "heartfelt" and "tremendous."
As production prepares to take off, the team is busy plastering the walls with photos and recipes submitted during the open casting call. The restaurant's interior remains a work-in-progress, but its potential is undeniable. With a focus on storytelling and community, Recipe Philly aims to bring people together through food - and potentially launch its contestants into stardom.
I just saw the audition video of Emilie Dormer for Recipe Philly and she's so adorable 
! I love how she shared her grandma's coleslaw recipe and it's actually a lot easier to make than I thought 
. But seriously, I think it's amazing that they're focusing on storytelling over cooking skills - it's all about the heart behind the dish 
. And can we talk about how cute is her little son in the background? 
I'm rooting for Emilie to make it onto the show! 
The whole concept of Recipe Philly seems like a super cool way to bring people together over food - I'm excited to see how it all unfolds! 
.
it's like the perfect combo of foodie passion & family traditions Emilie Dormer, a local teacher, turned her love for hot dogs (who doesn't love hot dogs? 
) into a viral Instagram review and now she's getting to share her grandma's coleslaw recipe on TV! 
It's amazing how something as simple as a hot dog can bring people together like that. I remember when my own grandma used to make this crazy-delicious chili recipe that would make our whole family go wild. Every time we'd have a family gathering, she'd be in charge of the food and everyone would rave about her cooking. 
That would be surreal for anyone, let alone someone who just starts out as an Instagram hot dog reviewer! 
. And a 6,600 sq ft restaurant space is huge! How will it handle all those contestants and the judging process? What makes you think this show will be different from others? Are they going to focus more on the cooking or the story behind each dish?
. Anyway, I'm sure Emilie Dormer is nice and all, but let's see how this whole thing plays out 
. The fact that it's more about the story than just cooking skills is really refreshing too. It's great that they're focusing on bringing people together through food, even if the show's future is uncertain 
.