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Oak Park restaurant owner among ‘Check, Please!’ host finalists
Cristiane Pereira isn't among the five finalists to be the new host of WTTW's "Check, Please!" but says trying out was a great experience. | Bill Dwyer~Sun-Times Media
Updated: March 22, 2013 6:17PM
An Oak Park restaurant owner is among 17 finalists to be the host of the “Check, Please!” review show on WTTW-Channel 11.
“A-maz-ing!”
That was Cristiane Pereira’s reaction to an email from WTTW recently, informing her she was a finalist in the search for the person to replace Alpana Singh as host of the popular show.
Pereira is also the chef at her restaurant, Taste of Brasil Cafe, 906 S. Oak Park Ave. She lives in Berwyn.
“I can’t stop smiling,” Pereira said Wednesday by phone from her restaurant.
“I have no words to describe it.”
Pereira said she first heard of the job opening when a friend called and urged her to apply.
She did, and felt good about it.
“It was like a meet-and-greet, with a five minute interview,” she said. “You never how you’ve done in an interview, but I felt good about it.”
Though not cocky.
“The competition is very, very strong,” she said. “I saw a lot of really good knowledgeable people there.”
Oak Parkers and other fans of Periera and her restaurant can cast their vote for her online.
The public television network posted a list of the 17 finalists Wednesday, complete with their bios and audition videos. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. April 17.
Online votes will be one factor, but there also will be input from WTTW producers and staff in deciding who will take former host Alpana Singh’s spot at the table.
Only one vote per IP address will be accepted.
Pereira is confident she’ll get support from her restaurant customers.
“I’m sure they’ll support me,” she said, praising her customer base. “I built this business from scratch because of the people who’ve supported me.”
Pereira said she’ll keep busy with her restaurant in the meantime as she waits to hear the decision from the Check Please producers.
“If God wants it to be, this will happen.”
The public television network posted an online list of 17 finalists Wednesday, complete with their bios and audition videos. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. April 17.
Online votes will be one factor, but there also will be input from WTTW producers and staff in deciding who will take former host Alpana Singh’s spot at the table.
The other 16 finalists are:
• Cassidy Stirtz, a server/actor (Chicago)
• Tony Diaz, sous chef at Maude’s Liquor Bar (Chicago)
• Senam Amegashie, freelance writer (Chicago)
• Sarah Levy, owner of S. Levy Foods, magazine editor (Chicago)
• Donny de Castro, owner of Tavern at the Park Restaurant (Chicago)
• Frank Brunacci, former executive chef at Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, current chef at The Chefs Diamond Co. Australian native who now lives in Munster, Ind.
• Rochelle Trotter, owner of R’Culinaire and wife of chef Charlie Trotter (Chicago)
• Flavia Magdalin, general manager at Ralph Lauren Restaurant (Chicago)
• Tommy Walton, fashion design teacher and former “Check Please!” All-Star (Chicago)
• Ina Pinkney, chef/owner of Ina’s Kitchen (Chicago)
• Emilie Rose Bishop, chief mixologist at iNG (Chicago)
• Anthony Todd, food and drink editor for Chicagoist.com and Chicago editor for Citysearch.com (Chicago)
• Catherine De Orio, president at Culinary Curator (Chicago)
• Cleetus Friedman, former chef/owner of City Provisions (Chicago)
• Alia Dalal, personal chef/food tour guide who grew up in Clarendon Hills and now lives in the city.
• Bill St. John, wine writer for the Chicago Tribune/professor at University of Chicago’s Graham School (Chicago)
The Daily Sizzle, a Chicago Sun-Times arts and entertainment blog, contributed to this report.
