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THE RETURN OF DELICIOUS MISCHIEF

Delicious Mischief, the irreverent, high-energy Houston food and wine show hosted by John DeMers, has returned to the local airwaves – with a satisfying side order of the arts. The show, launched locally on KBME three years ago and later residing happily at KRTS until its sale, returned not only to the airwaves but from FM to its birthplace on AM radio.

Delicious Mischief can now be heard Saturdays from 11 a.m.-Noon on CNN 650am Radio News. Sponsorship in Houston has remained constant since the very first show: nationally recognized local legend Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods.

“It was only a matter of weeks after my move to Houston that John and Lindy Rydman  told me over some of their pastrami that if I could organize a food and wine show here, Spec’s would be happy to sponsor it,” DeMers recalls. “At that moment, being me, I was really more grateful for the unbelievable pastrami. But John and Lindy have been true to their larger promise as well.”

The show’s broadening to encompass “food, wine and the arts” is consistent with the Rydmans’ longtime commitment to the local arts scene, particularly the Houston Symphony, and also reflects DeMers’ recent appointment as editor in chief for performing arts of ArtsHouston magazine. In addition to local chefs, restaurateurs, food purveyors, winemakers, distillers and cookbook authors, guests on Delicious Mischief will include singers, dancers, conductors and potentially the entire cast of Les Miserables.

“As with any radio show, we have to keep one eye on the clock,” says DeMers. “But this show lives as if there is no clock. It’s more like a seamless evening sitting at a café table where all your friends drop by for something to nibble on, a glass or three of wine – and plenty of great conversation. In fact, if I really had such a café table, I’d hope people like this would drop by.”

DeMers, the former globetrotting food editor of United Press International, ate his way through 126 foreign countries before moving to Texas to follow Ann Criswell as food editor of the Houston Chronicle. He left the daily after 18 months to launch Texas Foodlover magazine and concentrate on Delicious Mischief. DeMers is the author of 30 published books, most recently Houston: Culinary Capital and Ciao Tuscany, his third companion to the popular PBS series hosted by Houston’s own Damian Mandola and Johnny Carrabba.