"FigureSkating" news and stories

Brian Boitano is renowned for his 1988 Olympic gold medal in figure skating and infamous for a song from 1999's "South Park" movie. But now the professional skater is working a different arena -- the cooking show.

On Sunday, Boitano makes his Food Network debut with "What Would Brian Boitano Make?" Quite possibly one of the campiest cooking shows to hit TV, it follows the Olympian as he makes meals for the likes of a bachelor friend, a handyman, a new mom and roller derby girls, all from the comforts of his real-life kitchen.

Boitano spoke with Slashfood about his cooking-show debut, being a "clean eater," his "South Park" song and the one kitchen gadget he can't live without (Slap Chop anyone?).

Have you always been a cook?
Well, not always. After the Olympics I really started to discover food. I always wanted to eat food, but I never ate food before the Olympics because I was always on a diet, and what I ate wasn't that interesting. Then after I started discovering food and wanting to prepare it, and then discovering different recipes and ways to prepare it -- just by trial and error. So it's like all self-taught, and just having friends over and finding out what they like, and what I like to serve.

So I've always, always loved food. In fact, for my 'up close and personal' in the '88 Olympics, I did a thing where I went to a restaurant and said I wanted to open a restaurant. So I've always wanted to have a restaurant and that kind of thing since I've been 20.

At the intersection of "South Park," the Food Network and professional figure skating there comes this news flash: Brian Boitano is apparently a foodie.

The gold-medal-winning Olympian who spent a career on the ice has decided to heat things up with a Food Network show. Beginning in August, "What Would Brian Boitano Make?" will follow the skater reality-TV style as he whips up "amazing food for a new event in each episode," according to the network.

We are as surprised at this development as we were when we learned of the culinary prowess of the late Danny Kaye (thanks Ruth!). Boitano's sport is known for a jump called the Salchow. Will he dare to go to triple sow-cow territory? Will he cook skate? We'll have to wait and see.