REVIEWING A TV SHOW SCREENED IN A MOVIE THEATER >>>
Around 300 people packed Capitol Theater in Olympia Monday night to view the premiere of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode "Hometown Haunts," featuring Oly favorite Darby's Café.
Regulars of the café, neighbors, family and friends whooped and hollered as the familiar friendly faces of owners Sara and Nate Reilly as well as Chef Johanna Vasseur filled the big screen.
Three dishes were featured while Vasseur and celebrity chef and DD&D host Guy Fieri joked about ingredients - she called the breading on the oysters "crustafarian" in true Olympia fashion - gave high fives and goofed around. Fieri complimented Vasseur's Oysters Creole, the Blueberry Crunch Roller and the Winter Squash and Apple Hash.
"I'd come back to Olympia for that," Fieri said about the Oysters Creole, to which Vasseur replied, "We'll take you."
"It was like working with employees," said Vasseur on filming with Fieri and his crew. "It was just fun."
After the screening, Sara jumped up on Capitol Theater stage to announce the night's event brought in more than $1,500 for the Thurston County Food Bank, and to express gratitude to everyone who supports Darby's.
"We want to thank our entire crew ... they really, really helped us out and lots of our friends and family too," said Sara. "It's actually a lot of work ... just thank you."
It's been a wild six months since the Reillys received news they'd be on the show, and the couple is grateful they can get back on track with the restaurant.
But, they admit, the 15-minutes of fame may turn into something bigger. After talking to other restaurant owners who have been on the show, the Reillys expect to see an influx of regulars, and to serve fans of the show that will come in to order exactly what they saw on television.
As for Vasseur, she's already prepping her video auditions for culinary TV shows Chopped and The Next Food Network Star.
"She's an incredibly talented cook," said Sara.
Darby's Cafe and the "Hometown Haunts" episode will replay on the Food Network at 9 p.m. and midnight Feb. 1 and 4 p.m. Feb. 2.
DARBY'S CAFÉ, 211 FIFTH AVE., OLYMPIA, 360.357.6229