FMI Taps Chef Robert Irvine to Emcee ‘Stir It Up’ Showdown

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has tapped Chef Robert Irvine to emcee its Stir It Up fundraising culinary competition on Jan. 27, during its annual Midwinter Executive Conference in Miami.

Stir It Up, which supports the FMI Foundation and its family meals movement, showcases the culinary skills of retailers and manufacturers in a spirited competition to dish up the best family meals in the following categories: easiest, tastiest, healthiest, most affordable and most adventurous.

More than 20 entries competed during last year’s event, which invited participants to taste, judge and select their favorites. The event garnered a record-breaking $1.1 million to support research and education in the areas of food safety, nutrition and health and, most notably, National Family Meals Month.

Well-known for his Food Network shows "Restaurant: Impossible," "Dinner: Impossible" and "Worst Cooks in America," Irvine is “the perfect celebrity to host the most significant culinary event that demonstrates how family meals are possible. We are absolutely thrilled that he will join us at Stir It Up and in the family meals movement,” said Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI.

For his part, Irvine said the “event and its cause—encouraging more family meals—could not be more important to me,” which, he added, dovetails with the release of his new book, "Family Table." Irvine said the book, which will be released in January 2019, speaks to “my urgent call for families to refocus on what’s most important, which is family, and in my experience, a strong family connection starts in the kitchen.”

Photograph courtesy of FMI