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Fort Lauderdale Art Institute Students, Ralph Pagano Star in New Cooking Show

All Mixed Up, a new half-hour cooking competition, is premiering on Lifetime Television on September 7 at 7:30 a.m. What makes this show stand out in a sea of culinary-based reality shows? Both host and contestants are from South Florida.This three-part series' contestants are all current students at the International...
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All Mixed Up, a new half-hour cooking competition, is premiering on Lifetime Television on September 7 at 7:30 a.m. What makes this show stand out in a sea of culinary-based reality shows? Both host and contestants are from South Florida.

This three-part series' contestants are all current students at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Krystal Battle, Cameron Bevan, and Ashley Gallant were chosen for the show after enduring a daylong student casting call.


The host is Ralph Pagano, executive chef and director of hospitality at Sole on the Ocean Resort and Spa in Sunny Isles. Pagano, no stranger to television, has battled Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America, taken heat from Gordon Ramsay on Hell's Kitchen, and hosted Pressure Cook on Travel Channel.

On All Mixed Up, Pagano serves as both mentor and judge to the students, who are tasked with making original dishes from supplied ingredients. Of course, some roadblocks are thrown in their way, and there's the usual screaming and tears found in every reality show.

Most of the show was filmed on location at the Art Institute, with additional scenes shot on location at local South Florida restaurants. We'll be watching to see which ones were chosen (you can bet they're of the picturesque waterfront variety).



Contestant Ashley Gallant gets some culinary pointers from host Ralph Pagano.

Contestant Krystal Battle mixes up a dish for host Ralph Pagano.


Cameron Bevan is focused on the task at hand during a taping of All Mixed Up.




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