Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Visits Two Lake Tahoe Diners

By Tahoe Staff | Thursday, January 14, 2016

Truckee’s own JAX at the Tracks was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

The show’s producers were drawn to the restaurant’s “comfort food with an attitude” vibe as well as the fact that it is housed in an original 1940's diner. The popular show featured the affable bleach-blond host, Guy Fieri, visiting everything from venerated greasy spoons to classic establishments that provide distinctive food. And while the show may have seemed impromptu, it was actually a three-day process that required intense preparation and filming.

During the shoot, JAX was open on a limited basis to accommodate the army of Food Network staffers who brought truckloads of film and audio equipment, not to mention a large rack of wardrobe selections for the hip host.

On the first day the program staff concentrated on still shots. Day two was all about the preparation of some of the restaurant’s signature items: Kobe meatloaf, Maryland Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and homemade pulled pork sandwiches.

Day three was all about capturing JAX’s friendly ambiance as Fieri interviewed diners about their favorite items and tried some himself including the eggs Benedict.

The firey Fieri also dropped in to Brickelltown’s Burger Me! to film at the renovated warehouse burger joint. The all-natural products and unique spin on the humble burger caught Fieri’s attention after customers called in to sell Burger Me! The small business is locally owned and operated and uses all-natural products and creative burger construction. Shooting for the spot was a two-day process, with 15 hours of shooting for the 10-minute section.

A few of Fieri’s favorites were the Truckee Train Wreck, a large burger with turkey chili, cheddar cheese, fried egg and onion rings and the Italian Stallion Special, a bison burger with Provolone, mortadella, salami and hot chopped Boston peppers topped with vinegar and oil on a Truckee Sourdough Company roll.