CHEF RICHIE FARINA DUELS WITH "CARNIVAL KINGS" ON NEW COOKING CHANNEL SERIES

New Series Premieres Thursday, July 12th at 9pm ET/6pm PT

NEW YORK - June 5, 2018 - Michelin-starred chef Richie Farina is known for making food fun by incorporating science to push the limits of creativity with every meal he serves. On Thursday, July 12th at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT he is bringing his creative chops to one of the most imaginative and competitive food arenas - carnival fairgrounds. At carnivals, the more out-there a dish is, the more people seem to like it, and the competition amongst the carnival chefs to create the most imaginative dish is fierce. On Carnival Kings, Richie wants in on all the action, as he travels to fairs across the country challenging carnival chef royalty in their own kingdoms to a cook-off featuring their famous fare. Real fairgoers determine whose version is better, earning the winning chef bragging rights and the throne. Get ready for a thrilling competition on Carnival Kings!

"Carnival Kings combines the hottest summer food trend of fair foods with high drama and frenzied challenges, pushing the boundaries of carnival cuisine," said Courtney White, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Programming, Food Network and HGTV. "Viewers are in for a ride with host Richie Farina's culinary creativity and out-of-the-box creations."

From deep-fried nachos supreme to juicy donut burgers served with a fried egg on top, Richie Farina thinks he has the skills and creativity to make carnival cuisine even more decadent and delicious. Throughout the eight half-hour episodes, Richie heads to some of the biggest fairs in Arizona, California and Nevada. At each one he has only 24 hours to come up with his own unique spin on the festival's most popular signature dish, before facing-off with the chef who created it. The one with the most crowd-pleasing dish will win the competition and earn a lifetime of bragging rights.

On the premiere, Richie heads to Tucson, AZ for the Pima County Fair. There, he tests his talents against a bacon-wrapped duck slider, with flaming hot cheese puffs and caramel apple slaw, served with a side of bacon fat tater tots. Will 24 hours be enough time for Richie to come up with his own take on this dish? Is there any way he can create something even more mouthwatering than the original? Don't miss the action unfold on the premiere of Carnival Kings.

For carnival cuisine that can be made at home, and exclusive videos visit CookingChannelTV.com/CarnivalKings. Fans can also share their carnival cravings on social media, and vote for their favorite dish using #CarnivalKings.

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COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Cooking Channel is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.