Culinary Specialist and host of the Taste of Home Cooking School, Michelle “Red” Roberts, gets the crowd excited about winning some of her dishes she prepared during her show on stage at Mathis City Auditorium Tuesday evening.

A “tasteful” show of food and frills made its way back to Valdosta Tuesday.

The 2011 Taste of Home Cooking School once again set up shop and entertained guests at the Mathis City Auditorium.

Ten all new recipes were demonstrated in front of more than 800 guests by culinary specialist, singer and entertainer Michelle “Red” Roberts.

“This is my sixth year coming to Valdosta and each time I present new dishes,” Roberts said. “I really like coming to Valdosta and I think we will continue to come as long as the people keep coming.”

Traveling the states and standing in front of hundreds of people may be nerve racking for some, but Roberts said she loves what she does and wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I don’t have any sort of pre-show routine,” she added, “I just arrive early and prepare the setup.”

The cooking comedian does not do all the setting up alone. She has a team of helpers backstage who ensures the ingredients and utensils needed are ready for her steady-flowing show.

Roberts said will have a day to “relax” before doing her next show in Franklin, North Carolina.

Opening the show for yet another year was Valdosta Daily Times Assistant Managing Editor Dean Poling. He set up the stage with his one-man comedy act followed by gift giveaways in between “Red’s” cooking presentations.

One attendee who says she always looks forward to the comedy is Valdosta resident, Alisa Collins. She has been coming to The Taste of Home event for about four or five years.

“I really like the live cooking show as opposed to watching it on television,” Collins said. “I think it’s great. I really enjoy watching Michelle do her thing.”

Collins was a repeat guest, but 22-year-old Jody Winnett made his first appearance. He was “asked “ to attend by his   fiancé, Ashley Shafer.

“She asked if I would come with her, and I could see she was antsy about it,” Winnett smiled. “When I agreed, her face lit up. I figured it’s the least I can do for her, I mean, she deals with a lot when I’m deployed and she’s at home alone.”

Shafer, 21, works for Publix, one of the event sponsors. She said she likes to bake and is considering a future in the bakery business.

Several vendors were on hand selling and displaying their products. The event was made possible by the various sponsors, vendors and volunteers, many of whom make repeat visits.  

Clay Hurdle, 16, 4-H volunteer said it was more than just volunteering at an event for him.

“I volunteered here last year,” the ambitious teen said. “For me,this show is educational. I want to learn more about cooking (as a hobby) because, for one, I will be going off to college in 1 1/2 years. I figure, what better  way to learn than to watch someone who is so passionate about cooking.”

It’s not all about the cooking for Hurdle. He also added that volunteering is “invigorating” because he gets to do so many different things and meet so many different people while giving back to his community.

Before the live show, guests feasted on an array of foods catered by Ahh…David where the mission is… “Experience the Excitement of Entertaining.”