“The Food Explorer” host Bill Collins speaks with a guest on the show during production.
Photo credit: Stonegate Studios
EAST LONGMEADOW — Television show “The Food Explorer,” hosted by Center Square Grill Owner Bill Collins, was recently awarded three Telly Awards for social media content produced ahead of the show’s premiere later this year.
Produced through Stonegate Studios, the show follows Collins as he connects with chefs and restaurant owners around the world to create an “immersive experience,” he told Reminder Publishing.
The show was awarded two silver awards and one bronze award for the pieces “Slider Bowl 2024” and “Swordfish with Portuguese Tomato Rice,” which were posted online as promotional material for the show, Collins said.
Photo credit: Stonegate Studios
He explained that the show’s director, Tony Colapietro, selected and submitted the pieces, which showcase Collins cooking two different recipes, including a swordfish recipe inspired by a trip he took with his family to Portugal and two slider options inspired by the two teams in the 2024 Super Bowl.
While “Swordfish with Portuguese Tomato Rice” won a silver award in the Food and Beverage category, the “Slider Bowl 2024” piece won bronze in Culture and Lifestyle as well as a “People’s Telly” silver award, according to the award results posted by the Telly Awards.
Collins was “really proud” that the two pieces were recognized by the Telly Awards, stating that they had been “a fun way to promote the show.”
The Telly Awards began in 1979, annually awarding television shows and other online video content, the organization stated. Work is submitted across several categories and cannot be previously aired on the “five major TV networks.” There is a cost associated with submitting entries, the Telly Awards stated.
Collins and Stonegate Studios are currently working on episodes for season 1 of “The Food Explorer” with Collins stating that multiple seasons was possible if viewers expressed interest. He noted that there was enough interest from potential show guests for more than one season.
Although the broadcast date for the show has not yet been selected, Collins stated that he hoped it would be available in the fall. When broadcasted, the show will be available on two local channels in Western Massachusetts, as well as in certain parts of Connecticut and the Boston area, he said.
Collins highlighted his excitement for the show to broadcast, stating that he hoped residents would “tune in” to learn more about food “through the lens of a chef and restaurant owner.”
For more information about “The Food Explorer” and its awards, visit tellyawards.com/winners and search “The Food Explorer.” The winning videos are also available from Stonegate Studios at youtube.com/@stonegatestudios1.
