'Dinner: Impossible' Chef in Hot Water

Zap2It.com | February 29, 2008

Robert Irvine, 'Dinner: Impossible'

Robert Irvine found lying about his resume very possible

"Dinner: Impossible" chef Robert Irvine's reputation was tarnished after being caught in several lies and exaggerations about his experience, but now it looks like his job may be in jeopardy as well.

In a St. Petersburg Times article last week, he admitted that he lied about being knighted by The Queen, and several boasts -- designing Princess Diana's wedding cake, cooking for the White House, graduating from the University of Leeds -- also turned out to be untrue.

Already, the Food Network has yanked Irvine's bio from its webpage for "Hosts/Celebrity Chefs," removed the introductory claims from the opening of "Dinner: Impossible" and issued the following statement:

"It's unfortunate if Robert embellished the extent of his culinary experiences. We are investigating the matter and taking the necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of all representations of Robert on Food Network and foodnetwork.com."

Now, TMZ.com is reporting that the network has "not renewed Robert's contract for future seasons" and "will be looking for a replacement host."

So far, however, Irvine has continued with his work, which continues to impress. On Wedensday, Feb. 27, the chef was in Washington to tape the latest edition of the show, which is slated air sometime next year, reports the Washington Post. He had to cook Japanese cuisine for 250 guests at the Pink Tie party.

On "Dinner: Impossible," Irvine is given a task or "mission" to cook a gourmet meal for several hundred people in a limited amount of time. Monkeywrenches thrown into the works include limited ingredients, makeshift cooking implements, special requests, bad weather and other fun obstacles to ratchet up the tension.