Interview with Check, Please! Bay Area host Leslie Sbrocco

Leslie Sbrocco on the set of Check, Please! Bay Area at KQED. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie Sbrocco on the set of Check, Please! Bay Area at KQED.

All Photos: Wendy Goodfriend

Season 8 of KQED's Check, Please! Bay Area will premiere April 11 on KQED 9. This locally-produced program features regular Bay Area residents reviewing and talking about their favorite restaurants. Leslie Sbrocco has been the host for the entire series and in this Bay Area Bites interview we get a closer look at who she is and what goes on behind the clinking wine glasses.

What do viewers have to look forward to in Check, Please! Bay Area's new season 8?
More fun and guest fireworks, more wine tips, which we launched last season, and restaurants that you've never heard of but deserve attention.

Can you briefly share what your background is in the wine and food industry and why you think you were selected to host Check, Please! Bay Area?
My background before coming to Check, Please! Bay Area as host was (and still is) in the wine and drinks industry. I helped create the website about wine for the New York Times Company more than a decade ago, which really kicked off my wine career. I have written two books about wine (Wine for Women and The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide), I am a wine consultant who has worked with Virgin America Airlines, Kimpton Hotels, Harry & David among other companies, a wine educator and speaker who travels the globe speaking to thousands about wine, drinks and food, a regular on numerous national television programs such as NBC's Today show, and the co-founder of ThirstyGirl.com.

I was contacted before the first season to come in and audition after someone had seen my wine segments on a PBS cooking show. And, as they say, the rest is history.

How has being the host of Check, Please! Bay Area for 8 years affected your career?
It's been a terrific part of my career! I get recognized quite a lot now and when I do people profess their love of the show. I love it.

Make-up artist Kadidja Sallak gets Leslie ready for taping 3 episodes of Check, Please! Bay Area at KQED. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Make-up artist Kadidja Sallak gets Leslie ready for taping 3 episodes of Check, Please! Bay Area at KQED.

Do you eat at all the restaurants on the show?
I visit nearly all the restaurants. With three on each show I aim to eat at two of them. As I live in the Sonoma area, I must admit I don't always make it to the South Bay or far East Bay spots, but I've put plenty of miles on my car during seven seasons. Usually I bring friends or family with me as I just try to sample the food not eat whole dishes. I like to talk to the chefs, the sommeliers and wine directors and get a feel for the place. Now that the show has become so popular most of the restaurants recognize me, but by the time I get there the guests have already visited the spot anonymously so it's no big deal.

What's the hardest thing about doing the show?
I don't get to give my opinion. You should see how hard it is sometimes when I think the guest is saying something totally off base or outrageous. I'm smiling but really thinking, "Are they crazy?" But, my job is to keep the conversation moving. We only have one go at the show so what you see is pretty much live. I'm taking time cues from the director and have to make sure we hit all of the timing. It's fast-paced but everyone who has been on has wanted to come back and do it again. They have a great time and so do I.

The structure of Check, Please! Bay Area is fairly formulaic -- what are your fantasies about an episode that would break the mold?
As I said above, the hardest part for me is not giving my opinion on the restaurants. I'd LOVE to actually be my wild, opinionated self who shows a little more cleavage, drinks wine with the guests (maybe do the occasional shot of tequila) and generally be less controlled. That would be fun, but don't think it's going to happen.

Leslie and guests relaxing in the green room after the taping of Check, Please! Bay Area. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie and guests relaxing in the green room after the taping of Check, Please! Bay Area.

What are the questions people ask you most?
How do I get on the show is number one, then the next is, "are you really drinking wine?" Yes. The vast majority of our guests have never been on television and so it's my job to make it a comfortable, fun and easy experience. I'd like to think I'm good at doing all those things but gotta say...the wine helps. When they drink the glasses we fill them back up so it looks the same. We've only had a couple guests who were slightly over-served. And, if they don't drink wine, you'll see juice, water, and even the occasional beer on the table.

Leslie and guests drinking wine on the set after taping an episode for Season 8. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie and guests drinking wine on the set after taping an episode for Season 8.

What are some other "insider" fun facts about the show?
When we first started doing the show my producer had a hell of a time editing because my hands were in every shot. (I married an Italian, but everyone claims I move my hands like one, too.) After season one we modified the table to put on a Leslie "nipple," which is an extra curved part of the table that juts out to keep me slightly separated from the guests so I'm not hitting them with my hands all the time. I've only knocked one glass of wine on a guest this season with my expressive hands. It was white so we were cool, though.

Leslie Sbrocco accidently spills wine on a guest and stage manager Randy Brase uses a blow dryer to remedy the situation. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie Sbrocco accidently spills wine on a guest and stage manager Randy Brase uses a blow dryer to remedy the situation.

When people meet you, what is the first thing they say?
You're so tall! I get it all the time. I'm 5' 10" and usually wear heels. Viewers are used to seeing me sit down so they think I'm shorter and many people who are on television are actually much smaller in person. (Secret -- We also put quite a few of the guests up on cushions so that the height is evened out.) I always joke that I'd love people to meet me and say, "You're so much younger and thinner in person," but I usually get the tall comment first. Last event I did, however, a husband and wife came up to me and said they were huge fans of the show and noted how much "prettier" I was in person. I was very flattered, gave them a hug, then slipped them a $20 bill.

Leslie Sbrocco with El Sur owner Marianne Despres at Check, Please! Bay Area event at SOMA StrEat Food Park. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie Sbrocco with El Sur owner Marianne Despres at Check, Please! Bay Area event at SOMA StrEat Food Park.

What are you like off camera?
I like to think I'm the same, but I'm definitely a little crazier and even more gregarious in person. I've had friends say they watch me on the show and call it "Leslie Lite" because I tend to be more of a comedian in person. I try to keep my racy mouth in check, too, when doing the show except between takes when my bawdy humor takes over.

Leslie tasting wines post-taping to write wine notes that are published on the website. Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie tasting wines post-taping to write wine notes that are published on the website.

You have a tattoo on your leg. what's the story?
I wanted a tattoo for the last few years and I knew it would be glass of rose champagne -- my favorite wine. I had three criteria when it came to getting a tat: first, my tattoo had to be done by a terrific artist; second, it had to be in a place I could cover up; and most importantly, it had to be in a place that didn't sag (I'm not 21 you know). So, I decided the back of my leg was the perfect spot. I was going to get it done locally then my publicist got a call about me appearing on the TV show LA INK. So, I packed up my pink bubbly and my legs and headed to Los Angeles where I got inked. It turned out to be bigger and more colorful than I thought, but now I love it. My motto after all is "life, drink it up!"

Leslie Sbrocco's wine glass leg tattoo (center). Photo: Wendy Goodfriend — Leslie Sbrocco's wine glass leg tattoo (center).