Cheers to the Season Premiere of Check, Please! Bay Area

New episodes of the award–winning program air Thursday, April 26, at 7:30pm on KQED 9.

April 5, 2012, San Francisco, CA — What do an account executive, cookbook author and renewable energy forecaster have in common? They’re all guests in the premiere episode of Check, Please! Bay Area’s seventh season. In the James Beard and Emmy Award–winning program, local diners are cast as restaurant critics, and each episode features three Bay Area residents sharing their favorite spots with beloved host Leslie Sbrocco (thirstygirl, Good Morning America). The question always remains: Will the three guests agree about their favorites? The new season premieres Thursday, April 26, at 7:30pmon KQED 9 with five new episodes through May 24 on Thursdays at 7:30pm. More new episodes will follow in the fall.

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Check, Please! Bay Area is the one place you can discover Bay Area’s best eateries—from a sandwich counter to a four-star destination—recommended by local foodies just like you! For video, recipes, restaurant information and more, please visit kqed.org/checkplease and follow Check Please! Bay Area on Facebook and Twitter for more insider information, behind-the-scene photos and amazing giveaways.

“I love the excitement of shooting new shows,” said Sbrocco, award-winning author, wine connoisseur, newspaper columnist, and speaker. “Each season is full of surprises and this one is no exception. From the restaurants chosen to the guests themselves, our latest episodes will make you hungry while keeping you laughing.”

This new season focuses on finding hidden gems that don’t make the headlines. Each episode travels around the Bay Area on the recommendation of the three guests and the food and the personalities featured in this season are as diverse as the Bay Area itself. The premiere episode on April 26 features a neighborhood Italian eatery in Oakland, a sandwich shop in Sausalito with a cult following and a charming French bistro in San Francisco.

Every episode, each guest chooses their favorite eatery and the other two guests visit under total anonymity — the restaurants are not notified that Check, Please! “reviewers” are dining there. After trying each other’s recommendations, they join host and moderator Leslie Sbrocco to discuss, dispute, and celebrate their dining experiences with lively commentary. The series is produced by award-winning producer Tina Salter (Essential Pépin).

Support for Check, Please! Bay Area is provided by Charitable Auto Resources and Integrated Resources Group.

ABOUT KQED:
KQED (kqed.org) has served Northern California for more than 50 years and is affiliated with NPR and PBS. KQED owns and operates public television stations KQED 9 (San Francisco/Bay Area), KQED Plus (San Jose/Bay Area) and KQET 25 (Watsonville/Monterey); KQED Public Radio (88.5 FM San Francisco and 89.3 FM Sacramento); the interactive platforms kqed.org and KQEDnews.org; and KQED Education. KQED Public Television is the producer of local and national series such as QUEST; Check, Please! Bay Area; This Week in Northern California; Truly CA; and Essential Pépin. KQED’s digital television stations include KQED 9, KQED Plus, KQED Life, KQED World, KQED Kids and KQED V-me, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. KQED Public Radio, home of Forum and The California Report, is one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service delivering more than eighteen local weekday newscasts and news features. KQED Interactive provides KQED’s cross-platform news service, KQEDnews.org, as well as several popular local blogs, video and audio podcasts and a live radio stream at kqed.org. KQED Education brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and the general public through workshops, community screenings and multimedia resources.