Hairy Bikers
Delectable new HISTORY series premiering on Friday, October 14 at 10pm ET
Follows Chef Paul Patranella and Mechanic Bill Allen on an Adventure through America’s Heartland
U.S. version of the hit international format is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions
September 14, 2011 – Paul Patranella is a 4-star, classically trained French chef who loves motorcycles. Bill Allen, a renowned motorcycle mechanic, is passionate about food. These two long-time friends know that food is the ticket to the American experience and motorcycling is the only way to get there.
In Hairy Bikers, premiering Friday, October 14 at 10pm ET on HISTORY, Paul and Bill embark on an amusing and informative road trip along back roads to immerse themselves in local American history and long-standing traditions. But they don’t just cook and eat with the locals – they do everything it takes to put the meal on the table. They spear bullfrogs, trawl for shrimp and capture gators with a cross bow; they clean road kill, harvest wheat for beer, and track down wild boars.
In this 12-part series produced for HISTORY by BBC Worldwide Productions, also producers of the network’s hit series Top Gear, Bill and Paul explore the different old-school eating habits of various regions, from the southern Louisiana coast to South Carolina’s Low Country, from the Great Smokey Mountains to central Oklahoma and beyond. They learn folklore and age-old customs as they hunt, gather, cook, and eat side-by-side with a colorful assortment of local characters.
Back on the open road, the boys camp, fix up motorcycles, stop at roadside attractions, and swing by local biker events – all part of the Hairy Bikers mission to experience first-hand why eating and biking are some of America’s favorite pastimes.
Hairy Bikers - Biographies
- Bill Allen, 44, is the owner of Bill Allen Motorcycle Company, a premiere shop in central Texas where he’s known for his attention to detail. He is also a custom bike builder, musician and passionate cook. After graduating from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Orlando, FL, he became crew chief in the super modified class of the American Drag Bike Association race circuit, setting 4 national records in his class for drag racing. He’s been cooking and throwing dinner parties with his best friend Paul Patranella for the past 20 years. Nearly every Sunday night, he and his wife host what they call their “home for wayward musicians” to support some of their “starving artist” friends.
- Paul Patranella, 41, studied at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, TX. After four years as chef at one of Las Vegas’ most prestigious restaurants, he returned to Bryan, Texas to open Square One, where he helped promote fresh, local produce. From there he was hired as the personal chef for President George and Barbara Bush and head chef for the Bush Presidential Library. Now on his 14th motorcycle, he’s spent decades riding the back roads of Texas with his best friend Bill Allen.
The Hairy Bikers title has been sold in over 160 territories worldwide including Australia, China, Egypt, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Taiwan and more, capturing the imagination of cooking enthusiasts and redefining the genre. The original Hairy Bikers on BBC Two in the UK has completed their 8th season, repeatedly demonstrating phenomenal success with viewers.
Hairy Bikers is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for HISTORY. Executive Producer is Dawn Fitzgerald. Executive Producer for HISTORY is Julian P. Hobbs. Executive Producers for BBC Worldwide Productions are Elli Hakami and Jane Tranter.