Fidel Gastro lands new reality TV show, Rebel Without a Kitchen
Matt Basile was working at a Toronto advertising firm before he quit, donned the punny moniker Fidel Gastro and set out to satisfy the city with clever twists on classic Cuban sandwiches (consider his “Sloppy Jose,” a cola-braised brisket with home-style baked beans and a roasted corn aïoli). Wanting to avoid steep overhead costs, Fidel Gastro offers pop-ups and event catering service in lieu of standard restaurant dining—hence the slogan, “rebel without a kitchen.” The new reality show of the same name, produced by General Purpose Pictures, will follow Basile’s experience as he carves his way through the industry. Based on the slew of Twitter congratulations Basile received (he methodically responded to each with a characteristic exuberant “olé!”), the show will have a ready-made audience when it hits the air on the Travel and Escape channel next year. Olé! [The Grid]
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/culture/fidel-gastro-tv-show/&title=Fidel Gastro lands new reality TV show, Rebel Without a Kitchen&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/fidel-gastros-intro-624x435.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_109109" align="alignright" width="320" caption="The rebel himself, in The Butcher’s Son commercial kitchen (Image: Renée Suen)"][/caption]
Matt Basile was working at a Toronto advertising firm before he quit, donned the punny moniker Fidel Gastro and set out to satisfy the city with clever twists on classic Cuban sandwiches (consider his “Sloppy Jose,” a cola-braised brisket with home-style baked beans and a roasted corn aïoli). Wanting to avoid steep overhead costs, Fidel Gastro offers pop-ups and event catering service in lieu of standard restaurant dining—hence the slogan, “rebel without a kitchen.” The new reality show of the same name, produced by General Purpose Pictures, will follow Basile’s experience as he carves his way through the industry. Based on the slew of Twitter congratulations Basile received (he methodically responded to each with a characteristic exuberant “olé!”), the show will have a ready-made audience when it hits the air on the Travel and Escape channel next year. Olé! [The Grid]){kind=link}