Food Network chef Robert Irvine will cook at The Paramount

Chef Robert Irvine has a talent for making people laugh — or cry. That’s evident from watching his Food Network shows, “Dinner: Impossible” and “Restaurant: Impossible,” where Irvine is forced to cook a meal or revamp a restaurant under difficult circumstances and tight deadlines. The fast-paced kitchen drama has inspired a live show coming to The Paramount in Huntington on Sunday.

“The audience literally drives the show. There’s a wheel where fans pick the challenges I do and the food I use,” says Irvine, 50. “Sometimes it involves wearing handcuffs, a straitjacket or dangling upside down. You just never know what’s going to happen at any point in time.”

INTERACTIVE ELEMENT

The stage is set up like a kitchen, stocked with a variety of local produce. But Irvine says the audience should not expect to sit and watch a two-hour cooking demonstration.

“There’s a lot of movement,” Irvine says. “I can use as many as 50 participants onstage. We also ask people to tweet at me during the show, and those questions or challenges are incorporated in the mix.”

Irvine ventures into the crowd and is very hands-on with his fans, which range from young kids to retirees.

“Some people are afraid of me for the first three minutes, then they are all over me,” says Irvine. “You get to see a completely different side of Robert Irvine.”

The crowd controls the direction of the show, and Irvine likes it when they get rowdy.

“Having a crowd that’s hyper and noisy gets the adrenaline pumping. When I cook, I feed off their energy,” he says. “The pressure motivates me. When people say I can’t do something, I make sure that I can.”

SGT. CHEF

Coming from a military background in the British Royal Army, Irvine is not your typical chef. He’s built like a G.I. Joe action figure and has the kind of discipline you’d expect from a high-ranking general.

“As a chef, I spent most of my time on my feet, so being physically fit is key. It helps you make better decisions,” Irvine says. “Being in the military teaches you loyalty, dedication, teamwork, honor and respect. All of which helps you in the kitchen tremendously.”

Irvine often gets interesting inquiries when interacting with his fans.

“Women ask me to get their husbands in shape and some kids ask me if I’m a superhero,” says Irvine. “I like helping people. It’s not work for me. But I’ll push people to their limit. I believe that you can always get more out of them.”

In between moments onstage, the audience will see never-aired video clips from his TV shows, which Irvine says are popular because they are easy to relate to.

“People can see themselves in the situations they are watching — having no money, can’t pay the mortgage, on the brink of losing their business,” he says. “It’s real people dealing with real situations — that’s why viewers are drawn into it.”

VIP tickets include a private cooking seminar, food tasting and meet-and-greet with Irvine. VIP or not, the chef wants everyone to leave with a sense of satisfaction.

“Anybody can learn to cook, and this show inspires them,” says Irvine. “Because of the crowd’s involvement, each night is unique. None of my shows are ever the same.”

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.