Pat Kiernan, the NY1 Anchor, on His (Late) Local Bar, Most Adventurous Meal in the City & the Biggest Food Story of 2009

Pat Kiernan brings you the news, but what can you bring Pat Kiernan? A Gray's Papaya hot dog might win you some points.

We wake up with him each morning, and rely on him to tell us what's happening in our city (both "In the Papers" and on PatsPapers.com). But how much do we really know about Pat Kiernan? Well, now we know he craves Canadian cereal, hates melons, and has a sweet tooth. But is he as food-obsessed as the rest of us?

What do you think of how food-obsessed the media has become?

It's fascinating to see the sheer anger and withdrawal with which people are affected by this Food Network-cable TV fight. I guess it makes sense. What common experience do we have that's as much a daily part of our life as food? Maybe the subway. It's something we all do. I realized since moving here that food seems impossible to remove from socializing here in New York. You don't get together and go for a walk. Every social interaction is: "Wanna meet for lunch. Wanna meet for dinner."

What was your favorite big food news story of 2009?

The Eggo waffle shortage. Breakfast routines across the country have been brought to a halt with no end in sight. The Kellogg's website says they're "working around the clock" to get the plant running again. But they're still talking mid-2010!

What neighborhood do you live in and where do you like to eat there?

Upper West Side. Gray's Papaya for hot dogs. My standby neighborhood pizza place is Freddie & Pepper's on Amsterdam. If we go a little upscale from there, the prosciutto place, Salumeria Rosi. And Telepan is great.

Do you have a local bar?

I used to. The All State Cafe on 72nd was our favorite beer-and-burger place. They got squeezed out on a lease thing a couple years ago. The place is still empty, and I'm bitter about it because they would have been happy to stay in business. The All State was never truly replaced as a local bar. I should stop clinging to it. I also like the bar at 'Cesca, but it's a high-end bar, not a neighborhood place. Fred's (476 Amsterdam Avenue) is nice, as well.

Do you get many fans/stalkers coming up to you in restaurants?

I would say in restaurants someone on staff puts two and two together 50 percent of the time. Or at least it's disclosed to me 50 percent of the time. People are discreet in restaurants and might nudge their significant other, but don't actually come up to me and tell me they recognize me.

Is it annoying or mostly flattering?

Mostly flattering. My last job in Canada was at the local news in Edmonton. In most cities outside New York and Los Angeles, the local news anchor is the biggest local celebrity. In New York, it's nice that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matt Dillon and David Letterman can deflect the paparazzi. They're much bigger celebrities to spot. So, while I may be at the nice level of recognizable, I'm not one of the most famous people you come across.