The Beginning...
World renowned stand-up comic Craig Shoemaker and his Philly brother-from-another-mother, the legendary restaurateur Tony Luke Jr. have a running argument. Craig says he can make a chef funny and Tony insists he can teach a comic to cook. Well, the oven mitts come off in this inspiring, hilarious, and educational reality series, as our famous comedians file their knives and head to the kitchen, while celebrity chefs sharpen their wit and take the stage.
This show was created by Craig Shoemaker, based on real life events. When Tony Luke’s son passed away unexpectedly, Tony went into a deep depression. Craig founded the Laughter Heals foundation 15 years ago when one of his best friends contracted brain cancer. Knowing the healing effects of laughter, he reached out to his old Philly friend Tony and suggested that he would mentor his buddy and turn him into a stand-up comedian.
It worked! Tony will be the first one to tell anyone that laughter took him out of a funk and back into life. He has since opened for Craig at the iconic Colonial Theater, The Borgata Casino, and the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City.
Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, poking fun at one another as only one can do from the “City of Brotherly Love!”
The Funny Behind Comedy Kitchen
Craig Shoemaker has had a career in show business spanning over three decades as a stand-up comedian, actor, author, writer and producer. He was named Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic at The American Comedy Awards on ABC and has garnered two Emmy Awards.
Craig is known for his engaging, relatable standup and iconic baritone-voiced character, The Lovemaster (all time Top 10 list on XM Radio as the “Most Popular”). He released a 90-minute standup special, “Daditude” which aired on the SHOWTIME Network and Netflix. His Comedy Central special was voted by viewers as one of the “Top 20” of all time. His follow-up special “Unzipped” aired to mass acclaim and the live CD was on the Billboard Top 20 for six weeks.
He has made multiple network TV/movie appearances, including: Middle Man, MTV’s “Awkward”, Parks & Recreation, The Late Show, The View, Comic Relief, The Bold & The Beautiful, Matlock, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Scream 2. Craig has written for season two of the sitcom Fuller House. He wrote, produced and starred in Universal’s cult hit “Totally Baked”. He also produced, wrote and starred in “The LoveMaster”. As a voiceover artist, Craig’s dead-on impression of Don Knotts and narration was featured in the film Pleasantville.
The Chef Behind Comedy Kitchen
Tony went to work with his father, Tony Lucidonio Sr in food trucks and other odd jobs to support his growing family. In the early 1990s Luke, his brother, Nicky, and their father bought a property near the expressway in South Philadelphia. To compete with other local businesses, the original Tony Luke’s stand offered a more diversified menu, offering hoagies and other fare, along with cheesesteaks. Luke Jr. soon took over the store’s marketing.
Eventually, the business grew to include several locations in the Philadelphia area and a line of frozen sandwiches. Through a partnership with Rastelli Foods Group, the business now has several franchised locations in Bahrain.
Luke’s restaurant franchise, Tony Luke’s, has expanded from its original South Philadelphia location to Citizens Bank Park, Atlantic City, The Wildwoods, and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Luke’s frozen line “Tony Luke’s Pronto” is available nationally. Luke and his restaurants have earned numerous awards and recognition from both local and national publications, as well as being featured in episodes of Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, Dinner: Impossible, Man v. Food and Food Wars.
Luke opened a location in Bahrain in 2010 and plans on opening 60 more in the Middle East and North Africa.
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