American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to film food show in Lansing this week

LANSING - Musician and season five American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will film a segment of his culinary travel show State Plate in Lansing Wednesday.

For more than a year Hicks has been traveling the country hunting down the most iconic foods in every state for the cable television show.

Hicks has fished for King Salmon in Alaska, eaten crab cakes in Maryland, peaches in Georgia and chili in Texas.

And this week he'll learn how to cook wild rice in Lansing.

Hicks and his camera crew are shooting the segment for an upcoming episode of the show's third season on the INSP network that will highlight Michigan dishes.

On each episode of State Plate Hicks is tasked with featuring items the state is known for.

"Our goal is to travel every part of the state," he said Monday afternoon as he traveled to the Midwest. "We go to farms, rivers, lakes and restaurants."

In the Mitten, Hicks said he'll start with paczkis at a restaurant in Grand Rapids on Tuesday.

He's never had the decadent treat, but after listening to a brief explanation from a reporter added, "That sounds like a win to me."

Hicks said he's scheduled to film a cooking segment about wild rice at a private residence in Lansing Wednesday, before heading to additional locations in Shelby and Kalamazoo later in the week.

He'll fish for whitefish during his visit to the state, he said, but can't disclose every dish the show plans to feature or details about exact locations he'll stop at.

"We try not to give everything away," Hicks said.

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It won't be Hicks' first visit to the Lansing area. In 2008 he performed on stage as Teen Angel in "Grease" at Michigan State University's Wharton Center.

"I remember the area as one that supports theater," Hicks said. "I'm excited to be back." 

If his new foodie role seems like a leap for Hicks, who's recorded and released several albums since his Idol win, with another on the way in the fall, it shouldn't be, Hicks said.

He's co-owned Saw's BBQ and Saw's Juke Joint restaurants in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama for eight years, and appreciates food.

"Being from Alabama, it's hard not to have a palate," Hicks, 41, said. "And I love trying different food from different states."

On State Plate Hicks has visited more than 40 states, and said farmers and chefs both get attention.

In a previous season he tried Akutaq in Alaska, a dish made with a mix of reindeer fat or tallow, seal oil, freshly fallen snow or water, fresh berries, and sometimes ground fish.

This season Hicks' destinations include Hawaii, Wyoming and Idaho as well as Michigan.

"Our goal is to travel to all 50 states, but we would love to go back for second helpings," Hicks said.

Anair date for State Plate's Michigan episode hasn't been set yet, but the new season is expected to air at 7:30 p.m. Mondays this fall on INSP network.

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.