Would you want to be on Top Chef or Next FN Star?

[Canice]

If you could magically secure a slot, would you want to participate in one of those programs? I realize Top Chef is probably pretty far out of reach for most of us here, but hypothetically -- would you have any desire to be on one these programs?

[Home Chef]

If there was magic involved and I had a chance to be on one of the shows, I would not want to.

I have always cooked because it was relaxing and fun. The competition would not be fun for me and it would be stressful. I started cooking for a job because it was less stress than my previous career and I have fun.

I only watch Top Chef, not the Food Network show but something I seem to notice is that the chefs don't always listen. They seem to have an idea in their head and go with what is important to them, not always their audience.

I'm a personal chef and not at a level of the contestants, but I do listen to my customers. There are many things that they want me to cook that I would never eat but I don't give them a look or say "yuk" to them. :) I might in my head!

I also have trouble understanding that they don't like capers, or artichokes, or whatever, but I don't make it anyway because they should like it. I try and steer them towards healthier food and try and introduce new things to them, but ultimately they are the customer and I am serving them.

When I cook for myself, I make the things I like.

[KristiB]

If I were at that level(which I'm not) I'd do it. I'd be curious how they'd edit my personality and you know I'd be reading the messageboards! :p

I wonder if in the end it hinders you if you win. Seems people would be more willing to tear you down and be hyper-critical since you were on a reality show. Makes me worry for Sams new restaurant.

Ilan is going nowhere imo. I read at the Food and Wine Fest in Aspen he did an Iron Chef type challenge against Jacques Pepin and-surpirise-Jacques handed Ilans a$$ to him after wiping the floor with it.

LeeAnn has a good gig as a producer. Smart move for her.

[Canice]

... I started cooking for a job because it was less stress than my previous career and I have fun.

So you gave up your career as an air traffic conroller? ;)

[Canice]

...
I wonder if in the end it hinders you if you win. Seems people would be more willing to tear you down and be hyper-critical since you were on a reality show. Makes me worry for Sams new restaurant....

It may be unequal: I think most FN Star contestants go back to being housewives and cafeteria workers, and so what? The caterers get a little publicity.
Top Chef is different: I think the exposure can only help. Harold finally got his Perilla restaurant open, and who knows if he'll make it. But I've got to believe more people will go there because of TC than if he'd just borrowed money from his uncle to open it as an unknown.

And if you follow what's going on with former TC contestants, they seem to be benefiting. I wouldn't expect Ilan to clean Pepin's clock (though I didn't see or follow the competition, to be fair) but a lot of doors seem to open for these folks, even if they don't win. I even came across Andrea (Top Chef, season 1) on cable a few weeks ago. And that egomaniac, the baldy guy from FN season 2 apparently got a show and some new opportunities.

Guess my takeaway is that the talented and the untalented get exposure and a good shot after the TV shows. The uber-untalented fall to the bottom just as they would have anyhow.

[Angelina]

I would love to be in the Amazing Race, but cooking shows? No...I don't think I am creative enough and not even a quick thinker. :p I would flunk right away.

I would not want to be on "Hell's Kitchen" either, but I do wonder how hard can it really be...why are the people in it so BAD??

Anyway, I was waiting at the doctor's office yesterday for my husband and they had this AccentHealth thing from CNN. It was a video looping over and over...there was a bald guy doing a cooking demo and his name was Nathan Lyons. He looked SO familiar. Is he from one of those shows?

Angela

[ErinM]

Anyway, I was waiting at the doctor's office yesterday for my husband and they had this AccentHealth thing from CNN. It was a video looping over and over...there was a bald guy doing a cooking demo and his name was Nathan Lyons. He looked SO familiar. Is he from one of those shows?

Angela


I think he's the "that egomaniac, the baldy guy" from FN Season 2 that Canice was talking about...