My first weekend with the Food Channel.

[kentgirl]

Well I was so excited to finally be able to view the Food Channel. Other than Martha Stewart, I have never seen any of these chefs that are on this channel. I finally got to watch Emeril, and watch, and watch. Geez! Is this guy on all the time?? I found him a little annoying. Can't put my finger on why…..he just seemed a little too arrogant. I'll give him another chance though…..there must be some reason why he's so popular.

The Naked Chef - I like this guy. He's very personable, and I really liked his cooking style. The camera work made me a little dizzy though---please tell me they don't do this on every show!

The Iron Chef - This was interesting. I had no idea it was a contest. I still don't quite get it. I watched it twice and both times there was a different challenger and a different "Iron Chef". Huh? Who is the Iron Chef? But it was fun to watch, but I'm not real crazy about all those strange-looking dishes.

I also watched Ultimate Kitchen, which was interesting, and watched Martha Stewart make a wedding cake and grill some steaks! I really enjoyed the "Best of" show - I can't wait until they feature some Seattle restaurants.

That's it for the first few days. Maybe I overdid it!

[kwormann]

Glad to hear you had fun. Yes, the Naked Chef always has those camera angles. You have GOT to see Good Eats! Alton Brown is the BEST! I agree about Iron Chef, but it is kind of silly for fun. I also love ultimtae kitchens. It is fun to see how some people to things with their space!

There was a special this weekend on weddings and the food served. It was interesting too. One took place in Hawaii!

Well, you are on the road to addiction!

Happy Watching http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Kim

[csmcnamara]

The Naked Chef is fun to watch-he makes me dizzy too though! I don't like Emeril either. I have watched him a few times to give him a chance but I still just don't like him. My DH and I watch the Iron Chef. I don't get the Iron Chef part either. We watch it more because it is like watching an old Godzilla movie! The dubbing cracks us up!!

[Jewel]

Emeril is an acquired taste. Don't give up on him yet! First impressions, he's kind of an arrogant-New Yorker sounding guy, and he kind of repeats himself with his catch-phrases "Kick it up a notch!" and "Bam" but he's really a great cook with a lot of great ideas. He's CRAZY about kids, and always makes a point of giving kids in the audience a treat out of his 'ice box' when he sees them.

He's gone commercial with his own brand of cookware, spices, marinades and such, and now he has a sitcom? I think Emeril is getting a bit big for his britches, but it won't last forever. In his defense, he brought a lot of people around to cooking and the Food Network, especially men. He made cooking cool! Real men cook! Even tough guys like Emeril! If you saw him on Millionairre, he's a completely different man. Take his apron off and take him out of his element and he becomes very shy, very soft-spoken, and almost a completely different man. Plus a devilish grin that just melts! I enjoy watching him, but I LEARN more from Alton Brown from Good Eats. His recipes aren't the greatest, but he's more of an instructor than he is a recipe guru! He's taught me more little things!

The Seattle chapter of the 12-Step Program for Food Network addiction will be forming mid-summer! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[daner94]

I have strong opinions about every show and personality they have, which I won't get into now. I am very selective about who I will watch on Food tv.

My favorite shows are the "how-to", or "behind the scenes" like when they go to candy factories and show the huge machinery that makes all the candy. I think that fascination started with Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and he would go on field trips to all sorts of places that manufacture stuff. Like, blue jeans, or wool blankets...

I also like the shows where they go to restaurants and talk to the owners and show the menu selections. I watched Al Roker's Around the World in NYC the other night and it was just fascinating!

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Jewel:
he brought a lot of people around to cooking and the Food Network, especially men. He made cooking cool! Real men cook! Even tough guys like Emeril! If you saw him on Millionairre, he's a completely different man. Take his apron off and take him out of his element and he becomes very shy, very soft-spoken, and almost a completely different man. Plus a devilish grin that just melts! I enjoy watching him, but I LEARN more from Alton Brown from Good Eats. His recipes aren't the greatest, but he's more of an instructor than he is a recipe guru! He's taught me more little things!



Alright, Jewel, are you reading my mind?! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif My sentiments exactly!

[Julie O]

I think there's a thing on the Food Network site that explains the Iron Chef thing. Basically...there are 3 Iron Chefs representing 3 different cuisines. The competitor chooses which one he will compete against. The winner of the contest wins the title Iron Chef.

[HUNGRY!]

254 channels and no Food TV!!!!!

We used to have it with our old cable system but now we have 17 different HBO channels to make up for it (and some in spanish too-oh sooo much better than Emeril).

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[luv2cook]

I take value from each show. Emeril has a persona and makes cooking fun and he does teach some. Naked chef - camera angle drives me crazy but he does a lot of his own prep. which I like to watch. Alton is good with the tips and ideas and iron chef it's amazing the creativity! Man, only in my dreams...

[joyous]

I don't have a TV at home, but when I'm at my boyfriend's place I watch the Food Network from time to time. Emeril is always on. And I just can't stomach the show. It isn't him, particularly--it's the audience. The show plays like an infomercial, with someone in charge of getting the audience all pumped up. I just can't do it.

If it was just Emeril and the camera, I'd be much happier.

I also love the behind-the-scenes sort of shows. The one where they showed how a small company makes ribbon candy had my riveted.

[dotglee]

I started watching right away. It's hard to believe a food town like Seattle hadn't had this before!

I enjoyed the first Emeril show a lot, but the second had too much audience yelling. If I can stand it, I can see that he's full of good ideas (although not necessarily light). I saw a couple of other very interesting shows--perfect for channel flipping during Mariners games and commercials.

DH loves Jacques Pepin and has copied his techniques. I can't wait to see what he thinks about the Food Channel when he gets back from Europe. Something tells me he will just get out his new Father's Day grill utensils and roast some corn. (Now, if Steve Raichlen had a show.....)

[philamark]

Although I still enjoy certain shows, I don't like the Food Network as much as the good old days on the network about 5 years ago. Then you had great shows like John Ash and David Rosengarten who took the time to teach you about cooking and ingredients, and not as much on splashy "showbiz" stuff. The network has changed management over the years and has shifted to more "splashy" type shows but I still enjoy Sara Moulton, Good Eats, and some of the specials. I also like the Martha Stewart repeats too.

[Melina]

philamark, I miss John Ash and David Rosengarten too. John Ash was such a good teacher. He always had such appealing and uncomplicated recipes you could use for everyday, healthy cooking. Not too long ago he was a guest on Cooking Live. He still has that calm, confident, manner.

David Rosengarten taught as if he were explaining brain surgery; he knew every single thing there was to know about his dish. When he was through teaching it to you, you probably knew who the first person on the planet was that made it, and what size pot they used.

You're right; they were shows of a different calibur.

[Melina]

Kentgirl, just wait and see how much you learn about cheese now!

I think I'm a Food TV addict too. I watch almost all of the shows. For everyday cooking, I probably get the most recipes and learn the most from Sarah Moulton. (Cooking Live).

I stopped watching the Iron Chef. For me, there's nothing to learn there and I don't find it entertaining anymore. The dubbing was hilarious at first, but it got old fast. If I never hear "Fuki-san" again, it'll be too soon.

Like daner94, I enjoy the specials. They've all been really interesting and fun. Not at all dry.

Emeril is fun to watch. His audience is half the show; they're crazy about him and they show it.

The Naked Chef is cute, has a great smile and good recipes, but you almost need to take Dramamine before each show.

The Best Of is really the best of.

I think you should sit back, enjoy it all for a while longer, and then report in. I'd love to know what you think.
Melina

[AvrilH]

I agree - Emeril is too much for me. And, I have never found he actually teaches me anything.

I am in Canada. I was wondering if the US network carries some of our shows: One of the best is The Inn Chef from PEI. He does one dish per show, but it is always fantastic, he teaches each technique, and always has some sort of field trip thrown in.

As well, we have FoodEssence with Andrew Younghusband - sort of a food documentary show. No recipes, just about foods in general.

Both shows are great.

And does anyone on this BB actually cook Martha Stewart recipes? They are so overloaded with fats, etc, she just makes me laugh!

[funnybone]

Originally posted by AvrilH:
I agree - Emeril is too much for me. And, I have never found he actually teaches me anything.

I am in Canada. I was wondering if the US network carries some of our shows: One of the best is The Inn Chef from PEI. He does one dish per show, but it is always fantastic, he teaches each technique, and always has some sort of field trip thrown in.

As well, we have FoodEssence with Andrew Younghusband - sort of a food documentary show. No recipes, just about foods in general.

Both shows are great.

And does anyone on this BB actually cook Martha Stewart recipes? They are so overloaded with fats, etc, she just makes me laugh!


I'm Canadian, living in the US and we don't get any of the shows here. I hear "Canadian Living" has a show now, and I would love to get it. My kids used to love watching "Pasquale" (not on Food TV though) because he would sing in Italian. Is that still on, or was that local to Ontario?

[HDgirl]

Funnybone,
Does he have a ponytail? His name is Nick? I used to watch him all the time on PBS. Can't find him now. I loved watching him.

[SandyM]

Originally posted by joyous:
I also love the behind-the-scenes sort of shows. The one where they showed how a small company makes ribbon candy had my riveted.

I'm with you, Joy - I LOVED that show. It aired before the holidays, and I had to call and order some ribbon candy and candycanes. Wayyyyyyyyyy better than the stuff in the stores!!!

Here's their website, if anyone's interested:
http://www.hammondscandies.com

[funnybone]

Originally posted by HDgirl:
Funnybone,
Does he have a ponytail? His name is Nick? I used to watch him all the time on PBS. Can't find him now. I loved watching him.



No, his name was Pasquale and the show "Pasquale's Kitchen". He was probably 60 years old and wore a chef's hat. He had an Italian accent and sang. His dishes were all Italian of course.

is the guy you are referring to "The Urban Peasant" - I don't remember a ponytail though.


I just did a search and found his website - he even' talks on it (an intro) if anyone is interested:
http://www.pasqualeskitchen.com/



[This message has been edited by funnybone (edited 06-20-2001).]

[HDgirl]

Funnybone,
Must be someone else. He is definately younger. Accent and Italian food though. He is very entertaining.

[Laura B]

Originally posted by Melina:
David Rosengarten taught as if he were explaining brain surgery; he knew every single thing there was to know about his dish. When he was through teaching it to you, you probably knew who the first person on the planet was that made it, and what size pot they used.

You're right; they were shows of a different calibur.

Amen! I mourn the loss of David Rosengarten's Taste (I think it re-runs sometimes in the wee hours of the morning). Even my husband used to watch that with me. I dumped my subscription to Gourmet when they dropped David's NYC restaurant review article. Not that I go to NYC all that often, but I just really enjoyed to read what he had to say. And the last time I went to NYC, I went to several places he had reviewed in Gourmet. All were great.

Daner94: I agree with you about the fascination with behind the scenes shows. I used to love Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood and I can vividly remember some of his behind the scenes visits (particularly the crayon factory).


[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 06-20-2001).]

[philamark]

The man with the ponytail is Nick Stellino, who hosted Cucina Amore. I have one of his cookbooks...he was entertaining to watch.

[philamark]

The man with the ponytail is Nick Stellino, who hosted Cucina Amore. I have one of his cookbooks...he was entertaining to watch.

[Melina]

HDgirl, Nick Stellino is still on the air here in Southern California. He has a new Cucina Amore series showing on one of our PBS stations on Saturdays.

I always watch his show because I like the recipes. Like me, he's a Sicilian, so his cooking is very much to my taste. And I also watch because I sorely miss hearing Italian spoken, especially in my dialect. Of course it doesn't hurt that he's so good looking and has a smile that lights up the room.

[HDgirl]

Yeah...now I remember show and name. Thanks Philamark and Melina. I miss watching him. SO started watching cooking shows with me watching him. He thought he was cool too.

[Jewel]

Originally posted by joyous:
I don't have a TV at home, but when I'm at my boyfriend's place I watch the Food Network from time to time. Emeril is always on. And I just can't stomach the show. It isn't him, particularly--it's the audience. The show plays like an infomercial, with someone in charge of getting the audience all pumped up. I just can't do it.

If it was just Emeril and the camera, I'd be much happier.


Joy, on the Food Network Emeril also has a show called Essence of Emeril that is taped in a studio without the 'live' audience. He doesn't have the audience to feed off of, so it's more instructive and tame. You can benefit from his talent without having to put up with the audience or Doc Gibbs and Cliff, who I think are totally annoying!! (That darned 'raise the roof' thing is so 90's...) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Wendy w]

Kentgirl, Jewel is right, Emeril is an acquired taste. If you think he is arrogant, you should see Bobby Flay, now he is the poster child of arrogance.

Don't forget to tune in to Wolfgang Puck, he is really funny. Happy watching!

[layla14]

I love Sarah and Cooking Live. I think she is so great. Here instructions are wonderful and she always has great advice for planning diner parties or how to change a recipe in little ways to make big differences. Plus she has really great guest too.