Food Network Chef Bashing

[ADM]

I am really curious. Over the past few months there has been a lot of Food Network chef bashing! Sandra Lee, Paula Deen, Emeril, Rachel Ray, sometimes Giada and Nigella. Is there *any* chef that people actually DO enjoy on Food Network? Male chefs are never, or seldom, mentioned = Michael Chiarello, Bobby Flay, Dave Lieberman, Jamie Oliver, etc.

[Melman]

My favorites are Alton Brown and Tyler Florence. I don't know that I've heard anyone ever bash those two. The give good information, yummy recipes, and don't have a "gimmick" like so many of the others.

FoodTV used to be about cooking...how to do it, fun recipes, great techniques, etc. They're resorted so much to just "entertainment" that I rarely get to see a chef actually cooking! Over the years, they've taken off people who actually have a career as a chef (or similar) - like Sara Mouton and others.

I guess on a bulletin board that is specifically targeting healthy eating...and the fact that I suppose the majority of us enjoy cooking....seeing Paula Dean dump her ALL high-fat ingredients, Sandra Lee open her cans of mushroom soup and other less-than-stellar ingredients, and Giada continuously smiling at the camera, I guess this is a place where they could be targeted.

To be honest, Giada doesn't really bother me though she's beginning to be just a little too peppy for my tastes. Paula Dean has the most ridiculously put-on southern accent...I can't stand to listen to her (the only other person I've evern known who had that much of a southern drawl was completely faking it!). And I do.not.get.excited.when.someone.dumps.garlic.in.a. dish like Emeril.


I guess everyone has their favorites.

[Sami]

My favorites are Ina Garten (if I am home at 5 pm) and Michael Chiarello. A little bit of Rachel Ray and Giada Di Laurentia are fine.

Sami

[ramson]

I just mentioned in the Rachel Ray thread that I think Tyler Florence is the most informative, easiest to follow personality on the Food Network. Every recipe if his that I have made has been a hit and to top it all off, he's not too hard on the eyes, either!

I also love Rachel Ray and Paula Deen, more for their personalities than their food. I think they are both just cute as buttons and watching either of them can cheer me up out of a bad mood.

I also really like Michael Chiarello but I do not get to see his show as often as the others. He had a show on PBS a few years ago that I loved. He seems to have a real passion for food and he cooks things that normal people eat, just like Tyler.

He's not on FoodTV but our PBS station shows Nick Stellino (sp?) and Ciao Italia with MaryAnn Esposito and I love both of them too.

I think Sarah Moulton makes great food but her personality is too bland for my tastes. Similarly, I think Ina makes fantastic food but her personality grates on my nerves. I find her to be far too pretentious and uptight.

The ones I really can't stand are Giada DeLaurentis and Sandra Lee. Nails on a chalk board in both cases. I can't watch them. I also can't stand Bobby Flay and Mario on their own shows but like them on Iron Chef America. I think they are both very talented, but I find Bobby very abrassive and Mario just doesn't hold my interest unless he's in kitchen stadium.

I guess I will be the first to say I am not a fan of Alton Brown's show. Too cooky for me. I do think he is an excellent host for Iron Chef America and I can't imagine anyone else filling that role but I am no fan of Good Eats.

I also don't like The Secret Life Of... or Food Network Challenge. Boring, boring, boring.

[Farhana]

I like Ina Garten although she seems uptight to me too, I also like Michael Chiarello, Tyler is good too and I used to love Giada, I still like her and find her recipes great but these days she seems to be more interested in showing her boobs than concentrate in cooking. I can't stand Rachael or Sandra.

[Susecita]

I actually hate Sarah Mouton. I think her recipes are completely bland and so is her personality. Bobby Flay? Blah. Untalented and cocky. I don't think his recipes are that impressive but then again I have really high standards of cooking. Another one who falls into that category and enfuriates me is Dave Lieberman. Being a Yalie myself (a non traditional one actually), I find disgusting that this kid is trying to pass himself as 1. a chef 2. a normal humanbeing with modest means (hello has anyone heard of the very rich liebermans?) 3. tell me that shopping at Whole Foods is cheap. His recipes are uncreative and uninspiring. When you hear someone say that strawberries with balsamic vinegar make for an splendid creative dessert, as if this had not been done a million times, it makes me angry.

Now, I love Tyler Florence but hate How to Boil Water. I find him to be the closest to an actual chef on the network. His background and education make him less of an entertainer and more of an actual chef. I love his combination of knowledge about food and creativity.

Believe it or not, Emeril has also an extremely strong cooking background that you see mostly in the Essense of Emeril. He is well trained in even French cooking. Now, that Emeril Live or whatever is called is pure entertainment and I hate the recipes he prepares there.

I think Mario Betali is super entertaining and for people concerned with eating healthy, take away the pasta and most of his other dishes are very health friendly. He tries to stay as close to the source as possible and will always use lots of fish and veggies. I find that appealing. His recipes are also easy to make healthier with whole wheat pasta and all sorts of things.

Because I am really interested in all things cooking I truly enjoy Alton Brown's show. Part of being a good cook is being familiar enough with the ingredients so that you can handle them and create new dishes without fear. He provides you with this information. The Secret Life, Unwrapped, and Food Challenge fall in the same category for me. These are shows that focus on sharing trade secrets.

Now, for healthy eating--my favorite is the Food Commando guy. I wish they had more of his shows. I am not a big fan of the low-carb fellow but him and that other healthy eating woman are fascinating also. I wish FN had more of their shows on more the time.

Shows I am ambivalent for and can watch on ocassions: Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee, Paula Deen, Barefoot Contessa, Giada.

Yes, it is a shame that we don't admire more female chefs but the truth is that the actual female chefs they have have no restaurant training (except Sarah and I already mentioned my qualms with her) and do not push the envelope as much as the men. Cora in Iron Chef I totally love and would watch over and over if they gave her her own show. I used to really like Nigella Lawson too and would watch her on FN too if they presented her there and who can forget of our Julia Child? Aaaaah when will someone like her appear again? I can think of many women I would love to see on the Food Network (Diana Kennedy anyone?)

Now as entertaining shows I love Michael and the Hearty Boys. They are both yay for me with their great personalities and accessible recipes.

This is way long so I will stop here. )

-Sus

[gertdog]

Honestly I'm not a big fan of any of the actual shows though I frequently use recipes from Rachael Ray, Ina Garten, Bobby Flay and Giada. Ironically I do enjoy watching Paula Deen occasionally though I've never made one of her recipes! And I've enjoyed Semi-Homemade Cooking for the train-wreck entertainment that it is (my sister often calls me and says "Turn on the TV! It's the episode where she makes "French" food!" and we'll watch while on the phone making snotty commentary. I could watch the episode where she makes the Kwanzaa cake on endless loop and never tire of it. Guilty pleasure. )

In the end I tend to enjoy PBS cooking shows more- Rick Bayless, America's Test Kitchen, Lidia's Kitchen. I feel like they're more informative and less gimmicky/schticky. I don't care whether someone is trained as a chef or not, just whether I'm getting information that's interesting or useful to me. I guess for me the Food Network shows fall more into the category of entertainment and/or they're just not my cup of tea.

[honeygirl1971]

I am in the minority since I love Giada. I think Ina Garten's show is okay, and I use her recipes from time to time. I like Tyler Florence. I love both Nigella and Jamie Oliver, but haven't seen a show with either for ages. I like Rachel Ray well enough, but even her recipes have a bit too much pre-fab stuff for my tastes sometimes. I have made some of her recipes with good success though. I like Mario Batali a lot but am not sure if I have ever actually made any of his recipes or not. I am not a huge fan of Sandra Lee's show because my tastes in both food and decor are VERY different from hers, although I did make a goat-cheese mashed potato recipe of hers once and it was very good. Paula Deen's recipes do nothing for me, but I have nothing against her personally. I was sorry to see Sara Moulton go, since I thought her shows were always very informative and interesting. I never really watched Iron Chef, Emeril, or Bobby Flay so I can't comment on them, but it seems like if you like the kind of food they make, they have some good recipes.

I agree that PBS has good shows--I often watched Rick Bayless, Jacques Pepin, America's Test Kitchen, and others.

[MissFood]

I like Tyler because his recipes are truly, as a couple people have already said, the sort of stuff that normal people cook and eat. He has a great personality, a knack for explaining things...and he's cute!

I've recently started liking Michael Chiarello - for both his personality and his food. He has some interesting combinations and ideas, but they're not complicated. Some chefs don't know how to do interesting things without being unnecessarily complicated.

I like Ina's good, but she, like Paula Deen, uses a few too many high fat ingredients for my tastes.

I like Giada's food, and her personality only occasionally bothers me. Like Tyler, she cooks accessible food that's delicious.

Finally, I LOVED Cooking Live with Sara Moulton, but I hate her new show. She does not do the prerecorded show well. She has trouble reading off a teleprompter, and none of her personality shows through as it did during Cooking Live. I saw a special with her once where she talked about how it was so stressful when things wouldn't work out on camera. That was my favorite part! It made cooking seem less intimidating - hey, if a professional chef messes up, I should surely expect to mess up.

My 2 cents.

[DCook]

My list (I'm Canadian so my list might be a bit different)

Love:
Ina Garten
Michael Smith

Like:
Giada
Rachael Ray
Michael Chiarello
Canadian Living Test Kitchen Women

Would love them to cook for me but won't watch their shows:
Sarah Moulton
Mario Batali
Bobby Flay
Nigella Lawson
Wolfgang Puck
Tyler Florence

DETEST:
Christine Cushing
Emeril


I think there is a happy medium between the gourmet shows and the more realistic shows. I'm not going to make anything that Mario Batali or Emeril cook on their show, and honestly, most of the stuff is so labour-intensive and full of weird ingredients that I'm bored watching it too. I generally only want to watch shows that will give me ideas of things I can actually make. But I understand that others enjoy these shows so that is great - they can have a little bit of that, and I can have Rachael Ray

(incidentally, that is why I love Ina Garten. She makes equisite food but its always SIMPLE)

And may I say this - I'll take a cooking show by a chef (yes, even Christine Cushing) ANY DAY over these kitchen or restaurant renovation shows. What the hell are those? Don't we have enough trading-spaces like shows on TLC?

[brendat4]

I guess I must be strange because before I started reading the threads here I was never really bothered by any of the Food Network's show personalities. I watch the show based on WHAT I am getting out of it not WHO is presenting it. Yes, there are quirks about each of them, but then there are quirks about the people in my regular life too--that doesn't mean I am going to aviod them if there are other things I like about them, you know?

That being said, I do like Rachel Ray & Giada but that might be because those two shows are ones that my DD5 likes to watch with me (perhaps it IS because of their perky personalities that it appeals to her). We (both)received a copy of RR's "365 No Repeats" for Christmas and I think that's cool that my dad thought DD5 would like it too (and she did)--if it helps her take more of an interest in cooking then I'm all for it! I also like Tyler Florence but more because I like the things on the show. One of our favorites is Alton Brown...even DH will watch that one because he explains the science behind the way things work and that appeals to DH. And that is one we can watch together too.

My $.02!

[annagins]

I am really curious. Over the past few months there has been a lot of Food Network chef bashing! Sandra Lee, Paula Deen, Emeril, Rachel Ray, sometimes Giada and Nigella. Is there *any* chef that people actually DO enjoy on Food Network? Male chefs are never, or seldom, mentioned = Michael Chiarello, Bobby Flay, Dave Lieberman, Jamie Oliver, etc.

Personally, I find the ones who get bashed are more interesting to watch. The "do-no-wrong" chefs are probably nice people and great cooks, but this is TV. I don't really watch TV to learn to cook -- there are books for that. I watch TV to be entertained. If I learn something in the process, excellent.

So I guess to answer your question, I like watching Alton Brown, Rachel Ray and Nigella because they are interesting to watch. So is Tyler. Bobby Flay use to be interesting, but he's mellowed out since taking up with the hot model. And I admit, if Sandra Lee happens to be on when I am watching FoodTV, I will watch it just for the entertainment value and laughs. I'll take Sandra over Giada any day when it comes to entertainment. As for books or wanting to learn something, then I'll take Giada.

[DCook]

Its amazing how things work, isn't it? For example, I prefer Rachael Ray shows to Giada's, but I prefer Giada's cookbooks!

[schuh]

I also can't stand Bobby Flay and Mario on their own shows but like them on Iron Chef America. I think they are both very talented, but I find Bobby very abrassive and Mario just doesn't hold my interest unless he's in kitchen stadium.

Ditto! I think Bobby Flay is the sexiest thing on two feet when he's on Iron Chef America, not to mention that his food looks amazing, but his own show is irritating to me. And Mario has a great, charming personality on Iron Chef America, but his show bores me.

When I first got Tivo, I recorded lots of the food channel programs. But after awhile I got tired of all food, all the time. So now it's just a few on my season pass list:
- Good Eats/Alton Brown (but I often fast forward through his gimmicks).
- Hearty Boys -- Their show has really improved this year. Less forced banter, better set. Love the entertaining tips and I usually want to try every dish they make.
- Barefoot Contessa/Ina

I have yet to see Nigella or Sandra Lee. I may have to record them just to check them out.

[patissac]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Party Line w/ Dan and Steve. I like watching those two and I've been wanting to try some of their recipes. I always seem them getting such high ratings on the recipes.

I love Paula Deen, I know she cooks with butter, mayo,cream of blah-blah, but whatever I make of hers, everyone always raves.Plus its not too hard to lighten up her dishes either. I don't know how to describe it but she warms your heart.

I like BFC and that she makes things simple yet they taste amazing. I can't say though, that she would seem like she's a down to earth person, I do get the impression that she is somewhat of a snob.

I like Tyler Florence and wish they would do some new Food 911 episodes, those were really neat! I don't like How to Boil water mainly because that Jack chic is a pathetic excuse for a woman, it doesn't help that she is portrayed like an idiot either.

I like Michael Chiarello, all his dishes I've made were really good plus I like his style of cooking.

I change the channel when Emeril(pork fat doesn't rule in my book buddy!) he needs to stop removing the knob on his oven too, its NOT FUNNY ANYMORE!!!
,SL(are you kidding me?)Iron Chef,RR,Bobby Flay (I've heard he's a real Jerk)and now I think that everytime I see his show, and when Mario Batali comes on.

[tyroleancutie]

I really like Tyler Florence and Dave Lieberman even though I do not understand why Dave Lieberman keeps telling me that shopping at Whole Foods is cheap

I used to love Jamie Oliver but somehow I can't stand his show anymore. His books are great but I can not watch him on TV.

I also like Ina Garten, Michael Chiarello and Paula Deen but I only tried recipes of Michael Chiarello. Paula Deens cooking is just too buttery for my taste (There is a stick of butter in everything)

[schuh]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Party Line w/ Dan and Steve. I like watching those two and I've been wanting to try some of their recipes. I always seem them getting such high ratings on the recipes.

But we have! The show name was changed to the Hearty Boys this year. I think it's the name of their catering business.

[KAnn]

Honestly I'm not a big fan of any of the actual shows though I frequently use recipes from Rachael Ray, Ina Garten, Bobby Flay and Giada. Ironically I do enjoy watching Paula Deen occasionally though I've never made one of her recipes! And I've enjoyed Semi-Homemade Cooking for the train-wreck entertainment that it is (my sister often calls me and says "Turn on the TV! It's the episode where she makes "French" food!" and we'll watch while on the phone making snotty commentary. I could watch the episode where she makes the Kwanzaa cake on endless loop and never tire of it. Guilty pleasure. )

In the end I tend to enjoy PBS cooking shows more- Rick Bayless, America's Test Kitchen, Lidia's Kitchen. I feel like they're more informative and less gimmicky/schticky. I don't care whether someone is trained as a chef or not, just whether I'm getting information that's interesting or useful to me. I guess for me the Food Network shows fall more into the category of entertainment and/or they're just not my cup of tea.

These are many of my sentiments, too. I did not have cable for almost 10 years (simply wasn't home enough to justify it) and I just began watching the Food Network about 2 years ago. My very first show was SL and the holiday cakes!! I was stunned.

I enjoy Ina and have all her books...most recipes can be lightened and all have been winners. I enjoy pulling out the books and making comments on the recipes that I have seen her make, and I cook from her a lot more often as a result. I enjoy Paula... I can really enjoy watching the preparation of things I would never make. I did make her French coconut pie over the holidays and I loved it!

SL is like nails on a chalkboard but, sometimes I cannot turn away simply for the laughs! Rachel's personality is simply too much. I watch Giada and appreciate most of the recipes, but I also find her cleavage shots a bit much.
Michael Chiarello is a delight...he cooks a lot of meat , though, and I do not eat red meat or poultry. Dave Lieberman is pleasant and I watch, but I probably watch the PBS shows more, except for Ina.

If I had been watching the FN longer I would probably have different impressions...I don't get to see Alton much but I enjoy him, too. It's mostly just light entertainement for me as a foodie.

[Ann1965]

I watch food network almost exclusively. I'm with the general population, I think Sandra Lee should be cancelled. Sara Moulton also grates my nerves, as does Rachel Ray. I love Paula, but then again, I'm from the South. Trust me, her drawl is not the slowest there is. You should talk to Angie at my pediatricians office, it takes her an hour to spit out what she needs to say! I like Tyler, but can't stand How to Boil Water. Is it me or can't Jack keep her hands off him (I admit I might have that same problem). Tyler is also from Greenville, SC, just 30 miles up the road from me! I don't care for Mario or Bobby, Dave, but Alton is ok. I am getting tired of all the "most favorite" shows. I also like the shows that showcase different areas of the country. I have visited some of those places, like the Kudzu Bakery, and restaurants in Atlanta that were featured. The places must have really spruced up for the show because they were all disappointments in real life. We've been to Paula's restaurant several times. It was better in the old place, the new one seems to "big" for its own good.

Well, that's my humble opinion!

[Lillith]

I truly enjoy watching the cooking shows and feel that every chef/cook has something to offer - even Sandra Lee! The ones I enjoy less, I watch less often and vice versa. Having said that, I think that some are being a little over-exposed. Emeril has had two shows for quite some time, now Giada has two and Rachael has 3. Doesn't Paula have a new teaching show in addition to her regular one? A bit much, me thinks.

[shscharles]

For those of you who find Paula's accent a little fakey, my best friend and former business partner is a Georgia Peach, from a small town outside Dalton, and sounds just like Paula. In fact, whenever I see Paula, I miss Char!

Also put me down as liking Giada's recipes but not her gratuitous cleavage...pulleeze.

Love Nigella, Ina, loved Sarah, Tyler is terrific, Alton provides the only TV show DH and I watch together, Rachael is cute but needs decaf, and I only watch Emeril on his no-audience show. If I want entertainment Vegas-style, I'll find it somewhere else.

[Sookie]

My two favorites are Ina and Mario. I would love to be on Mario's show!

I have no actual dislikes, but I have become bored with Rachel and Emeril. I don't care for the show that does the low fat dishes, because I really don't think his food is all that interesting - much, much better stuff right here on the CLBB.

[JLCS]

I like Emeril a whole lot better when he originally started, he was just about the only one on, doing How to boil Water with Joanne Whorly (yes, of Laugh-In fame!) He didn't BAM then and they were just fun to watch. they showed him all the time because they didn't have too many other shows. Then he got his own show and started to become the actor instead of the chef, and its not the same.

[scout1222]

I know a lot of people in my other online communities who loathe Bobby Flay with the heat of a million suns. He's definitely not immune.

(I kinda like him.)

[Tizzylish]

I think I've mentioned Dave Lieberman a couple of times, I like his show he seems really down to earth to me. I also like to watch Alton Brown, Tyler Florence, Ina, and Michael Chiarello.

[Kristal]

I know a lot of people in my other online communities who loathe Bobby Flay with the heat of a million suns. He's definitely not immune.

(I kinda like him.)

He's been bashed here plenty, but I haven't noticed it lately. I like him just fine, and I LOVE his food; his show is actually one of my favorites on the FN.
I also love Ina, Michael Chiarello, Giada, and am slowing warming to Dave Lieberman. Those are the only ones I watch regularly.

[veschke]

I haven't had cable for years now, but I firmly believe that no cooking show will ever be able to hold a candle to the Two Fat Ladies.

[stacy7272]

Yes, there are quirks about each of them, but then there are quirks about the people in my regular life too--that doesn't mean I am going to aviod them if there are other things I like about them, you know?

I agree. Like Ina Garten - I find it so funny that when her guests show up she is constantly giggling. But I love watching her cook and I love the camera angles.

Mario bothers me because he seems to have an "Italy's ways are better than America's ways" attitude. I'm not referring to keeping things authentic - nothing wrong with that. I just remember when he told of how foolish Americans are because they go over to Italy and want coffee in the middle of the day. Can you imagine! Coffee is for the morning only! And he came across as if he agreed that is the "right" way. I still can enjoy his show though.

[memartha]

I was just flipping around and came across Emeril on the Food Network, and he claims to be making "tamponade" with olives, anchovies, parsley, etc. I had to keep it on to make sure I hadn't misunderstood, and sure enough, he says "tamponade" again. Then I check the Food Network website, just to make sure I'm not wrong before I begin my rant. The website has him listed as making "tapenade" today.

[jtoepfert100]

I used to be more annoyed by some than others, but now it's to the point where I'm just happy a cooking show is on, not one of those other shows that seem to dominate these days, such as Top 5, or even the Iron Chef series. I think all of the Food TV Chefs have something to offer different audiences, even if it isn't for you. My favorite is Paula Deen but only from an entertainment stand point, I typically don't cook her recipes. I guess anymore I don't really hate anyone, although Giada can sometimes make me feel bad about myself because she seems so perfect. But that's my issue, not hers.