Television Cooking Shows

[Menolly]

This may belong in the T.V. shows forum, but I rarely visit that one so I'm posting it here...

Do you have a favorite television chef or cook who hosts a cooking show?
What do you like about them or the show?

I admit I am a Food Network junkie. For me, having the television turned to Food Network all the time was white noise for me. I would turn around and watch those shows I enjoy, but do my best to tune out Rachael Ray (the owner of one of my favorite restaurants gave me the most apt description for the way he and I feel about her today) or Sandra Lee.

My favorite host is Alton Brown. I simply adore Good Eats, and initially tuned in to Iron Chef America because of him. ICA has made me into a fan, even if AB were to leave though.

I loved the original Iron Chef, but I think Food Network stopped airing it a few months after ICA appeared. If it is still on, I haven't seen it in a long time.

I also really like Tyler Florence and Paula Deen, although I prefer the format for Food 911 for Tyler and Paul's Home Cooking for Paula over some of their other shows.

I think Bobby Flay is an arrogant $^%$^#. I enjoy watching him compete on ICA, as he knows what he's doing, but I have not seen another show that features him where I enjoy watching him.

And I can certainly do without Sandra Lee. 'nuff said on that one.

Ina Garten appears to make fabulous recipes, but her whole style and tone of voice just doesn't make her interesting for me to watch.

I think it's a shame Food Network didn't renew Sara Moulton's contract this year.

There are some newer hosts and shows this year I was developing opinions about, but when we moved we lost our cable access for now. So, no Food Network for me. Now I am rediscovering the Saturday afternoon cooking shows on PBS. But I miss having a cooking show on the t.v. all the time.

I would also love to hear about the BBC and CBC cooking shows. A Watcher shared the link to one show's website at one point last year, and it looked fabulous. I would love to hear about more shows and what you have made from them and loved!

[Prebe]

Pretty much everything on BBC-Food. Except Ainsley Hariot (***Shudder***).

Favourite: Gary Rhodes, he's not a show-off, he just cooks, and cooks well. And his hair is pricelessly 80's

[sgt.null]

the original Iron Chef still airs at some horrible hour in the am. i caught it once. i enjoy the American version more.

[Damelon]

I've watched both versions of Iron Chef, but I can't say I really care for the format. AB does a good job describing what the chefs are up to in the U.S. version, but I don't think the format really teaches anything.

[Prebe]

Agreed Dameleon. Iron Chef is infotainment without the info. Especially since there is a always an ingredient or two that are completely inaccessible to the average Joe(ette). Like a whole blue-finn tuna for example, or a pound of fresh white truffels

[Menolly]

Awww guys...

I admit ICA is all about the entertainment factor. But I do enjoy watching the techniques the chefs and sous chefs use. And they do get quite creative with the ice cream maker. Has any judge liked any creation that came out of it?

I loved the excessiveness of 'The Chairman' on the original Iron Chef, but I felt when Food Network initially tried to redo this show as Iron Chef USA with William Shatner as The Chairman, it did not translate at all.

I also love the overdubbing on the original show.

Prebe, tell me more about BBC-Food. I don't believe we had that channel on our system. We had extended basic (could get a few additional channels such as Food Network or Disney) as part of our lease in Village Housing, but are without cable now that we moved.

It will probably be quite a while before we feel we can afford the luxury of any cable. But, what level of cable would I need, or system if on sattelite, to get BBC-Food?

Does anyone like any of the PBS cooking shows? For teaching, I do find America's Test Kitchen to be quite good, although the hosts seem more straight forward than entertainers than on Food Network.

[Prebe]

BBC-food is a 24 hour cooking channel. But, alas:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Food

Only avilable in South Africa (you with me Av?) and Scandinavia. I assume that the longitude of satelite position is to blame

[Avatar]

Yep. We get it. Or at least, I would if I had satellite tv.

Some good programs too as it happens. Some bad ones though.

--A

[Menolly]

Well bummer!

Any other shows out there y'all enjoy?

[stonemaybe]

Just seen a new one today called Planet Food, not bad, but....

I'm in love! Padma Lakshmi! (But PLEASE don't talk you spoil it!)

[drew]

My wife is in love with the Take Home Chef.

I don't get it, some buff, smooth takling guy, picks up a chick in the grocery store, pays for her food, buys some wine, then goes back to her place, and cooks her a gourmet dinner....what's the deal..?

[Menolly]

It's his accent, Drew.

Plus, since it's usually for her and her DH/SO, it has a sense of naughty innocence to it.

And I have seen him once choose a SAHD shopping with his infant daughter...

[drew]

DH...Darling Husband?
SO...signifigant other?

SAHD....Single and hot dad?

[Menolly]

Sorry about that, Drew.

The first two are correct. Although usually the D in DH is read as Dear instead of Darling.

However, it all depends on if said DH is in the dog house or not. It could also stand for Damn Husband, or if he's really in trouble, the words that would fit the acronym that could also be said as Richard Cranium...

SAHD is the male counterpart to SAHM, Stay At Home Mom. So it stands for Stay At Home Dad.