Anthony Bourdain blogs about Food network personalites.

[AlCzervik]

this one is my favorite.

SANDRA LEE: Pure evil. This frightening Hell Spawn of Kathie Lee and Betty Crocker seems on a mission to kill her fans, one meal at a time. She Must Be Stopped. Her death-dealing can-opening ways will cut a swath of destruction through the world if not contained. I would likely be arrested if I suggested on television that any children watching should promptly go to a wooded area with a gun and harm themselves. What’s the difference between that and Sandra suggesting we fill our mouths with Ritz Crackers, jam a can of Cheez Wiz in after and press hard? None that I can see. This is simply irresponsible programming. Its only possible use might be as a psychological warfare strategy against the resurgent Taliban--or dangerous insurgent groups. A large-racked blonde repeatedly urging Afghans and angry Iraqis to stuff themseles with fatty, processed American foods might be just the weapon we need to win the war on terror.

http://blog.ruhlman.com/2007/02/guest_blogging_.html

[zappa_parappa]

1. I really respect Anthony Bourdain, and this is good to see

Its nice to know that someone I respect has pretty much the exact same feelings about the people on the Food Network as me.

I hate Emeril, Sandra Lee, and Rachel Ray...but really enjoy Alton Brown. And he even said he wants to see Paula Deen mad, which is what I've been saying for ages!

Rock On Anthony.

[Critters2]

2. Anthony Bourdain is an arrogant jerk.

Of course he's not going to say anything kind about people the masses like. He's SOOOO much better than that.

Yep, an arrogant jerk.

[CatWoman]

8. hey!!!!

don't fuck with Anthony!!! :grr:

[Shakespeare]

9. Actually, if you've seen his shows.....

...he has the highest praise for the most humble food and cooks, and is very respectful of other cultures (I think he's an excellent ambassador).

Yes, he likes to joke about vegetarians, but I've also seen him enjoy (and praise) several vegetarian meals prepared for him.

What he seems to hold such disdain for is poor effort (i.e., the George W. Bush approach to cooking).

[underpants]

16. Best show on TV

IMHO

[NYCGirl]

17. I agree. My favorite show. NT

[Critters2]

24. He's openly disdainful of vegetarians, downright meanspirited

If he "joked" this way about gays, DU'ers would never forgive him. And rightly so.

I've always figured that Bourdain still thinks cooking is women's work, so he spouts all this testerone-laden crap to convince himself that he's still a manly man. That shtick grows tiresome after a while.

If I wanted to watch people eat uncooked entrails to prove a point, I'd watch Survivor. At least it's got a plot, too.

[Shakespeare]

25. No, what he's disdainful of is the smug, fundie attitude that so often goes with.

And he's made that abundantly clear. Vegetarianism is a choice, being gay is not--yours is not a valid comparison at all.

If you'd read any of his books on topic, you'd also know that your assumptions about his attitude on cooking are completely off-base.

Showing the eskimo family eating the seal they caught wasn't "shtick." It was a glimpse of another culture, and I found it fascinating. I like learning about other cultures, don't you? Heckuva lot more relevant than anything on Survivor.

[Critters2]

27. His constant boasting about smoking and drinking....

which culture does that celebrate?

[Shakespeare]

28. What does that have to do with what he shows on No Reservations?

And last I read, he's on the patch now, and I wish him well trying to quit.

Is somebody a bad person now if they drink? Have I stumbled into Assembly of God Underground, or something?

[Critters2]

31. It's the hyperbolic proving what a tough guy crap that I cannot stomach

I have nothing against drinking. Drinking for the purpose of bragging about how much you drink, that is just plain annoying.

[Shakespeare]

32. I don't get it; he is who he is, which is one of the things I like about him.

It's not an act, and he's not terribly proud of a lot of things in his past. I've never seen him brag about how much he drinks; I have heard him joke that he likes to drink, and that he gets a kick out of being drunk under the table by various hosts from other cultures. :shrug:

[Critters2]

33. What makes you think it's not an act?

That's exactly what it looks like to me. And it gets to be a bit much. I mean, I hope they have people mopping up the testosterone after he leaves people's homes. If not, that would be rude.

[Shakespeare]

34. Have you even watched his show?

He's incredibly gracious to the people he meets. He delights in poking fun at himself as much as he delights poking fun at easy targets like Rachel Ray. I watch his show regularly, and I've read all three of his memoirs. While I don't know him personally, I have observed a great deal about him and am left with the impression that he's totally genuine, though certainly rough around the edges.

[Critters2]

35. I've watched his show. I still think it's an act.

No one does that much chest-thumping on a daily basis.

[Shakespeare]

36. Sorry, I just don't see the chest thumping you describe. n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

47. I don't see it either. Honestly, he looks like someone I'd like to hang out with.

Eat spicy food, get drunk, and smoke. If that means you thump your chest, then I must be a chest thumper.

[Critters2]

55. He wouldn't hang with me. I'm *gasp* vegetarian.

Not that I'd mind.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

58. I'm pescarian. I could deal.

Worse case scenario: He eats some meat. I drink and smoke cigarettes.

[Critters2]

60. He doesn't just eat meat. He hates people who don't.

You've never heard him dissing veg*ns? I thought you were a fan.

[Shakespeare]

61. Oh, good gawd. He doesn't "hate" vegetarians.

He pokes fun. Period. There is no way you can sit there and honestly say he hates vegetarians if you've ever watched his show, because I've seen him interact with plenty of them. Where it's a situation where poking fun is acceptable, he pokes fun. When it isn't, he's gracious and respectful.

[Critters2]

62. I haven't just watched his show. I've read his books.

I think comparing vegans to Hezbollah bombers is hate. It's certainly not good-hearted joking.

And there is no way his attitude toward veg*ns is gracious and respectful.

[Shakespeare]

67. You see it as hate, I see it as hyperbole.

And he has a well known track record for the latter, and not the former.

And yes, when he's been in Indonesia, Thailand, India--and even Portland, Oregon--he's been extremely respectful and gracious with the vegetarians who cooked for/with him.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

71. Exactly. nt

[GoneOffShore]

78. I suggest you read 'A Cook's Tour'

Particularly pages 237 through 241 where Bourdain talks about vegans and why he finds them disingenous. Much the same reasons that I do.

"They also seemed oblivious to the fact that much of the world goes to bed hungry every night, that our basic design features as humans, from the beginning of our evoulution, developed around the very real need to hunt down slower, stupider animals, kill them and eat them. - I'd recently returned from Cambodia, where a chicken can be the difference between life and death."

[Critters2]

79. More chest-thumping.

I'm veg*n precisely because so much of the world's resources are wasted feeding "food animals". It takes 16 lbs of grain to produce one pound of beef. I'd rather eat the grain myself. For environmental, economic, and animal cruelty reasons. Hardly makes me a terrorist.

[GoneOffShore]

80. Who said you need to feed beef cattle on grain?

I've been eating grass fed beef and lamb for the past 5 years.

The only reason we feed on grain in the USA is because we don't eat the whole beast, we've forgotten how. Used to be that we respected the beast we ate by using every part. Now we feed our dogs and cats on the "nasty bits'.

Have you read the "Omnivores Dilemma" by Michael Pollan yet?

And I never said you were a terrorist, just culinarily challenged.

[Critters2]

81. Read _Omnivore's Dilemma_ Was more impressed by

_Dominion_ by Matthew Scully.

[GoneOffShore]

86. Interesting

Scully as per his web site:

"Matthew Scully served until August 2004 as special assistant to the president and deputy director of presidential speechwriting. He worked for President George W. Bush a total of five years, including 18 months in the 2000 campaign, and was part of the team that drafted the President’s post-September 11th addresses and every major speech of the first term. Scully has also written for vice presidents Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle, presidential candidate Robert Dole, Arizona Governor Fife Symington, and the late Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey. A former literary editor of National Review, his work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The National Post of Canada, among other newspapers and magazines. He is the author of Dominion: The Power of Man, The Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy (St. Martin's Press), named by The Atlantic Monthly as one of the ten best non-fiction works of 2002, and still available in paperback. He lives with his wife Emmanuelle in Los Angeles."

Guess he's doing a Mea Culpa for enabling W to send us to war and kill Iraquis.

[Critters2]

87. He no longer works for W., and challenges RWs to be compassionate

to animals and humans.

[fudge stripe cookays]

90. No.

But it does make you sound really holier than thou, and annoying, as if your constant Chicago bashing didn't do that alone.

[xmas74]

93. The Chicago bashing pissed me off long ago

and I'm not easy to annoy.

[fudge stripe cookays]

95. I don't even live there...

but have lots of family there, and always look forward to my visits. And found Iowa to be distinctly lacking next to it.

fsc

[xmas74]

96. I'm from a suburb

My family moved when I was a teen. And everyone I've met who has visited has always said they really liked it and liked most of the people.

Most of them said things like good food, lots of things to do and it was easy to approach someone on the street to ask directions or suggest a good place to eat. I've been to a few cities where you'd be hard pressed to find someone to even acknowledge your presence and I've found some small towns to be even worse. (FWIW, I now live in a small town in another state.)

[Shakespeare]

99. She bashed Chicago? For WHAT?

Now that's just weird.

[Critters2]

101. Have you lived there? nt

[Shakespeare]

103. I've visited many, many times.

And again, I ask, what about Chicago did you bash? I wasn't speaking directly to you, but I'm more than happy to take you on directly. Again.

Oh, and I'm not following you around, we just happen to be posting on some of the same threads (DU's funny that way). I assure you I have no interest in following you anywhere.

[Critters2]

104. I lived there for a year. My car was broken into 4 times

in a year. In a "good neighborhood". Doesn't make a good impression.

But since you obviously can't be objective about anything I write, I'll just put you on ignore.

[Shakespeare]

105. LOL. I didn't even criticize whatever your reason is for disliking Chicago.

I merely asked what it was you didn't like, and noted that I found it odd (didn't disagree, just found it odd) that you'd bash a city.

But you go on with your bad self.

[fudge stripe cookays]

107. Do a search...I think some of the threads are still out there....

Seems to be a gut reaction for her to insult Chicago just for the hell of it. Very Christian, I must say.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

63. Complete hyperbole. I am a fan.

He regards vegans as cutting out a large portion of cuisine, something that bothers him as a chef. He doesn't hate them though.

:eyes:

[Critters2]

64. The Hezbollah analogy is his, not mine.

I hardly take it as a compliment.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

66. Well, I've never heard the Hezbollah analogy.

At least he's not dancing on graves, though.

[Critters2]

68. Here:

"Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans, are a persistent irritant to any chef worth a damn. To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demiglace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living."


The man thinks life without veal is not worth living. That's nice.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

69. I don't agree with that, but I like him overall. You hate him. I get it.

You also hate Anna Nicole Smith and Pit Bulls. I get that, as well.

I like Bourdain and Pit Bulls. Anna was kind of annoying, but she was a tragic figure and she didn't deserve people stomping on her grave.

[Critters2]

70. Don't hate him. Disagree with him.

Don't eat veal, or anything else that causes suffering to animals. I'm like a hezbollah terrorist!

And I've never stomped on anyone's grave.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

72. Okay. You keep saying that.

:eyes:

[Critters2]

73. And you keep arguing. Why is that? nt

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

76. Meh.

[Shakespeare]

74. I think you're missing the point of his joke.

And you are certainly welcome not to like the joke, but at least understand that he doesn't hate vegans and doesn't condemn them for being vegans. What he's poking fun at with the hezbollah comparison is the often evangelical zeal (and occasional judgmental attitude) that many vegans have.

[Critters2]

75. I am a veg*n. Don't I get to decide what's offensive to veg*ns? nt

[Shakespeare]

77. Nowhere did I say you couldn't be offended.

I just said that his joke doesn't amount to "hate."

[dropkickpa]

94. I would love to hang out with him

He reminds me of my family. We are loud, opinionated, love good food, will talk to anyone, and none of us minds a drink and a smoke.

[Patiod]

40. I really enjoyed his books, and only rarely catch him on TV

Yeah, he's cocky, but he cares a lot about quality, respects people who also care about quality regardless of their race or class or educational background.

I think his dislike for vegetarianism comes from his horror of eliminating such a wide range of foods from his palette, kind of like an artist having to work without using any blue.

I also like the abundance of testosterone - coupled with a good brain, it sets him apart and gives him a unique energy. And it's coupled with a healthy sense of humor and self-deprecation which takes the edge off.

A chacun son gout. I'm a fan.

[bicentennial_baby]

43. Hey sweetie! Check my new sigline!

:D

[Shakespeare]

45. The PERFECT sig to go with that pic!!

:rofl:

:yourock:

[slj0101]

102. That is awesome.

:rofl:

[Left Is Write]

37. I have seen his shows, many many times (Mr. LIW is a fan), and I still can't stand him.

[GoneOffShore]

11. I've met Chef Bourdain

And wouldn't consider addressing him any other way.

He's not an arrogant jerk. He doesn't suffer fools gladly or sloppy work in the kitchen, which is a rare thing these days.

I've also talked to people who have worked under him - he's tough, but fair.

[idgiehkt]

39. why do they act like college professors though?

It's fucking food. F-O-O-D. Where does the haugtiness come from? It's their own queer little hierarchy that seems so bizarre it is almost fetishistic when it's allowed to leak out into the real world. It gives me the willies..."suffer fools gladly"...jesus Christ, you are talking about peeling potatoes and shit.

:rofl:

[GoneOffShore]

51. It's only FOOD?

Only food? What do you live on? Pills?

Bourdain is doing his best to swim against the current move toward the 'globalization' of food.

He's for food traditions, and for national cuisines in a way that most Americans just don't understand. The preservation of food traditions and culture is extraordinarily important, because a country with a strong food culture realizes that that culture depends on preserving the environment, supporting family farms, supporting biodiversity and keeping artisanal traditions alive.

"It's fucking food. F-O-O-D. Where does the haugtiness come from? It's their own queer little hierarchy that seems so bizarre it is almost fetishistic when it's allowed to leak out into the real world."

Damnit it is the real world - your health depends on the health of the soil from which farmers grow the food that keeps you ALIVE! It's preserving life and celebrating life.

As my sig line says: "Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you who you are."

[idgiehkt]

54. he could do all of that without acting hoity-toity

I lived in a town where a relatively well-known chef ran the program at the local college, and those students used to come in our restaurant and treat us like crap. And I've worked for chefs that thought they were God's gift. It is only food. It is not what they do, it is how they act that I find ridiculous. Like I said, they are peeling potatoes, not curing cancer.

[GoneOffShore]

65. A kichen is not a democracy

If a chef is to have consistency in his vision of a restaurant he has to impose his personality on the kitchen.

I suggest that you read "Heat" by Bill Buford.

And if you eat right, you have less reason to worry about cancer.

[idgiehkt]

82. that is the attitude I hate, right there in a nutshell

nothing personal toward you, but they take that shit way too damn seriously, and it is totally unnecessary.

sorry, but

:puke:

[GoneOffShore]

85. Okay, whatever.

Enjoy your globalized, corporatized diet.

And let food traditions die because you think chefs are dicks.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. But... he's right.

And you are right - he IS an arrogant jerk. But that doesn't make him wrong either.

[fudge stripe cookays]

89. How niiiiiice.

Takes one to know one, dear reverend.

[BuddhaGirl]

91. I agree he can be an arrogant jerk at times

we have been watching his show on the Travel channel, "No Reservations".....it's obvious he thinks VERY highly of himself!

[sniffa]

97. maybe he'LL die soon, and you can reveL in it

[ronnykmarshall]

100. Atta boy!

:loveya:

I didn't know anything about this guy ...... but if some people don't like him .... sounds like a ringing endorsement for me!

[Shakespeare]

3. Anybody inclined to dislike Bourdain (I LOVE the guy)....

...just needs to stop and consider that he worships his friend and drinking buddy Mario Batali. Anybody who hangs with (and loves) Mario can't be a bad person.

[blitzen]

4. Here's his blog entry on Mario....It's funny

MARIO!
Oh, Mario! Oh great one! They shut down Molto Mario--only the smartest and best of the stand-up cooking shows. Is there any more egregiously under-used, criminally mishandled, dismissively treated chef on television? Relegated to the circus of Iron Chef America, where--like a great, toothless lion, fouling his cage, he hangs on--and on--a major draw (and often the only reason to watch the show). How I would like to see him unchained, free to make the television shows he’s capable of, the Real Mario--in all his Rabelasian brilliance. How I would love to hear the snapping bones of his cruel FN ringmasters, crunching between his mighty jaws! Let us see the cloven hooves beneath those cheery clogs! Let Mario be Mario!

[Beausoir]

23. "Let us see the cloven hooves beneath those cheery clogs! Let Mario be Mario!"

Bahaaa!

Gads...hilarious blogging.

I love them all!

[Left Is Write]

38. I do have to say that I loved Molto Mario and watched it every day.

But I still don't like Bourdain.

[RedStateShame]

5. Let's compromise: Anthony Bourdain is a smart cook, and Sandra Lee has a large rack.

I watched her show for 2 weeks before I realized she was cooking stuff.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

46. Bingo!

ROFLMAO! :toast: She is rather buxom, isn't she?

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. As a regular watcher of Food Network and fan of Anthony Bourdain...

I found his commentary to be spot on especially the bit about Sandra Lee...that is quite possibly the worst cooking show ever put on tv, she makes Rachel Ray look like Julia Child

[Shakespeare]

7. Did you see the episode of No Reservatuions where he was in Vegas with Ruhlman?

Those two need to do more shows together. They're close friends, but delight in giving each other endless shit. VERY entertaining to watch.

[Reverend_Smitty]

10. yeah that was a good episode...

especially that dive bar he went into...it looked like they had fun in that episode

[Pendrench]

20. Have you read any of Ruhlman's books (about the Culinary Institute)?

I've read the first two, and I'm in the middle of the third (a Christmas present from my wife).

Tim

[Shakespeare]

26. Not yet....

But they're on my "to read" list, along with Eric Ripert's book on seafood.

[Pendrench]

92. I'll have to check out the Ripert book - thanks for the suggestion!

My wife and I wanted to have a meal at the CIA when we were in New York for our first anniversary (10 years ago) but we weren't able to get reservations.

Tim

[LostinVA]

111. ALL of his books are excellent, including his non-foody title

Give them a read.

[Pendrench]

113. Thank you for your suggestion....I'm looking at the list inside the cover of "The Reach of a Chef"

and I see that there are four non-food related books:

Boys Themselves
Wooden Boats
Walk on Water
House

Once I finish "The Reach of the Chef", I'll check these out.

Thanks again!

Tim

[LostinVA]

114. No problem -- he's a good writer

[underpants]

18. *hic* Is it time for *hic* cocktails yet?

I love how she mixes them 1/2 and 1/2 right on the air

[AllegroRondo]

13. what does he say about Alton Brown?

[Shakespeare]

14. Glowing praise.

ALTON BROWN: How did Alton slip inside the wire--and stay there all these years? He must have something on them. He’s smart. You actually learn something from his commentary. And I’ll admit it: I watch and enjoy Iron Chef America-in all its cheesy glory. Absolutely SHOCKED and thrilled when guys like Homaru Cantu show up as contestants--and delighted when Mario wins--again and again, forestalling his secretly long-planned execution. His commentary is mostly good. And that collar-bone snapping fall off the motorcycle on Feasting On Asphalt? Good television!

[AllegroRondo]

19. Nice to hear, Im a big fan of Alton

I actually learn things from watching his show. He uses great models and puppets and junk to explain WHY cooking works the way it does.

[Emops]

30. Alton Brown is the person who got me really interested in cooking...

...and my dad is a chef. I guess I never really saw it as more than a just a job to do.

And I have to admit, I like Rachael Ray; some of the meals I've seen on her show have become favorites. I think she can be useful as sort of a beginner's guide...although I can certainly understand why some can't stand her.

[NYCGirl]

15. He likes Alton Brown (Tony's no fool — he knows good TV when he sees it!)

I LOVE Tony B.
:loveya:

ALTON BROWN: How did Alton slip inside the wire--and stay there all these years? He must have something on them. He’s smart. You actually learn something from his commentary. And I’ll admit it: I watch and enjoy Iron Chef America-in all its cheesy glory. Absolutely SHOCKED and thrilled when guys like Homaru Cantu show up as contestants--and delighted when Mario wins--again and again, forestalling his secretly long-planned execution. His commentary is mostly good. And that collar-bone snapping fall off the motorcycle on Feasting On Asphalt? Good television!

[grace0418]

84. I agree with every one of his assessments. I've heard he can be a bit of an ass but

he also is as funny as hell.

[Burma Jones]

21. Agreed

[zonkers]

22. That was great. Glad he likes Giada. I do too. So, I guess Tony was guest blogging for Rulman?

Overall, I really like that site.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

49. He's right about the Food Network Cameras and Giada

I rarely watch the food network, but she does get the attention from any guy channel surfing to stop and watch.

[zonkers]

88. She is so vivacious.

[Rabrrrrrr]

29. The best sentence in the whole thing: "Aspire to nothing…Just sit there."

In the Rachael Ray rant - but it applies pretty much to American culture in its entirety.

Aspire to nothing…Just sit there.

Aspire to nothing…Just sit there.

Aspire to nothing…Just sit there.

Aspire to nothing…Just sit there.

Aspire to nothing…Just sit there.

[GOPisEvil]

41. You know what? People such as Rachael Ray inspired me to cook more.

I always thought it took long, or was too difficult. God Bless her non-Chef-ness. I found it demystifying.

[Rabrrrrrr]

42. I do appreciate Rachael for that. If her talking wasn't so annoying,

I'd like her a lot more. I do appreciate what she's doing - whole meals that really do take only a half-hour, and aren't pouring shit out of a box or a can.

I think Bourdain's criticism of he that she isn't Julia is somewhat unfounded - clearly, Rachael isn't; he's true on that point. But she isn't trying to teach people to cook French or fancy food. Julia came at a time when women were still at home and were cooking meals most of the day, and thus Julia was trying to get them to cook better. Rachael is coming at a time when most people open a box or a can, or go out to eat; she's trying to get people just to cook.

But even so, she still isn't pushing it very far, and like much of America in the current day she seems totally satisfied with mediocre or "good enough".

But, considering that she has at least gotten a lot more people into the kitchen, I give her credit.

But Food Network seems to be going the way of MTV - away from creativity and possible, and toward sensational, superficial, or "good enough".

[GOPisEvil]

44. I have come to being annoyed by her voice. I know WHY she talks so much.

But it can get very annoying. I think that's a valid criticism. I do have one of her books, and I've made several recipes from it. All came out pretty well.

What I find most annoying about Food Network is that there are too many shows ABOUT food instead of about preparing food, shopping for food and planning menus.

[leftofthedial]

48. funnier than hell

:rofl:

[smtpgirl]

50. I agree with Bourdain

I am an Alton, Mario & ICA fan, the rest of the food network can fall off the face of the earth as far as I am concerned.

I think the reality show Top Chef has caught me. I don't watch reality shows, but Bravo has a hit.

Food Network, regurgitated shows, the only show I loved the most was Iron Chef - Japan & the Two Fat Ladies, remember that cooking show?

[tigereye]

52. I love Bourdain

hilarious!

[KurtNYC]

53. I think he nails the stuff about Julia Child vs. Food Network

While Julia made the sublime do-able, FN increasingly seems to want to celebrate the mediocre. And sometimes it feels like half the programming is candy and desserts.

Surely there is room on the network for just one show that shows more advanced techniques.

And Rachel Ray should not be endorsing knives -- she has mediocre technique at best. I keep expecting her to "L.O.H.F.", lop off her finger (right into the EVOO), every time she hacks at something with that gimmicky wide blade.

[dropkickpa]

98. Dear god, yeah

I mean, seriously, they have all kinds of chef's and experienced kitchen people at FN, why oh why does no one grab her and give her a knife skills lesson???? I am not a trained chef in any way, but, by watching the cooking shows WITH trained chefs as a kid, I picked up a lot of the pointers in how to use a knife. Not only does the food look better, but it's SAFER!!

Rachel Ray always looks like she's taking a hacksaw to a hunk of pipe when she's chopping. I watched for a while just to see if she really would LOHF. Of course, I would not be in the least surprised if the knives she uses are incredibly dull (might explain the hacksawing).

I used to watch all the older cooking shows, such as "Yan Can Cook" (Martin Yan is still one of my favorites, he was fun to watch AND he really knew his stuff), "The Frugal Gourmet", Justin Wilson, Graham Kerr, and those great chefs around the world shows. Now I often watch my local PBS station for actual cooking shows, but I'd love to see some actual "cooking" shows like they used to have. Now everything is at the beginner-level or it's a contest/how they make corn-nuts/crazy sugar sculpture cake challenge. I loved Molto Mario, and I guarantee, if it had been on in the evening I'd have been watching it every day.

[KurtNYC]

110. Bring on more Mario, yes!

Completely knows his stuff, great knife work and a great communicator -- always says why he does what he does. Great combinations flavorwise.

He reminds me in ways of Wolfgang Puck although what they cook barely overlaps. Both of them can stack up flavors like Phil Spector filled the audio spectrum with his "Wall of Sound." They build walls of flavor -- a smokey/meaty/salty base, savory midtones, herbal accents and a touch of heat.

Here is a Mario combo:
linguini, roasted butternut squash, pine nuts, smoked ricotta cheese, basil
another: lentils, pancetta, scallion, mint, chicken stock, lemon juice

Puck:
roasted salmon, ginger, pepper, butter, wine reduction, shallots, garlic, balsamic, tomato

[Ramsey]

108. I call them "Product Placement Shows"

Half the shows are just about showing specific products. They are probably glorified infomercials.

Sandra Lee is an abomination! I agree with Tony (whom I have met TWICE!!).

The only good shows on FN are Alton Brown, Barefoot Contessa and maybe Giada. I learn something about cooking when I watch those shows- little tips and tidbits. I also like Michael Chiarello, forget what channel he is on, but he has good tips too. I used to kind of enjoy Emeril, but he just cooks crap.

I LOVE Tony's shows. He did the best documentary on the recent invasion of Lebanon on the air. He and his crew were there to film a No Reservations when the conflict broke out. He just showed the totally unadulterated reality.

[Dean Martin]

56. One of the few Food Network people I miss watching

I have to work on the night Anthony's program is on, and I really miss it. I don't watch the FN that much, but I really like and respect Bourdain. I really don't understand anyone thinking he's a jerk. I love him giving us insights into other cultures, especially parts of Asia and Africa. There aren't too many others doing that.

[AlCzervik]

57. i always enjoyed his show but i'm glad he's moved over to the travel channel

i thinks he's more appreciated over there.

[Dean Martin]

59. When I move in two months, I'll get a DVR

And then I'll be able to record his show while at work on the TC!

[TBreeze]

83. Cool

I enjoy his show on the Travel channel, and I'm also hooked on the Food Network. Thanks for the link! :hi:

[LostinVA]

106. VINDICATED! He respects and likes Giada

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

109. Oh yes, as long as you're vindicated...

:eyes:

[LostinVA]

112. Be quiet -- you agree she's hot -- and she's a great cook!