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Sandra Lee as a frugal chef?

"but so many that I adore...."

Just out of curiousity, which Food Network stars to you like, and why do they appeal to you?
 
One of my all time favorite TV cooking stars was Justin Wilson (PBS). Not because of his culinary expertize but because his favorite ingredients were wine, more wine and onioooons.
I enjoyed his programs because of his excellence in telling humorous stories that always left me laughing. With his Cajun accent he had a way of telling a story that always reminded me of my grandfather and the story always had a gar -on- tee moral point behind it.
 
My favorite Justin Wilson thing was him saying, "add hot sauce to taste," as he added a whole bunch of it to the pot. Then, without sampling it, he said, "doan taste good yet," and added a whole bunch more.

Me, I laughed so hard I thought my pants would never dry.
 
I like the fella on FoodNetwork that hosts a show about Drive-Ins and Dives (I think it is) he has hair like a blonde porcupine, and his name is Guy, he is so full of energy and happiness I just get a kick out of him, he is such a cheerful character!!!:) Plus the food at the places he stops looks scrumptuous m-m-mmmmmm-m!
 
I liked Ming Tsai, the two hot tamales, David Rosengarten’s show Taste, I liked a show they had on for a while called the global kitchen that featured a variety of chefs, I liked Emeril when it was taste of Emeril before Emeril live. Before he started bamming the food to death. I liked Molto Mario and sorry KY I liked Good Eats. I’ve made many of his recipes and they always come out great. I like some of Sarah Moulton’s shows, Jaime at home and only that one. I never liked any of the shows he did before that. I also like Nigella Lawson when it was Nigella bites on the style channel.I didn’t like her Food TV show. She seemed to be a characature of her former self. Like fat Elvis.I like the shows that gave me recipes I wanted to cook. I’m like that with all things though. I don’t usually like to watch shows about restaurants or cooking challenges just like I don’t want quizzes and fluff in my fashion magazines. I buy Lucky because all I want is the meat. Pages and pages of shoes, bags, skirts, dresses etc just fashion that’s it, no articles. I like cook books for that too just recipes with some brief descriptions. Just the meat please. When I want articles I read the news or National Geographic.
 
That's probably our biggest difference, Jfain. To me the recipes, per se, are secondary. I'm all about the food---where it comes from, how it's used in different cuisines, how it's culturally influenced (and the reverse), etc.

I read cookbooks the way other people read novels. The recipes, as such, are merely guidelines to me. Other than when I have to when writing a review, I can't remember the last time I actually followed one exactly. But I can spend hours happily reading the author's notes and comments and historical asides; all of which helps me understand the underlying roots of the recipe.

A good example is Cajun and Creole Cooking, by Edie Hand and Col. William G. Paul. I guarantee the recipes will all taste pretty much the same, the way they're presented. But the introductory material, particularly the section on the evolution of cajun and creole cuisines, is worth the price of admission.
 
Oh I like the history of the FOOD too. I love to travel and so the cultural part appeals to me. I also read several food news blogs which talk about political issues surrounding food but I wouldn’t necessarily like to read about the biography of a chef or restaurant reviews in places that I will probably never get to or watching someone cook food that I would have no interest in cooking myself such as the Pillsbury bake off. There is so much information in the world today and that’s a great thing but since there is so much I feel like I need to have my filter on so I get only what I want and not a bunch of extra stuff that takes up my time.
 
I feel I share mutual commonalities w/ everyone here... but w/ Brook's self-description in mind, comparing he and I- after "knowing" him a couple or more years, I would say we're similar insofar as how we read cookbooks (and largely disregard the actual recipes all together), except where he's more into the science and academics- I'm more into the foo-foo aesthetics of it all...

I will also add another bit of worthless trivia, if I may... Brook and I actually met at another forum about 3-4 years ago and not long into it we got into a huge knock-down/drag-out pizzing contest about salmon (of all things!)... (do you recall that messy mishap, Brook?) Ha! And that's all I'll say about that! :)
 
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That's just because anyone who moves their lips while reading naturally gravitates to the pictures. :p:p;)
 
I know this is an older post but I wanted to add my two cents' worth.

Like others said before me, I have become very disillusioned with Food Network. Rarely is there a new show - other than the reality stuff. When it first aired, I was a junky for sure. Now, I can barely stand it. I like Sunny a bit because she makes me laugh. I like Ina because she taught me how to bake a decent loaf of bread. Sometimes I can bear Alton because I think it's important to under the science of food. I used to be crazy about Emeril but, like another poster, Bam is worn out. Iron Chef teaches us absolutely nothing.

Giada I cannot relate to because she comes from extreme wealth, has lived everywhere and is now in California where the food has absolutely nothing to do with me. I don't think pasta and tomato sauce and olives and cheese make for diversified eating. (I will, however, honor that she is Italian and that she cooks the way she has been taught to cook. It's just not for me.)

I don't know about you guys but a few months ago we, in our area, began to be bombarded with ads for a new Food Network sister station - the Cooking Channel. I was so excited I could barely stand it because I had never seen or heard of the "stars" they portrayed in all of the ads. Turns out, it is just another place for many reruns of Tyler, Rachel, Mario, etc. Every once in a great while, I will notice one of the supposed stars in the evening's lineup.

I rarely look at the network's shows any more (except for Paula - I absolutely LOVE that woman!) because I think it is very unfair to be poking reruns from 2001 and such down our throats. Cooking trends have changed dramatically since then.

And have you noticed? The $40 a day mess is now on the Travel Channel. For goodness' sake. I saw the credits for one the other day from 2004. Give us a break.

I suspect that the network execs would not listen to a campaign asking for better programming because they think they know it all. I suggest that we vote with our remotes: just tune out.

I like Chris Kimball, as well. He might be a little corny but I can trust that any recipe he puts in front of us has been tested and tested again. I actually wish I could work for him but can't move to Vermont.

All the best, my pals.
-sissy
 
Sissy said:
I know this is an older post but I wanted to add my two cents' worth.



Giada I cannot relate to because she comes from extreme wealth, has lived everywhere and is now in California where the food has absolutely nothing to do with me. I don't think pasta and tomato sauce and olives and cheese make for diversified eating. (I will, however, honor that she is Italian and that she cooks the way she has been taught to cook. It's just not for me.)


I guess we all have our opinions - on this part - I disagree with you. I don't like Giada - but I am Italian - and there is a heluva lot more to it than stated above.
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Major apologies to Mama re Giada

Mama:

I feel that I did not state my thoughts properly. I have absolutely nothing against Italians, Chinese, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Japanese (I leave myself out because I am descended from two or more races).....I have been taught to believe that we all bleed red and that God made us all equal.

The last thing I want to do is upset my precious Mama. I simply meant that there are some food styles that I like and some that I don't.

Please forgive me.

-sissy
 
No apology is needed and I do not feel you need to express yourself.

Many think of Italian cooking as mere spaghetti and meatballs without really knowing the true food menu of Italy. Italian food can also have a Tunisian/Moroccan/Spanish flair because of its location. Especially with Sicilian foods.

My "disagreeent" (which may not be the proper word at all) is the fact that there is so much more to Italian cooking.

Giada - I do not like at all. And I do not feel she does Italian cooking any justice -

no need for any apology whatsoever - and not everyone eats Italian foods - and I understand that.
 
Once you research Italian cooking you do discover Giada is Italian light. Her recipes are more Californian that Italian. Italian food has way more heart and soul than Giada portrays. I have a real issue with watching Giada at Home. Giada is so wasteful when she preps food especially fruit and vegetables. Coming from such a privledged life I guess it is to be expected.
 
I enjoy Giada... not that I consider her a Lidia (whom I adore) but I like her airy approach. Admittedly- part of it for me w/ her are other things that make up the whole picture- the whole product, too. I like her set- like her kitchen. I like the unique manner inwhich her show is filmed. I don't know enough about film and photography to describe what I actually mean or what I wish to say exactly- but one can tell the filming is approached slightly differently than most shows and that appeals to my eye.

I am not Italain- but one soon learns in the food world that American Italian food is MUCH different than real Italian food. It's sure not all American spaghetti and American pizza. Not that I don't love our own versions of Italian- because I do. But the foods of the various regions of Italy are diverse/complex/simple/rustic/elegant all wrapped-up into one!

Three of my fav Italian cookbooks are actually the two "Soprano's" cookbooks (as weird as that might seem!) and "Two Meatballs in an Italian Kitchen" written by two bickering chefs- one born in Tuscany- the other born in America to an Italian immigrant family. Their training and schools of thought are at once totally different- yet also very similar. Fun books! :)

Beyond Mario and Giada, there fantastic classic Italian cookbooks by Marcella Hazan and Lorenza De'Medici that are wonderful And although Michael Chiarello is heavily influenced by California/Napa Valley his take on Italian is nice as well.
 
Giada's own aunt was giving her a hard time on one of her episodes for her recipes not being the right Italian way. Giada explained to her aunt that she felt since she was born in Italy but raised in California she felt her recipes were a blend of the two. Like Kev I enjoy the way they film Giada's show. It has the look of a movie and since it is filmed in a real home and not on a set somewhere it has that at home feel to it.

They have a new show on the FN called Family Style. I watched the premiere on Sunday I think and let me say I hate that show. It is a restaurant version of the Jersey Shore. Who wants to watch a show every week about a brother and sister pulling pranks on each other constantly while running a restaurant. The brother is super struck on himself and a total idiot. He looks and sounds like a Jersey Shore reject.
 
While I usually like Rachal Ray, I question her traveling on $40 a day. What Motel does she book to stay in that range.
 
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