I grew up watching Graham Kerr with my Mom. Love Emeril, love Mario Batali (sorry), Guy's tournament of champions is amazing, but I would like to see a balance of competition vs. instruction. The "Worst Cooks In America" thing has kind of ruined it for many of my friends.
A plug for the free app Pluto TV - it has Julia Child's shows, plus other educational cooking shows. I was getting misty the other day watching a young Charlie Trotter cook with her in the 90's. I lived in Chicago then and it was a trip down memory lane.
I guess I'm in the minority who DON'T like cooking competition shows. Yes, consumer demand drives this stuff, but it leaves the rest of us searching for something else. The competition thing has spilled over into everything....home building, decorating, everything. So sick of it. And there's always a time crunch aspect to it which makes it stressful to watch, not enjoyable. Give me an instructional bit and/or documentary and I'm happy. I miss the old Jacques Pepin type shows....no obnoxious music, no hype, no bs. I love to watch people cook, not compete.
I agree entirely. I watch food programming for one reason - to become a better home cook. Competition shows don't help much in that regard, particularly shows that require contestant to use a ridiculous set of ingredients that no one would ever willingly use in real life, such as on Chopped and Tournament of Champions where, to top it off, Guy Fieri screams and shouts all the time. And he really loves calling Brooke Williamson "B Dub" over and over. However, I do like his Diners, Drive ins and Dives. You can learn from the cooks on that show.
Hi Andrew, like the new shaven 'Van Winkle Rabbi' look much better... the long grey beard makes you oldish, clean shaven makes you look much younger... you have very nice face, a cheerful smile & a champaign personality... thus, forget the facial tundra at least for the summer in the Twin Cities.... always best regards, to care...
I agree with you on finding how to's on YouTube, no doubt about it. But I have to say, I do also learn things from watching cooking competition shows, not so much the how to, but combinations of things that can go together.
Andrew, last night I watched an 'Iron Chef America' episode from 2012 w/ you & Masaharu Morimoto in a 'Salmon' competition... you guys should of won, in my opinion; but perhaps that's just me??? (yet I don't think so)... I was an executive sous chef for many years, thus believe that was one the great competition shows to this day... 'Top Chef' is another terrific series currently running that I think is pretty damn great, as it showcases the 'younger' up-and-coming chefs this country has to offer.... 'Chopped' is a worthwhile & entertaining, yet my complaint isn't so much the 'Shows' themselves, it's the Judges. 'Salt' should not be used in the same sentence as "Unders Seasoned'...
Granted under seasoned food at that level is major faux pas, yet everybody has a huge range & depth of "What is too salty"??? To me, the uses of herbs, spices, pepper, etc., etc., should all be part of 'under seasoned' in cooking.... Now if it is toooo salty, then it's reasonable & definite criticism.... yet to often I see it used as the perfect 'Judge's' scapegoat for indecision....
BTW: I truly hope my 'Rabbi Van Winkle' comment about the beard-thing, didn't cause you to over-boil... if so, I sincerely apologize... for you are 1 of 4 chefs that inspired me to pursue a Culinary Arts degree and become a chef, 36 years past.... SOooo, THANK you for remaining an inspiration for all these years... Best regards always, be well & take care Andrew....
OMG - I’m with you about the “salt and under seasoned” comment! I don’t like how some of the judges only judge based on what they like and how they like it (looking at you, Scott Conant and your raw onion issue).
Boy JayLo, you nailed the 'Scott Conant' redundant bitch... and you know there are many other ridiculous & foolish pet-peeves of a number of judges... Have a fab weekend ~ Cheers & Ciao... or now...
I’ve learned a TON from Chopped, like how to balance flavors, and GGG is always a fun way to get new ideas. But all of these newer ones that don’t show how they decide what to make or how to make it….. they’re horrible. The Kitchen isn’t a bad show, but GZ is not my favorite, so I don’t watch that anymore. I’d love an instructional show that focuses on a different thing each episode, like sauces, then beef, then chicken, then seasonal veggies… those are the kinds of cookbooks I buy. The Food Lab by Kenji Lopez-Alt is also amazing!!!
I grew up watching Graham Kerr with my Mom. Love Emeril, love Mario Batali (sorry), Guy's tournament of champions is amazing, but I would like to see a balance of competition vs. instruction. The "Worst Cooks In America" thing has kind of ruined it for many of my friends.
OMG Loved Graham Kerr (are we dating ourselves?) Oh, and OMG.....he's still alive! 88 ;)
I got my Mom his cookbook, The Graham Kerr Cookbook: by The Galloping Gourmet. I need to cook something from it!
A plug for the free app Pluto TV - it has Julia Child's shows, plus other educational cooking shows. I was getting misty the other day watching a young Charlie Trotter cook with her in the 90's. I lived in Chicago then and it was a trip down memory lane.
Thanks for the tip!
Glad to! I'm happy to give AZ my $ and learn lots from this substack.
I guess I'm in the minority who DON'T like cooking competition shows. Yes, consumer demand drives this stuff, but it leaves the rest of us searching for something else. The competition thing has spilled over into everything....home building, decorating, everything. So sick of it. And there's always a time crunch aspect to it which makes it stressful to watch, not enjoyable. Give me an instructional bit and/or documentary and I'm happy. I miss the old Jacques Pepin type shows....no obnoxious music, no hype, no bs. I love to watch people cook, not compete.
I agree entirely. I watch food programming for one reason - to become a better home cook. Competition shows don't help much in that regard, particularly shows that require contestant to use a ridiculous set of ingredients that no one would ever willingly use in real life, such as on Chopped and Tournament of Champions where, to top it off, Guy Fieri screams and shouts all the time. And he really loves calling Brooke Williamson "B Dub" over and over. However, I do like his Diners, Drive ins and Dives. You can learn from the cooks on that show.
Hi Andrew, like the new shaven 'Van Winkle Rabbi' look much better... the long grey beard makes you oldish, clean shaven makes you look much younger... you have very nice face, a cheerful smile & a champaign personality... thus, forget the facial tundra at least for the summer in the Twin Cities.... always best regards, to care...
I agree with you on finding how to's on YouTube, no doubt about it. But I have to say, I do also learn things from watching cooking competition shows, not so much the how to, but combinations of things that can go together.
Andrew, last night I watched an 'Iron Chef America' episode from 2012 w/ you & Masaharu Morimoto in a 'Salmon' competition... you guys should of won, in my opinion; but perhaps that's just me??? (yet I don't think so)... I was an executive sous chef for many years, thus believe that was one the great competition shows to this day... 'Top Chef' is another terrific series currently running that I think is pretty damn great, as it showcases the 'younger' up-and-coming chefs this country has to offer.... 'Chopped' is a worthwhile & entertaining, yet my complaint isn't so much the 'Shows' themselves, it's the Judges. 'Salt' should not be used in the same sentence as "Unders Seasoned'...
Granted under seasoned food at that level is major faux pas, yet everybody has a huge range & depth of "What is too salty"??? To me, the uses of herbs, spices, pepper, etc., etc., should all be part of 'under seasoned' in cooking.... Now if it is toooo salty, then it's reasonable & definite criticism.... yet to often I see it used as the perfect 'Judge's' scapegoat for indecision....
BTW: I truly hope my 'Rabbi Van Winkle' comment about the beard-thing, didn't cause you to over-boil... if so, I sincerely apologize... for you are 1 of 4 chefs that inspired me to pursue a Culinary Arts degree and become a chef, 36 years past.... SOooo, THANK you for remaining an inspiration for all these years... Best regards always, be well & take care Andrew....
OMG - I’m with you about the “salt and under seasoned” comment! I don’t like how some of the judges only judge based on what they like and how they like it (looking at you, Scott Conant and your raw onion issue).
Boy JayLo, you nailed the 'Scott Conant' redundant bitch... and you know there are many other ridiculous & foolish pet-peeves of a number of judges... Have a fab weekend ~ Cheers & Ciao... or now...
I’ve learned a TON from Chopped, like how to balance flavors, and GGG is always a fun way to get new ideas. But all of these newer ones that don’t show how they decide what to make or how to make it….. they’re horrible. The Kitchen isn’t a bad show, but GZ is not my favorite, so I don’t watch that anymore. I’d love an instructional show that focuses on a different thing each episode, like sauces, then beef, then chicken, then seasonal veggies… those are the kinds of cookbooks I buy. The Food Lab by Kenji Lopez-Alt is also amazing!!!