The Food Network

[auntbeast]

Alton Brown can call himself a chef, he did graduate culinary school and he has worked in a restaraunt, although not for long. His desire was never to be a cook, but to learn about food. Oh my, am I an annoying fan girl? I think I am. I loves me some Alton.

Did anyone see the Paula Dean episode with Jimmy Carter? It was priceless to watch him.

Oh, and if you think oil can't be three syllables, please allow me to introduce you to my neice who can say "hey" with up to seven syllables. I'm not saying she is playing it up, but I know and am related to folks with much stronger accents than hers and hers doesn't sound fake to me.

I tried watching Semi-homemade but only made it through 3 episodes before my very rational fear of her setting herself on fire, chopping off fingers, losing her damn mind in a spectacular fashion drove me away. Besides, I believe my Tivo cried every time it had to record it.

[schmoosie]

I've never heard any other Southerner use 3 syllables to say "oil"

I'm not picking on you, but you've not known many people from Louisiana have you? Low-ay-zay-ann-ah. Some Louisiananan people have severe accents. I knew the fellow once who pronounced roof, wroovve. His (Cajun) accent was so thick no one could understand him. Paula's accent is completely and totally plausable to me considering all the deep south southerners I've known. There are so many different "southern accents" though, and well, Paula's is one of the most annoying.

Still loving Giada. Not scared she's going to eat me anymore.

[Deleted]

I'm not picking on you, but you've not known many people from Louisiana have you?

Nope, not in 'real life'. The only Loisianan accents I'm familar with are Britney Spears and that Cajun chef (the "I Guarantee it" guy). But I think what's more annoying to me is her voice, rather than the accent. Also, on the TWoP thread about her, people have said they've been to her restaurant and heard her speak. According to them, her accent was less severe, so the theory is that she's playing it up for the cameras.

Whatever happened to Ming Tsai? He did East Meets West and was extremely hot. He was a former engineer turned chef, so he would get more technical in his explanations, but didn't sound cheesey or campy (Hi Alton). Plus he always gave wine recomendations for his meals, which I don't see too many other FN chefs doing.

I do like Alton Brown, and I appreciate that he doesn't dumb things down for the viewer. However, sometimes I feel like I'm watching a children's show with all the wacky props, soundeffects and 'characters'.

[marywebgirl]

Ming Tsai has a show on PBS. It's fine for the eye candy, but the recipes are a little complicated. I also caught an ep where he was cooking with his parents and he said something sort of demeaning to his mom, but I can't remember exactly what it was.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the heads up, MaryWebGirl. Is it still called "East Meets West"? I can't find it listed on my local PBS's program guide.

I wonder why he left FoodNetwork?

Does anyone know which chefs started the channel? I thought I read that it was Emeril and 2 others, but that Emeril was the break-out star.

[Deleted]

Food Network was created by a cable company, not chefs. If you mean who started out on FN in the early days, it's Emeril, along with Sara Moulton and later on, Bobby Flay.

[woopdedoo]

Tyler Florence hopped up on cocaine, that's beautiful. He is such a flirt...I thought maybe I was imagining it. It seems like the women on the show go all gooey around him.

Sara Moulton has som good recipes, but man does she put me to sleep. Borrrring.

Bobby Flay thinks he is God's gift and I can't for the life of me think why. I hated how he danced around on top of a table during that Iron Chef cook off. What a dink.

I just hate everybody today. I think I need some chocolate, stat!

[Deleted]

Food Network was created by a cable company, not chefs. If you mean who started out on FN in the early days, it's Emeril, along with Sara Moulton and later on, Bobby Flay.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought I read that some chefs got together and decided to have an all food & cooking channel.

Speaking of Sara Moulton, she seems like a wonderful chef, but damn, is she boring. I know she's trained with Julia Child and has a lot of experience, but when I watch her cook, it's like watching my mom or a boring aunt prepare a meal. *Snore*

Bobby Flay. Oh man. For one, I think he is in love with himself (I just get that vibe from him). Secondly, my gaydar pings with him. If you watch some episodes of "Boy Meets Grill", he throws out some very obvious homosexual cues (see: episode about Jamaican Jerk Meat). Also, on another message board about two years ago, a girl posted about her gay friend having had.. relations with him. Not that I believe everything I read on the internet, but 2 + 2 = 4.

I watch the Food Network waaaay too much.

[marywebgirl]

Is anyone else excited about the pizza and pasta weekend? After their craptacular string of holiday, kids and wedding weekends, I'm stoked that they're doing something like this. I could watch shows about pizza until the cows come home.

I've heard Sara's books are very good. Anybody read any of them?

[Deleted]

Sara has one book out now - Sara Moulton Cooks at Home, and has another one due out this fall. Both are very, very good, with easy, really tasty recipes.