I used to be a major addict of the Food Network (FN) channel. With FN, I could visit houses and restaurants all across the country. I could celebrate each month of the year, with something special from FN - sweets for Valentines day, Tailgating party ideas, summer barbeques and ofcourse, Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas cookies. But two things did it for me, and I had to say goodbye - Olive oil and scary people.
You know that the Olive oil cartel (if something like that even exists) has a fishy (or should we say oily) deal going on with the FN. Olive oil seems to have replaced water in most recipes. They no longer drizzle it over dishes. Each recipe calls for CUPS of oil. And ofcourse, it has to be Extra virgin. Sure, it may be good for you, but it does have calories (more than canola oils), is very expensive, and has a very strong flavor and heating temperatures totally unsuitable for different kinds of cooking.
And then the scary people. You could watch FN just for the kicks and giggles from watching these "chefs".
There is Rachael Ray. Anything I type here is purely redundant, as there are many Anti-Ray websites. My grouse? She knows exactly three recipes - a basic tomato+onion+garlic gravy, a burger/meatball, a grilled cheese sandwich that she endlessly recycles, and also totally insults the wonderful world of food, and earnest cooks who try to make healthy meals, and hard working chefs who really know how to cook.
And then there is scary Giada. She is reed thin, but every recipe of hers calls for 2 sticks of butter and 5 cups of cheese (and ofcourse, endless bottles of olive oil). And the low-cut-blouses on every single show? So much for women's liberation!
And then the scariest of them all - Sandra Lee. Someone, PLEASE take her to AA. Every episode has a cocktail recipe, with her tasting the drink the second she pours it into the glass (the food that she makes is mostly untouched). She looks at alcohol with great desire and longing, advocates a "tablescape" which would set you back atleast a 100 bucks each meal, and finally, wears clothes to match the dish she cooks!!!!
So its bye to FN, and a great big hi to Fine living TV
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17 comments:
oh c'mon, what abt ace of cakes, dinner impossible, tasty travels? They are exciting, right?
Ace of cakes---i wish people realise that its something edible, and not spray paints, have metal rods, cardboard/wooden planks, and what not!!!and everything is a world record!!!!!!And there is this other guy, who makes you never eat the food he covers on "Unwrapped". They better change their programs or else, more and more ppl will move away!!!
I couldn't agree more, I feel like they systematically got rid of the good ones like a cooks tour and jamie oliver. Instead, they have given the ladies you mention (and their cleavages) multiple programs and way too much camera time.
HI,
Came to you from Mahanandi. I found what you wrote abt Sandra Lee to be very funny and true.
My 8 yr old daughter is a big fan of Food Network and I am not allowed to say anything against her favorite chefs :).
I agree with you here. But there are some like "Barefoot Contessa", "Good Eats" which are good (I think).
Since I have a 2 yr old at home, I rarely watch TV any more since I do not want him to get addicted. But I agree about Sandra Lee. Cant stand her. She irritates the heck out of me, why, I don't know.
Hi,
Visited your blog through Mahanandi. I agree with you on all that about FN. Like you, I was once addicted to the channel. But I must say I like 'Unwrapped' and 'Good Eats'.
Absolutely true true true.. And you forgot our dear lady from the south Paula Deen who feels proud everytime she says "stickaabutta"
An though I adore adore Ina Garten for her use of freshest ingredients, the fat content in her food is dangerous...
Good for you.. HGTV is also an alternative good option !!!
Mallik - totally agree, how can food and power tools mix?
Anon - Thats the scary thing - the real cooks being phased out and the dumbing down of the channel
Anjali - Your daughter sounds like my little nephew, even he absolutely loves cooking! hope she continues to develop this wonderful art
Vimmi - well, maybe its the way she pronounces every other word, or the fact that she mixes in 20 synthetic preservative laden ingredients when she could have just used five simple things and made some real food
Anon - welcome, i agree - good eats is really nice
Revathi - Well, atleast Paula does not claim that her food is super healthy, unlike Rachel ray who makes a dish with 4 cups of cheese and says its healthy cos she added 1/2 a cup of veggies? Ina is really classy, but again way too much fat
I would beg to differ with your comments on FN, for the following reasons:
1) I think that every recipe can be "tweaked" to appeal to the sensitivities of the individual cook. Trust me, I'm a huge health nut. But I've tried many of the recipes and if I feel it calls for too much cheese or too much oil, I just find a way to bypass that and it still turns out great.
2)Every show caters to a different audience. Rachael Ray and Sandra Lee cater to the kind of cooks who don't have much time to prepare a meal from scratch and have to use quick ingredients. I think its commendable that the network respects that every person cannot spend hours and hours in the kitchen, like Paula Deen.
3) Giada is one of my absolute favorites because she makes even the most difficult dishes seem accessible to the inexperienced cook. This, even though she is from Le Cordon Bleu. As for her dressing sense, I'd have to say that there are far worse examples of poor dressing on television today than on food network.
I agree with your comments on Rachel Ray, I think her skills are hyped way too mcuh. I have stopped watching any of her programs. But saying goodbye completely may not be a good idea. I agree with another user who recommended 'Good eats' and 'Unwrapped'. These are quality programs and are packed with loads of information. 'Iron Chef America' is also decent.
Haha... finally I see someone talking "ABOUT" FN:). I think the same. I like good eats, ina and giada and I completely agree with u about her dressing.
Hi,
Every chef on the FN cater to diff sets of audiences and they represent diff facets of cooking. Like for instance RR for fast cooking, Lee more on presentation, Giada on her Italian touches and so on... They may be repetitive or make similar recipes because it is what they are best at.. we as audiences have to pick what we like best... I personally like Ina, Paula & Giada... Mission Impossible is also good... Coming to talk of food, I like "Take home Chef" on TLC... Have fun...
oh..I cant watch Rachel or Giada.. cant stand their round the clock blah blah talking..
I like Ellie Kriger's show.. Her Healthy living show comes only on fridays & saturdays.. very few shows. Love her way of talking, cooking & healthy recipes.
;-)
I don't watch Giada anymore. The boobs were too disconcerting. Doesn't she ever worry about burning oil magically hitting one of them? Geez.... Somebody introduce her to sweats.
yes yes yes, FN sucks. too bad america is still obsessed with it. Need I mention that Emerill rivals Rae for worst ever FN host? He's absolutely absurd, with the kicking it up and the whole shabang. UGH. I will say that Monday mornings at ten offer what I consider to be the only worthwhile thing left on FN: MOLTO MARIO. Thank goodness for that man.
Totally agree with you. I hate Rachel Ray. Hate those new set of series that are starting which have almost the same thing and everyone acting like a star.
I hate Semi-homemade because of so much canned/prepped food she uses. Wonder if she really eats what she makes.
I still like the older shows and their formats : Paula (not the party), Barefoot contessa and Tyler's ultimate, molto mario,. I like everyday italian recipes (the pasta ones, mostly because of it being more vegetarian), though I hate watching Giada pick up even salt as if she is picking some diamonds and her unending smiles.
About EVOO, the Olive Oil companies lobby it to be that way, I think.
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