Yan Can Cook seemed much later to me. I mean much, much later. I watched GG as a child too young to cook, YCC I watched as a young newlywed along with my first exposure to Bobby Flay (with Jack McDavid, who nobody ever heard of) in Grillin’ and Chillin’. My and hubby watched all the time just to see Bobby get super drunk and start slurring his words “Abzoloolee” was one of his favorite things to say after hitting the glaze bourbon.
When I saw this thread I was afraid I’d open it to news that he had passed. :eek: The 70’s “Galloping Gourmet” version of Kerr was a little before my time, but I watched his 90’s show all the time. I had just started college and it was my first time living on my own, and his show is what inspired me to try cooking something more elaborate than hot dogs and mac and cheese. IIRC, his show aired at just about the time I was getting home from classes every day. I still have his “Minimax” cookbook to this day, too. My wife wanted to get rid of it in a book purge, but this one I wouldn’t let go.
He got me interested in cooking. He’d use two bottles of wine in a show back in the 70s, one went into the dish and the other went into him. It was fun to watch his antics but eventually it was obvious he had a problem. He did get himself together and I saw a little of him later on. He was interesting and entertaining, and very animated when he cooked.
I loved the Galloping Gourmet. He told awful shaggy dog stories that ended in puns (“People who live in grass houses shouldn’t stow thrones”) and ribald jokes (“don’t step in the um-gulla-gulla!”) and the food seemed sophisticated to this early teenager. Years later a friend told me that his mother was one of the women invited up at the end of the show to eat the meal with him. She took a bite and it was terrible: eggshells crunched in it, it tasted bad, just awful. In each episode, as they ate, the credits rolled and the sound was cut, and at least this time, he clinked glasses, smiled like he was telling a joke, and said, “I know it’s awful! Just keep smiling and nodding and we’ll serve up something proper after!”
He’s a kind of household joke around here. I like four of his books enough to keep them near the kitchen, as opposed to most of my cookbooks that live in the basement — Cooks American; Cooks Italian; Cooks Three Ancient Cuisines; Cooks Our Immigrant Ancestors.
Ukulele Lady: Hey, this is good. Where’s the recipe from?
Me: The Frugal Molester.
I know Kerr’s name, and names of many TV chefs, some of whom I’ve met. A couple of them, former subordinates of my SIL the ex-celeb chef, catered my daughter’s second baby shower. They did well, as did all his chef buddies who catered their wedding.
I have never bothered to watch TV chefs. When my folks divorced and I had to live with Dad, who would burn water while attempting to boil it because his mother didn’t train him, I learned to cook as a survival mechanism. That was before Ms Julia (of the other CIA) hit the airwaves. Would she have improved me? No, I already knew to apply wine to the chef before adulterating the broth.
My SIL, not on TV, gave the best advice that helped me. 1) Don’t overboil pasta, and 2) truffle oil on everything!
Once you exhume them, wouldn’t they be pretty dry and chewy?
Marinate in cooking sherry until pliable. This may take awhile, so start early.
Hah! At one time in my Little Free Library, I had books by Jeff Smith, Bill Cosby, and Michael Dorris.
When The Frugal Gourmet was still being produced for PBS, here in Chicago, I knew someone who was on the production staff for the show. My acquaintance had little good to say about Smith, who was apparently brusque, demanding, and distant with the people who worked on his show (most of whom had worked with Smith for years).
If I recall correctly, he was fairly rude on air to his assistant Craig or whatever his name was.
I still find it amusing to imagine Graham Kerr’s debauched rock star Sex life with matronly fans.
Back in the day I got the 3 Ancient Cuisines for my birthday. After it hit the wall, I picked it back up, cranked up my computer and sent in a 8 page letter of the mistakes, and cites, and bibliography where to find the correct information. Never heard back from them. Funny that.
Though the cooking shows are great at getting people to try something different. I know a few people who decided to make something out of my Auntie Grace’s cookbook and decide they really did like Chinese food that wasn’t Panda Express =)
Before Mr. Salinqmind and I were married, we’d spend a cozy weekend morning watching the Frugal Gourmet, and Mr. S said, ‘you know, I …I don’t like him’. And I was all, ‘no, he’s nice! He’s a pastor, he’s a kindly older guy’. Imagine our surprise when he (AND his wife) were charged with sexual assault of the young guys who worked for him. The funny thing is, I was taken aback. But Mr. S was shocked - shocked! to hear about this, I had to spell it out for the dummy what the charges WERE…My cousin who lived in the North West told me years later after Mr. Smith bought his way out of the charges, he would be seen cruising Pike Market in a wheelchair, still hitting on young guys, LOL.