Wish that Food Network would rebroadcast old Justin, Julia, & Jeff shows late at night (hey, what’s with all the J names?) They could title a late night time slot “Cooking Classics” I’d rather that than seeing reruns of what was broadcast earlier that evening.
My hat’s off to Justin Wilson. He rekindled my interest in cooking back in the 70’s.
I had forgotten about Justin Wilson. I loved his show. He was so… what’s the word? Traditional? Fundamental? Fokelore-ish? His food looked delicious, I gar-ron-tee!
Rachel Ray’s saying “EVOO” doesn’t bother nearly as much as her calling everything good-tasting “Dee-LISH”. But even those aren’t as annoying as that nasal whine. When Justin Wilson chopped up some “own-yone” in every Cajun dish, that was just fun, but now *every * frickin’ TV chef has their own forced tag line.
Those FHM pix have made me reconsider my opinion of Rachel, though, I gotta say - I had no idea what was under that apron.
I love the Food Network, too. My favorites are Rachael Ray and Alton Brown. Tyler Florence taiught me to make gumbo! And more importantly, roux. I used to watch Emeril, but I really have gotten tired of BAM! And why in the hell does he season everything the same, with the essence? I like different combos, thank you very much.
I bought one of his salad dressings to serve at Christmas, House Herb Vinegraitte. It has corn syrup in it. 
Pretty tasty though.
Rachael rules, though. I’ve made a lot of her recipes. You can find every recipe used on any of the shows at FoodNetwork.com Try her Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breasts. To die for.
And Wolfgang Puck taught me how to make a Baby Back Rib Rub that is wonderful!
The word you’re looking for is “drunk”.
I didn’t mention the ‘foodie’ progenitors in the OP because at that time they had not been elevated to the level of superstars. Julia Childs (despite her OSS background) was not a major celebrity. James Beard was only known to the cooknescti, and Jeff Smith was busy developing his Christian pastorship and pederasty.
Again, the point of the rant was that we are making stars out of cooks. No problem there - been doing it since Cordon Bleu - but by Angra Manyu’s bleeding rectum are we so bereft of meaning in our society that we must elevate cooks, plumbers, bus drivers, even actors to the state of godhood?
Are we so empty that we can be filled by such crap?
I say better all those people than druggie ex-models/socialites/ex-musicians. At least your examples contribute something to society.
The paper company I used to work for sold stuff to Paula’s restaurant. I’ve met her and one of the sons.
Her accent? Let’s just say Dick Van Dyke did a better accent. Her son (I don’t recall the name, but he’s the older one) is an arrogant prick.
I’ve eaten in her restaurant. It’s okay as Southern “cuisine” goes, but it’s mostly a tourist trap. I’ve had better (and worse).
The majority of the baked goods sold in her place comes from the bakery my stepdaughter works in.
:smack: How could I not mention Martin Yan?!?! He da man!
And when he guested on Emeril, he did at one point mention something about how he never had any budget like this.
But, yeah, what is it with Emeril’s audience and all that tittering whenever he brings out any alcohol-containing liquid, or that awe about adding garlic… I bet these are Ron Popeil’s “set it and forget it” on their days off.
The important, transcendent question, of course, is can we get pics of Rachael with her hand down her panties for under $40?
Hee hee! Probably that too, but not what I was thinking. Old-fashioned? From an older time?
:eek: But the Whirling Outboard Motor Propeller Strike is a Japanese technique!
Ah, FoodNetwork chefs, how I alternately love/loathe thee…
[ul][li] Emeril–It’s amazing how good his early shows are and how utterly schticky the current ones are. I mean, it’s FoodNetwork. IMHO, that means it should be more about the food and less about the “Look at me! I’ve got a band! I’m a god! BAM!”[/li][li] Bobby Flay–Meh. I’ve not watched enough of his stuff to be truly annoyed, but I’m not impressed either.[/li][li] Rachel Ray–Yes, she’s perky as hell. Yes, EVOO is annoying. But, I still can’t turn away. Maybe there’s a 12-step program for this? Mainly, I think it’s that she gives a lot of generic food cooking/prep tips, makes recommendations for ways to alter her recipes, and, despite her frentic personality, doesn’t get flustered.[/li][li] The Barefoot Contessa–Probably my favorite; though I’ve never made any of her recipes, I just enjoy her attitude. Since I’ve had some pretty ugly meltdowns in the kitchen, looking to her and using her “This is just going to be delicious!” attitude has been extraordinarily helpful. Like Cheesesteak’s mention of Rachel Ray and her rubbish bowl, I know Ina isn’t the first feel-good cook on TV, but she’s the one that I noticed first.[/li][li] Alton Brown–He’s my husband’s favorite, and I’m starting to come around.[/li][li] Giada–Heh. So that’s her name. In my house, we just call her “Big Head Girl AAAAAH!” 
The combination of her bizarro large head (made worse, I believe, by the fish-eye type camera lens they use in her kitchen shots) and the way she has friends over to eat and then narrates their food experience just completely turns me off. I’ll look at her recipes online, but the sight of her makes me grab the remote.[/ul][/li]
That means I’ve the Guinastasia Seal of Approval! Wheeeeeee! (This photo may clog arteries or make you feel like some polka music.)
Is that cukes with sour cream and dill? Whole spread looks delicious!
Such is his genius. And such is this board that the most obscure reference is known to at least 2 members. 
Is your band the Decepticonz, by any chance?
Oh, by the way, I have a MAJOR crush on Rachael Ray. I love her show, I’ve prepared dozens of her recipes, and I think she’s pretty damn delish herself. Oh no, I’m sorry, Rachael! I have spilled EVOO all over you! Can I help you clean off? It may just take half an hour!
Giada DeLaurentiis is very pretty, but she could definitely stand to eat more of her own cooking! Her recipes are outstanding, and she looks like Natalie Portman’s older, skinnier sister.
I enjoy Tyler Florence’s show, because he goes to people’s houses and helps them cook. He shares the “this isn’t hard, you can do this too!” style that makes Rachael so accessible.
My dad digs Paula Deen like I dig Rachael, and he says she’s the only one on Food Network that makes anything he’d want to eat!
My mom and I are both huge Alton Brown fans, and we also like Mario Batali (but never bother to recreate anything he makes).
Emeril is an awesome chef, but his infomercial audience and their Pavlovian responses to his catch-phrases get on my nerves. If you just read his cookbooks without sitting through Emeril Live, you can see he is making some terrific food.
Bobby Flay–one more vote for him being an ass, but I have to admit, the man’s food always looks amazing. I love that funky trendy Southwestern cuisine, spicy being mixed with sweet and all that.
I grew up watching Justin Wilson’s Louisiana Cooking on PBS in the '80s, and he probably kickstarted my love of spicy food and New Orleans culture. He is definitely missed.
I’ve never seen Nigella Lawson’s show because she’s on some channel we don’t get, but she looks like a goddess.
Oh, come on. I like Mexican flavors too, but that dumbass doesn’t know how to cook anything without chipotle and/or poblano peppers in it.
Oh Good Christ!
And I mean that with every ounce of reverence.
I’ll be back in 15-20 minutes.
Quaint?
I grew up on the Frugal Gourmet (Poor Jeff Smith), Julia Childs, Martin Yan and The Galloping Gourmet. I miss those shows, I don’t feel like any of the current food network shows are of the same caliber.
As moi noted, Alton Brown is my current favorite food network chef. He initially got on my nerves, but I’ve grown to like his food nerd persona. I really like that he explains the why of cooking as well as the how. I used to like Emeril back in the Essence days, but Live is just too much.
I really miss Too Hot Tamales, I don’t remeber the two ladies names, but they made some really tasty looking Southwestern treats.
