# What's your favorite cooking show of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 26, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109 "2010-09-26T16:29:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/41 "2010-09-27T16:11:59Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > I liked Ready, Steady, Cook. It was a game show on Food Network where both contestants were given the same grocery bag of ingredients and they had to prepare a whole meal from start to finish. It was a useful show because it showed different ways to put a balance meal on the table using readily available ingredients in less than half an hour. I LOVED that show! My husband and I used to heckle it. Oh, how I miss it. I, too, am over Alton Brown. And I dislike Rachael Ray. She cooks like I do and gets paid for it! but her voice puts fuzz on my eardrums. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/42 "2010-09-27T16:24:34Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Martin Yan may be a good cook, but as a TV presenter he’s a one-trick pony. > > I knew a guy who worked in Louisiana Public Television and he hated Justin Wilson. He said he was a racist, alcoholic and his TV accent was a put on. It was the Cajun Chef and I liked the show. I now like Alton Browns , Good Eats, the best. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/43 "2010-09-27T18:06:00Z")
I must say that I’m fairly surprised by all the hate for Rachael Ray I _haven’t_ yet seen in this thread. I mean, sure, she [was](http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/rachel_ray_fhm_pics2.jpg) [eminently](http://www.wallpaperama.com/forums/post-images/sexy-rachael-ray.jpg) [doable](http://www.bittenandbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rachael-ray-fhm.jpg) at one time (okay, she [still is](http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2008/04/rachael-ray-food-bank.jpg)), but the woman is almost [the most annoying cooking celebrity working today](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5qZrIFyJZk&NR=1) (remember: [I](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot1uNp4UgqE) [did](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we2iWTJqo98) [say](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKbKoXIASW8) [_almost_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A51RrmTYATg)). ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/44 "2010-09-27T18:13:51Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > I must say that I’m fairly surprised by all the hate for Rachael Ray I _haven’t_ yet seen in this thread. I mean, sure, she [was](http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/rachel_ray_fhm_pics2.jpg) [eminently](http://www.wallpaperama.com/forums/post-images/sexy-rachael-ray.jpg) [doable](http://www.bittenandbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rachael-ray-fhm.jpg) at one time (okay, she [still is](http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2008/04/rachael-ray-food-bank.jpg)), but the woman is almost [the most annoying cooking celebrity working today](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5qZrIFyJZk&NR=1) (remember: [I](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot1uNp4UgqE) [did](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we2iWTJqo98) [say](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKbKoXIASW8) [_almost_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A51RrmTYATg)). The thread title is “favorite cooking show,” not “most hated,” so it stands to reason a least-liked show isn’t going to get mentioned much, like Guy Fieri’s shows. I know a lot of people don’t like him, so I’m not surprised I’m the only one to mention him. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/45 "2010-09-27T18:15:49Z")
Galloping Gourmet back in the late 60’s, and Justin Wilson’s Louisiana Cookin’. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/46 "2010-09-27T18:25:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I used to like _The Galloping Gourmet_ before Kerr stopped drinking. I also liked a show called _Yan Can Cook_ (“and you can, too!”). > [@Zeldar](#): > > Justin Wilson’s Cajun Cooking (not sure of the exact title) [http://www.justinwilson.com/](http://www.justinwilson.com/) > [@maladroit](#): > > Galloping Gourmet back in the late 60’s, and Justin Wilson’s Louisiana Cookin’. ditto, ditto, double ditto ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/47 "2010-09-27T19:04:17Z")
I credit **Justin Wilson** with igniting my love for cooking back in the 70s, so his show will always be my sentimental favorite. Also like _ **Mexico, One Plate At A Time** _ with **Rick Bayless** When I have the opportunity, I’ll also make a point of watching: **Paula Deen Tyler Florence Two Fat Ladies Diners, Drive-ins & Dives** Have also been enjoying _ **Chopped Champions** _ over the past few weeks ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/48 "2010-09-27T19:09:22Z")
_Two Fat Ladies_ was a very entertaining show. Pity it ended so soon. ---
**Author:** ![gumpy3885](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@gumpy3885](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gumpy3885)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/49 "2010-09-27T19:46:26Z")
I enjoy Good Eats when Alton is actually making/describing the dish he’s working on. What I can’t stand are the “skits”. Some of his shows could be condensed to 10 minutes if you took out all the extraneous stuff he does. Not a cooking show exactly but I really enjoy Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations”. I have learned a lot about international cuisine that I would never have learned about otherwise. My favorite cooking show is Chopped. I’ve done those types of competitions and I enjoy seeing what they come up with and imagining what I would have done differently. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/50 "2010-09-27T19:56:37Z")
> [@gumpy3885](#): > > I enjoy Good Eats when Alton is actually making/describing the dish he’s working on. What I can’t stand are the “skits”. Some of his shows could be condensed to 10 minutes if you took out all the extraneous stuff he does. Thing is, Good Eats isn’t so much a cooking show as it is a class. And just like any science class, the teacher needs to explain the whys and whats of the day’s subject. The dish being made isn’t usually the point of the show, it’s simply the practical experiment showing the theory/ies he was talking about earlier. The skits, at least, are more interesting than him standing in front of a Powerpoint slide. At least, that’s how I remember the show. I vastly prefer the episodes where the focus is more abstract and theoretical than the ones showing how to make a specific dish. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/51 "2010-09-27T20:04:19Z")
Simon and Minty of [Posh Nosh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzjR0yL4f0Y)! ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/52 "2010-09-27T20:51:19Z")
The Great Chefs is my favorite all time The Galloping Gourmet was always good to me. Sara Moulton’s cooking show was very good too. I miss the original Iron Chef. I loved the dubbing. Today, Nigella Lawson FTW. New episodes begin next Saturday at 9:00a.m. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eugene_of_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/53 "2010-09-28T14:56:04Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > Galloping Gourmet back in the late 60’s, and Justin Wilson’s Louisiana Cookin’. I came here to say exactly this. Kerr was fun and Wilson was just an original old cajun fart that ALWAYS used red wine for everything (and lots of it). To this day I tend to swing red and just not give a shit. I guar-ON- tee! ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/54 "2010-09-28T15:57:02Z")
America’s Test Kitchen, Lidia Bastianich, Good Eats, and Ina Garten in order. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/55 "2010-09-28T16:30:42Z")
Simply Sara, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/56 "2010-09-29T03:15:01Z")
Bwah. As I watched every single one of Sara’s videos. Good Eats and whatever Nigella show is on, for me. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/57 "2010-09-29T03:38:20Z")
> [@jali](#): > > I miss the original Iron Chef. I loved the dubbing. I remember back when Iron Chef was being broadcast on a Japanese station in Los Angeles with no dubbing OR subtitles. I used to throw Sunday night parties for my friends to watch it with me and try and figure out what they were doing. So much fun! ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/58 "2010-09-29T04:13:47Z")
> [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](#): > > Simon and Minty of [Posh Nosh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzjR0yL4f0Y)! Yes! I’ve only seen one episode, but oh my god. Awesome. Add me to the Alton Brown tally–I like how he’ll tell you exactly what to expect every step of the way. I’m a beginner cook, so I tend to worry a lot (like, “is it supposed to do that? What’s with these lumps? What the hell, why isn’t it thickening??”), and Alton Brown does a very good job of going slow and simple, so I don’t have to worry. And, of course, I like the science. I also tend to watch Giada DiLaurentiis’s shows, if just because she’s so cute. Her food is awesome, too–in fact, I made her feta and sundried tomato turkey meatloaf for dinner tonight. Yum! I agree with whoever mentioned Anthony Bourdain, too. He’s a prick, but every time I watch his show, I find myself salivating endlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/59 "2010-09-29T04:22:57Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > the mind of evil genius Christopher Kimball, **America’s Test Kitchen** and **Cook’s Country**. If I really want to know the best possible way to make something, why it works, and be able to trust that even when it’s not to my taste, it’s still excellent, these are the ONLY shows that are completely trustworthy. Good Eats is runner up for two reasons: 1. I too often find my taste and Alton’s are too far apart. He does some really weird and unnecessary strangeness to otherwise perfectly good recipes. I’m trying to remember his worst… what was it… he added something really perverse - and he does that too often, throws something really weird in just to make it his own. But his information is excellent, as far as the science of cooking. And I think that understanding the science of cooking can turn anyone into a decent cook and gives you the tools to be able to experiment successfully. 2. He’s a thief. He pissed me off when he presented “his” clever way to avoid tough pie crust, which is to sub out some water with alcohol. He did it for apple pie, so specified Apple Jack as the alcohol, but the idea came from one of the writers at Cook’s Illustrated not very long ago. Granted that cooks can’t really be entirely original because of the very nature of cooking, that particular idea was so clever I really thought it was pretty low of Alton to treat it like it was his idea. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109/60 "2010-09-29T04:32:25Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > > [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](#): > > > > Simon and Minty of [Posh Nosh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzjR0yL4f0Y)! > > Yes! I’ve only seen one episode, but oh my god. Awesome. They did eight or nine episodes total. They are all on YouTube and are so worth watching multiple times. I think I will go “embarrass” some vegetables now… :p:p:p [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-cooking-show-of-all-time/555109.md?page=4)