I mostly like all of the Food Network ‘stars’ – Alton, Giada, Bobby, Rachael, Michael, Paula, that health food chick who suspiciously resembles Jennifer Tilly.
I only wish that they showed Nigella Lawson more often. She’s my favourite.
Though I must say I rather do despise that alcoholic exoskeleton know as Sandra Lee (of Semi-Homemade fame). She annoys me to no end with her crap food and ‘table-scapes’. And she has no qualifications whatsoever. How did she get her own show?
Ugh. Everytime I see him I want to beat him to death with a empty merlot bottle. He’s got the biggest bunch of dildoes for “friends” I’ve ever seen. Keep on squinting you little turd.
Nah, she’s fun enough. She’s one of those “secret” daytime drinkers who works reaaaaaal hard to keep up appearances. One day she’ll crack, down a whole bottle of boubon and start making erotic cakes with her shirt off.
Gotta be Alton.
I don’t feel that he “lays down the law” In fact, a couple of times he’s even said that you should experiment with food, try different ingredients and techniques and see which ones you like best.
And his cast of characters are great.
Plus he prefers dark meat chicken and hates A-1 sauce which shows he has good taste.
Although his brines for pork and duck make the meat too salty.
Yeah, but he does make it clear that if you own a melon baller, a rice cooker, flour sifter, popcorn popper or any other “unitasker”, you’re a bleeding idiot who shouldn’t be trusted around small children.
Back off, Brown, you’ll take my spaetzle maker when you pry it from my cold, doughy powdery hands! 
I just now realized that the original japanese iron chef is NEVER shown anymore! I always liked it more than the american, it just seemed much more creative.
My favorite personality is definately Alton Brown. I’d hate to have him looking over my shoulder (melon ballers are multitaskers! How else do you measure out chocolate truffles and dip them in chocolate?) but his show is always entertaining to watch. His books are really informative too, but I wish they contained more recipes.
I used to love watching Mario Batali’s show when I was at my parents house (TiVo, because I am not awake enough at 7-8am) but its never on after that. His show is much more interesting and appetizing than Rachael Ray, Giada, that semi-homemade thing, and especially Paula Deen (I could feel my arteries close just watching her show, and not in a pleasant yum yum! way).
Alton is probably my favorite, but I don’t even like him all that much. I hate the stupid characters on the show, and I think Alton has gotten progressively worse at speaking. I saw an older show and a newer show back-to-back, and his use of “uhh” as a filler word has increased dramatically. It’s distracting. That said, I think his show is watchable and informative.
I would love Unwrapped if it had a different host. Marc Sommers has the most unnatural speech rhythms I have ever heard. Just listen carefully next time you see the show. The words he emphasizes and the pauses he chooses make absolutely no sense.
Rachael Ray and Giada are extremely irritating. They both have crazy/insane smiles, and they both think they’re really cute (wrong, IMO).
I think the cooking shows on PBS are way better than FoodTV. I adore Jacques Pepin, and I also like Lydia Bastianich.
Seconded. And I actually quite like Emeril, as well. He comes off as a genuinely great and passionate person to be around, even if all his “BAMS” and “smellavision” jokes get a little tiring.
On the other side of the spectrum, there’s Rachel, Bobby, and Giada who annoy the living fuck outta me.
Alcoholic exoskeleton? Precious. Yeah, I prefer the gentle alcoholism of Ina Garten. I don’t mind Sandra Lee’s recipes. There’s really nothing wrong with using premade stuff and dressing it up for everyday, but she always seems to make it this big hairy deal for entertaining, when it’s really not all that special. The tablescapes are too much and her kitchen decor changes with every episode.
Alton Brown’s my favorite, followed by Duff and and George Duran. Everybody else I dislike to varying degrees or have no opinion regarding, with Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray being the two I’d most enjoy stabbing. Especially Rachael Ray.
Get out of my head.
Wow, I can’t believe it took till post #21 until someone brought up Sandra Lee…and, btw, masterfully!!! Alcoholic exoskeleton??? I am dying here!
While I’m all for saving time, the stuff she comes up w/ often frightens me. Mainly, I had to stop watching when I realized that her set behind her matched her outfit, which then matched the theme of her show. Too cutesy weird for me!
I initially thought Rachael annoying, then settled into liking her, and have made several of her recipes, but…seems like she’s way overexposed right now, and being such a strong character, I need to take a break, personally.
Same w/ Pawla…that Party show is unwatchable to me. She’s all over young guys in the audience, licking spoons, etc…ack!
Still trying to figure out where and why that Three Stooges sound Emeril keeps making came from, unless it’s just because anything he does the audience laughs at?
Perhaps this just means I should cut down on viewing hours? Or, maybe that I shouldn’t have read that blog by Anthony Bourdain on Ruhlman’s site. 
Well, I finally watched an episode, and it garners a rousing “meh.” I didn’t get anything I couldn’t have gotten out of a recipe, except that I’m wondering why poor Guy and all his friends are suffering from tennis elbow. (That is, elbow braces became a fashion statement while I wasn’t looking. )
It was just generally low budget and unprofessional, and this is coming from an AB fan. Guy’s show is the Wayne’s World of the Food Network.
Lady Mung and I prefer Giada and Alton. I personally love Michael Chiarello’s Easy Entertaining and I really like Emeril because I’m convinced that the man is on crack. He’s a complete nutter, which I find very entertaining.
I watched the Nigella Lawson clip above. There’s something about her accent and the timbre of her voice that made the whole thing seem kinda dirty. Color me intrigued.
And in terms of actually doing the recipes, Emeril and Giada are rock solid.
Yeah, my husband calls her show “food porn.”
I like Rachel Ray. THAT’S RIGHT I SAID IT.
Another person who lurves Alton, but dammit!, I wanted to be the first to mention Chef Duff. He’s been on my super-not-so-secret crush list since I first saw him on a Challenge, pre “Ace of Cakes.” Since then, I haven’t missed an episode. There’s something about an alt rocker, a blow torch, ear plugs and TNBC cakes that make me just melt. What’s not to like? 
And I don’t much watch anything I don’t like, so I’m only put off by Marc Summers and not the show itself. He just strikes me as being such a predator. Of what variety, I have no idea. As to Mr. Flay, I only began taking notice of him with “Throwdown” and he’s anything but arrogant there. If nothing else, he routinely gets his ass handed to him and what you view is mainly the contender’s personality instead. Just sayin’.
I’d agree with that. My fiance came to look over my shoulder when I played the clip just to make sure I wasn’t watching exactly that. It definitely raised her eyebrow.
For the record, I can watch her fill those ramekins all day long.
Alton for me. I love his scientific approach. I love his odd sense of humor. I love his terrible hair and '50’s chic hats and shirts.
Jacque Pepin is a master.
honorable mentions:
Lydia Icantspellherlastname, Mario and Giada, real Italian food
Bobby Flay
Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai
Ina Garten. There’s something soothing about her show. She makes simple, delicious food. I love it when her husband Jeffrey is on with her. It’s obvious they are still crazy in love.
