Food Network chefs.

Who's your favorite? I know a lot of people like to trash Emeril because they hate the format of Emeril Live and the fact that he tends to go overboard sometimes, but I love his 30 minute show. Even if he's making something I don't like, I always learn something at least.

But my favorite in terms of Good Food:Crap ratio has to be Giada deLaurentis (I know I'm prolly spelling her name wrong, I just call her Lil' Bighead). She might look like she belongs in a Peanuts strip but I've been watching her show for ages and I can count the "Eww!" on one hand. I've tried a lot of her recipes and they are just really easy and tasty, even I can't screw them up.

BTW, Sandra Lee is on there only out of completeness. I catch anyone voting for her, we're gonna have words. :P

I love your Lil Bighead name for Gina. I can't watch Rachel Ray because she talks out of one side of her mouth - kinda like Dick Cheney.

It appeals to my inner geek. ;)

Because we're both big dorks. The only reason I can't say he's my favorite is I find him condescending at times. Dude, we get that you're into the whole high quality ingredients thing and that's cool, but not all of us can afford to shop at Whole Paycheck.

Sara Moulton does the same thing and it bugs me for the same reason.

Please leave me your name and address. I will come to your house to perform a mercy labotomy immediately. Thank you.

Let me know if you need an assistant for that. :P

the airwaves are saturated with her. She's a guest star in every local supermarket and furniture store commercial around here. :mad:

He should be there instead of Sandra Lee

I used to think he was kind of an asshole, but as I've watched him more, I really like his approach to things.

Mostly cause I can never catch his show. Will edit him in.

that used to run on promos for Mario's shows: "Mario Batali, master of farfalle..."

:blush:

I sing it to myself anytime I cook farfalle.

:blush:

:D

Any man that cooks and loves science is too good for words. I also like Giada deLaurentis and Paula Deen. Morimoto and Rachel Ray are entertaining sometimes.

Sandra Lee is a joke. She's not a chef, not even a television one. She is a completely worthless person to watch. I accidently watched part of her show and she actually spent five minutes explaining that you could use a fork to stir things. Such brilliance. How did she get a show?

Bobby Flay is an ass. So is that Mario guy.

cooks food that I like!!

That was some good ol' Southern food! We waddled out of there :)

And I love to watch her show. It's funny to listen to someone who talks just like I do (but then again she also makes me realize I sound like a hick).

but we probably do! But I love it. I find it endearing and friendly. I wish we had a restaurant! My mom does have a recipe book of hers and has shared some recipes. Mmmm! They are all good!

I think I really love watching her show because it's just like being in the kitchen of any motherly southern woman I know. It's like "home" :)

btw, check out the website for her place www.theladyandsons.com
I had to have this apron:

She is just so fun!! :)

And I love her accent. I can never say her name just straight, I always have to try and say it in her voice. :silly:

My family's from down south so I'm already genetically predisposed to good home cooking. Paula just brings it in spades. I remember one time I was sick as a dog and saw her make this awesome looking chicken soup, I actually dragged myself out of bed to try and make it. It was the best freakin' soup I've ever had.

She's a sweet person too. Just really down to earth, not phony at all. I'm dying to go to her restaurant some time.

The other day, I mockingly said to my husband, "Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit!"

He laughed and said, "You said 'biscuit' exactly like Paula Deen!"

are so fascinated with the southern drawl! When I was in Cancun, this British guy at our hotel could not get over how we all talked. He said he thought it was romatic!! :silly:

My bf is an Aussie and he's the exact same way, to the point where I'm actually dreading taking him to South Carolina to meet my family. I know he'd probably gain like 30 lbs too the way I got him addicted to soul food. He could probably eat an entire pot of greens by himself if he had enough cornbread to go with it. :rofl:

And greens and corn bread sound sooooo good right now! Unfortunately I am eating Taco Bell for supper!! Not quite the same!

But I think that is a good thing!! :) Her food is fattening but the best foods always are. I hope we get a restaurant, that would be great.

He explains why things work the way they do, invaluable knowledge if you want to create your own recipes.

He breaks things down step by step, making his recipes and methods easy to follow.

He's cute and he has a quirky sense of humor, making him easy to watch.

He speaks real language that can appeal to everyone, not just foodies.

That said, I also enjoy Giada's cooking, and I love to watch Paula Deen making delicious, comforting, fattening foods with gusto and abandon.

I hate Giada's flip flopping between American pronunciation and over pronounced Italian pronunciations.

Rachael Ray's "cutesiness" is a bit to much for me to handle..she is like the Katie Couric of the Food Network.

I like Mario Batali - he combines food with history, which is cool.

I drove through a snowstorm to get to a book signing. It was worth it.

Edited because apparently <> disappear in subject lines...

Yeah, I know he's overexposed as hell with the whole Iron Chef thing, but I love grilling and he's incredibly talented with a grill. I've learned more grilling secrets watching his shows than I have in a decade of practicing in my backyard. There's an art to cooking over an open flame, and he's certainly a master of that art.

Alton is a close second. He's incredibly entertaining and friendly, but his cooking is a little more mainstream than what I prefer. Still, he taught me how to make the worlds best French Toast!

And yes, I know some people don't like her, but I do have to say that Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals is actually a pretty good show. I know she does several, but it's the only one I watch and it really is the only one that shows off why she's on their network in the first place. $30 A Day is the dumbest show on TV though.

:spank:

I've had a raging hate-on for Bobby Flay ever since the first Iron Chef in NY special when he acted like a complete ass vs. Morimoto. I've never watched more than 2 minutes of his grilling shows because he just grates on me. I can never pay attention to what he's doing because I have this urge to smack him one. :P

I'm with you on RR, though. As much as she gets on my nerves with the fake cutesy schtick, 30 Minute Meals is actually a pretty decent show most of the time. I have to give at least some props to someone who could get me to eat cauliflower and love it (the smashed cauliflower she did is fucking awesome...I just had to tone the chicken stock way the hell down, the recipe on the website calls for like 5 times too much).

:bounce:

Drives me batshit.

I can't stand Emeril the person, but I do like his cooking style . . . :).

And I forgot about Shorty. :P

I kid 'cause I love. Even though she gets a little too snobby for my taste at times, she's a really good chef. I enjoy watching her even if I could probably stick her in my pocket. :)

:bounce:

'cause I think she's cute, excessive perkiness and all.

:hide:

Though the fact that I never really watch the Food Network by choice should probably disqualify me from voting...

Smart, funny, kinda geeky, very cute and he cooks. YOWZA!