Bourdain or Deen?

Who's right? Who's wrong? Who will win this celebrity chef media battle?

Ugh. I'd rather watch Anthony eat gerbil rectums in Kathmandu.

I agree with her on this quote:

“My friends and I cook for regular families who worry about feeding their kids and paying the bills.”

Plus, Bourdain started it. For whatever reason. What a douche. He's free to his opinion but why be so rude?

He has also ripped Sandra Lee and Rachel Ray in addition to Deen.

He does like regular food - even regular "american truck stop" food like spagetti or meatloaf and mashed potatoes, as long as it's done well. If you watch his "No Reservations", he's enjoyed many a simple meal either at someone's grandma's house or off a street cart.

However, he will be the first to admit he hates commercialisation and slap-dash cheap glamor-shot type cooking - he used to rip Emril for selling out before he actually went down to see (and work with) Emril on his home turf.

Anyway, I'll pick Bourdain in a cook-off before Paula Dean. He has a better palate.

Haele

Pass the butter.

I can't stand to Watch Paula Deen. Her food looks so unhealthy and disgusting, and her phony Southern "charm" grates on me. I met Bourdain, and even though he hates vegetarians, he was very gracious.

.and as we all know, one person's disgusting is another person's delicacy.

And if you like everything covered in grease, I guess she's okay for you.

Bring on the grease, baby!

Bourdain is the real deal.

He's insufferable and her food sounds nauseating. But if I have to side with one of them I'm going to reluctantly lean toward him, because at least he's never called putting butter on canned peas a recipe. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/english-peas-recipe/index.html

I can get behind your subject line!

In this case, he's not really wrong that Paula Deen's food is generally less than healthy, but I can't really get behind him here for two reasons.

First, I'm not impressed by the negativity he directs at other people. I agree, for instance, with the general sentiment of his critique of Sandra Lee, but I don't think he's a particularly effective messenger in that regard--his rhetoric (while entertaining) overwhelms the substance. His obsession with Rachael Ray was silly and misguided; as he has later basically admitted, her approach to cooking provides busy families with a healthier alternative to fast food or processed meals using fresh ingredients, etc. His beef with her was basically that she was happy. :)

Second, I find his attack on Deen for not cooking healthy amusing since he is all about eating for pleasure with a general disregard for nutritional concerns. Abstaining from meat for health reasons would earn his ire and ridicule, because he just loves pork that much, so it strikes me as silly (and not exactly consistent) to hear him attacking Deen for health reasons. (His general hostility towards vegetarians and vegans is another moment where he's way off base, incidentally.)

He does seem consistent in his criticism of chefs who endorse or are affiliated with things like fast food, processed food etc., though.

I don't like Bourdain's negativity. I can't get past that to a point where I can appreciate his culinary point of view.

He smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish.

I hope she's happy.

Jesus. If anything, Bourdain was going easy on her.

I think Deen is the lady on the package of some overpriced stuff I saw at the supermarket?

c. Bourdain is way cooler than she is. Much better show.

I don't really like Paula Deen but Bourdain seems like an ass.

*phone rings*
Me: Hey hon!
SO: Hey Patiod. How's Phoenix?
Me: Hot.
SO: How's the hotel?
Me: Hot.
SO: What are you doing?
Me: Watching porn.
SO: Oh, I forgot the time zone thing. "No Reservations" is on now, isn't it? I'll call you back in an hour.
Me: I love you!

but even given that I would take him over the Queen of Lard.