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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:20 PM
Original message
Food Network
Ok, I just discovered this and am getting pretty addicted. I will only have access to cable for about one more month, but wanted suggestions on the best shows to watch. I really like the competition shows, particularly the ones where they are given a variety of foods that they have to use in their dish (Chopped?).

What are your favorites?

:hi:
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:26 PM
Response to Original message
1. I wonder if I can get a Rachel Ray filter installed?
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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:36 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. I am with you on that. She is truly annoying.
I have not been able to figure out her appeal. I have used some recipes from her website and even bought one of her cookbooks, and I can't figure out how in the world anyone ever figured her to be a food expert.

:hi:
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Lucinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:30 PM
Response to Original message
2. I loved Giada De Laurentiis and Ina Garten when we still did cable
Giada's show is Everyday Italian and Ina's is Barefoot Contessa
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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. I saw Giada De Laurentis yesterday in a show she did with a family member
from Italy (aunt?). It was truly funny, as the Italian woman was classically rigid about what is and is not truly Italian food. They made an incredible looking pasta and meatballs.

:drool:
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Lucinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 07:55 PM
Response to Reply #6
13. Her food is excellent. Many of her recipes are posted at foodnetwork.com
I like everything we've tried. Most of the recipes on the site have viewer ratings.
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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:31 PM
Response to Original message
3. I like:
Ace of Cakes
Iron Chef America, even though it's nowhere near as good as the Japanese version
Barefoot Contessa
Giada DeLaurentis

And assorted odd cooking competitions. I haven't seen Chopped yet, but I want to. I also like Next Food Network Star.

:)
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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. I like Iron Chef, too, even though it can get overly dramatic at times.
I also like the show where four relatively normal people do two of their best recipes and get scores from the judges, but I don't remember the name.

:hi:
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Neecy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:33 PM
Response to Original message
4. Ina Garten is terrific
Her food always looks good - unlike Paula Deen's greasy slop - and it's not impossibly difficult to follow her recipes. I have one of her cookbooks and use it more frequently than any other I've owned.
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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:46 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. Agree about Paula Deen. I just hear her voice and I have to switch off the channel.
Some of the shows just seems to make bad and bad for you food, but I like what I have seen of Ina Garten. I think I may check out one of her cookbooks.

:hi:
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Neecy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:49 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. I don't even get *that* far
Since Food Network has become Paula Deen central I always check to see what's following the program I'm watching so I'll know to click it off immediately before Deen comes on. That voice to me is like nails on a chalkboard and personally I think she's nuts. And her food is nasty and incredibly unhealthy, which she finds funny and I find dangerous to the people who follow her recipes.
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 06:54 PM
Response to Original message
10. I like Alton Brown.
His shows are fascinating, quirky and entertaining.

I was given a book of his as a present. There is a technique to "hard boil" eggs in the shell in the oven. I simply did NOT believe it. So I tried it, and they were excellent! Great method if you are making deviled eggs for a crowd.
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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 07:20 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. I just looked him up and I don't think I have seen any of his shows, so I am going
to make a point of looking at one this week. The recipes on his FN page look really good. Thanks.

:hi:
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Lucinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 07:56 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. His techniques are good. And the show is entertaining.
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-23-09 12:46 AM
Response to Reply #12
21. He isn't so much about 'recipes'
as the science behind cooking. Learning about the underlying science gives us better understanding and lots of hints about what we do.

He makes the science enjoyable, because his shows are so incredibly quirky and funny.

Also, he likes to use household tools in cooking. It's initially funny, but one learns to use what WORKS, and think about what works, not what is sold at Sur La Table! The micro-plane graters that we love now, are actually woodworking tools.
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The empressof all Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 07:20 PM
Response to Original message
11. Secrets of a Restaurant Chef
Edited on Sun Feb-22-09 07:20 PM by The empressof all
It's only on Sat mornings...I'm not sure it's even on anymore. I usually Tivo it and my tivo is out of commission right now due to my house upheaval.

It's with Anne Burrelle (spelling?) She's wonderful even if she does do that funny annoying monster voice thing. Mmmmmmmmm Brown Food......
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cbayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 08:10 PM
Response to Reply #11
16. Looks like it is still on, but way to early for me on a Saturday morning.
I will look for reruns or see it I can watch it online.

:hi:
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Tab Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 08:08 PM
Response to Original message
15. I like the Japanese cookoff shows

Not so much for the culinary influence (although that's good) but just because they're so over-the-top, they're a real hoot to watch.

For other shows, I like the two - can't recall they're names - but one is into background on how something is made (e.g.: M&M's); the other is this guy eating food most of us wouldn't dare try.

Beyond that, I don't really have the time and/or haven't been sufficiently impressed. Rachel Ray lost her sheen years ago, and her nose job didn't help. Ah, innocence.

- Tab
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AwakeAtLast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 08:15 PM
Response to Original message
17. My new favorite is "The Cooking Loft"
I like the chef on that show (can't remember her name).

Most of the ones I liked are gone....Mario, Melting Pot, Ming.
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Lucinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-23-09 12:09 AM
Response to Reply #17
20. I dont know if you do netflix dvd's but they have several of Ming's shows
:)
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pengillian101 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
18. Throwdown with Bobby Flay is my favorite
Bobby Flay is a very fun guy competitor.

"Chef Bobby Flay is on a secret mission: to challenge the absolute masters in different kinds of cooking – award-winning BBQers, bakers, pizza makers and more. In each episode, one of these cooks thinks Food Network is shooting their profile for a show. What they don't know is that Bobby is going to drop in for a surprise visit and challenge them to an unexpected cook-off. Since they're in their element and Bobby's out of his, prepare for an exciting, tension-filled competition."

http://www.foodnetwork.com/throwdown-with-bobby-flay/index.html
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Feb-22-09 09:50 PM
Response to Original message
19. Don't miss "Ace of Cakes"
You'll never look at cake decorating quite the same again.

You've missed most of "Top Chef" on Bravo, but they run the episodes back to back on the weekend once in a blue moon. The finale is this Wednesday and most of us will be glued to the tube, grumbling at the fact that Stefan is going to win, wretched personality and all.
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-23-09 12:49 AM
Response to Reply #19
22. I just HATE Ace of Cakes!!!!!!
I like the people- the staff, they seem to enjoy and support one another.... But the cakes are just ugly. Ugggleeeee.
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-23-09 01:00 AM
Response to Reply #22
23. I get the esthetic
and they've actually done some beautiful stuff, they just don't show much of it in favor of the more bizarre stuff.

However, it's true, if you insist on pastel flowers and piped swags all over a cake, you probably won't like the stuff they do. However, some of it is absolutely miraculous.
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troubleinwinter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-23-09 01:27 AM
Response to Reply #23
24. Hahahaha! Pastel swags!
Nah, I hate the rice-crispy dog heads on wheels.

You're probably right, though, they likely show the more odd-ball stuff on the show.
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-23-09 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #24
25. Check out their site
Some of the stuff they've done is drop dead gorgeous.

http://www.charmcitycakes.com/noflash/index.cfm?rd=cakes
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