Laura Calder's "French Food at Home"

I've largely given up on the Food Network and have found myself occasionally drawn to odds and ends on the Cooking Channel lately. One show I happened across while surfing was Laura Calder's "French Food At Home." I'm very surprised no one has mentioned it here. It's a series from Canadian television and I'm finding it quite enjoyable. Indeed, she got a James Beard Award this year for her show. Calder is from rural New Brunswick as I recall, and studied in both Canada and France (where she spent about ten years, working for and with Anne Willan, among other things). She is a little quirky but I guess they're quirks I like. She tends to make about four or so dishes in thirty minutes and is sometimes a bit, uh, cavalier with exact measurements or oven times. Usually she'll offer precise numbers but sometimes she'll just forget. She's clearly talented and pretty focused and I like that her recipes are all pretty simple and straightforward. The show's time is less than ideal (3:30 pm; I don't know if it's repeated) but if you get a chance, I recommend it. Does anyone have either of her books?

I don't have any of the books, but I will strongly second the recommendation for this show. I sampled a lot of the new Cooking Channel shows when it came on and I thought this was the best and far better than anything on Food Network. I made a couple of the side dishes she did and they worked out great.

I'm not sure if they repeat them at different times of the day (I tivo it so don't really care) but it seems that she did not do that many shows so you begin to see a lot of repeated episodes and I've lost track of it for the last couple of months on whether they're doing anything new. It may be that the channel did not pick up yet all the seasons she might have done in Canada

I've watched and enjoyed this show, although I must confess, I'm not sure if that's because of the cooking or because I find Ms. Calder quite attractive.

I've watched and enjoyed this show, although I must confess, I'm not sure if that's because of the cooking or because I find Ms. Calder quite attractive.

Well, I didn't want to appear shallow, but I totally agree. So the question is, do we miss some of the instructions because she doesn't give them, or are we distracted?

I'll chime in on Laura -- I really enjoy watching this show as well. Not always interested in what she cooks but in her attitude and I do love her kitchen and all her kitchen props. <grin>

I also really dig the music that plays in the soundtrack. It always makes me want to get up and start cooking.

I suspect she's fun to eat dinner with.

This show is definitely one of the brighter lights of food tv these days.

i love this show, for a # of reasons.
the food looks outstanding.
the music, & for laura.

earthlydesire wrote:I'll chime in on Laura -- I really enjoy watching this show as well. Not always interested in what she cooks but in her attitude and I do love her kitchen and all her kitchen props. <grin>

I also really dig the music that plays in the soundtrack. It always makes me want to get up and start cooking.

I suspect she's fun to eat dinner with.

This show is definitely one of the brighter lights of food tv these days.

I've watched this show a few times and like it ok. But I do have to say that any sort of muzak on a cooking show really bothers me. Really don't know why...just reminds me of bad porn background music...that wierd jazzy, peppy background white noise. Why...other than just manipulation of the audience? Sorry for the criticism. Glad you enjoy it.

Julia...Jacques...do you hear me?

I agree the music is the one annoying part of the show. I try to ignore it.