good food channel shows

I recently got cable even though I don't watch much TV. Are there any shows you particularly like on the food channel?

The Food Network is truly a study in extremes. There's a ton of complete garbage, some of the worst food shows ever produced, but a few really good shows. Unfortunately, few of those shows have much to do with actual cooking that you'd do at home.:

The ones I enjoy:

--Iron Chef America

--Good Eats (the closest thing to an actual cooking show, but really more about the science behind cooking).

--Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Probably the best researched food travel show I've ever seen. The food travel show that I'm sure Jan & Michael Stern wish they hosted).

--Throwdown with Bobby Flay (I'm shocked that this show turned into one of my favorites. I hated the idea when I first heard of it. But Flay does an excellent job of highlighting small food businesses around the country).

--I will also occasionally watch The Barefoot Contessa. The show annoys me with it's Martha-Stewarty-perfectness but I like her style of cooking and I get a lot of good ideas from her.

--Also, I'll stop for a few minutes and watch a Giada DeLaurentis show, but not for the food.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:
--Good Eats (the closest thing to an actual cooking show, but really more about the science behind cooking).

Seconded. Educational, entertaining, and downright goofy at times. I love this show, though I don't actually find myself watching it much anymore. I'm going to add that to the DVR; I don't have enough Alton Brown in my life these days

I am a big fan of Alton Brown and Good Eats. The show has, unfortunately, gone a bit down hill in the last few years. I presume this is a combination of Alton spending more time on other things (like Iron Chef America, or his road food specials), having episodes written by other people, and the fact that he has covered so many topics already. The episodes on spinach salad and avocados were a complete waste of time. But, I still watch because it remains one of the best shows on television.

Ace of Cakes! Awesome. Otherwise, most of what Michael listed, minus Giada and the Barefoot Contessa.

gleam wrote:Ace of Cakes! Awesome. Otherwise, most of what Michael listed, minus Giada and the Barefoot Contessa.

I did forget about Ace of Cakes. I actually do Tivo it and watch it occasionally. It has absolutely nothing to do with food, but it's a fun show with some great personalities.

Best,
M

Ace of Cakes is awesome in HD. Totally hypnotic, swirls of bright color. It's like Baby Einstein for adults.

Fine Living, FoodTV's sister channel, has been running a number of shows that originally appeared on FoodTV, and which I'd rather watch than most of what's on there.

* Emeril Live -- apparently even new episodes are being shown there. One of the last of the 'stand and stir' shows, even if Emeril did morph it into a variety show to some degree. Unfortunately, Emeril hasn't got much of anything to teach me at this point.
* Molto Mario -- Mario Batali's original shows, still outstanding. You can see how much he loves the ingredients, the preparation, the whole thing.
* Iron Chef -- The Japanese original

JoelF wrote:* Iron Chef -- The Japanese original

Minus the Backdraft soundtrack

I also dig Secret Life and Unwrapped, despite the annoying hosts, and if No Reservations is on, that's not bad. I like to watch the Challenges too, those can be fun. Barefoot Contessa makes me sleepy. Avoid Paula Deen at all costs.

Ace of Cakes; Good Eats; Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives get my vote too.

Pie Lady wrote:and if No Reservations is on, that's not bad

That's on The Travel Channel.

Iron Chef - Japanese is better than American, but it's more difficult to come by.

There was also the next iron chef show with people competing for the new iron chef position that was quite entertaining. And in the same line there is a show where people compete to get their own food network show - I think it's called the next food network star. I watch that sometimes. Similar to that there's Hell's Kitchen with some very angry chef yelling at a bunch of chef wannabes - never seen the whole thing, just parts of it and the ads for it. There is also a show where the same angry guy comes in and tries to revamp a failing restaurant. I only caught a bit of that once so I don't even know the name, but I'm sure you'll find it if you google it. Enough from me - it's embarrassing to admit how much of your life is eaten up by TV, no pun intended.

eatchicago wrote:--Also, I'll stop for a few minutes and watch a Giada DeLaurentis show, but not for the food.

Am I the only one who notices that, beyond the upper torso shots, the background music for this show is incredibly soft porn-y? Unlike eatchicago, I find this to be a real turn-off (- but OTOH, having no shame, I like Tyler Florence for I'm guessing the same reason....)

BTW, Travel Channel has a lot of good, or at least interesting, food shows - more now than Food Network, though Sandra Lee is good if you like horror.

I agree with most of the above. Watch Good Eats at 10 p.m. week nights for the oldies. Alton is always entertaining and usually informative. I agree with eatchicago about the Barefoot Contessa having some good ideas, and I don’t mind her flaw-free Hamptons life (and at least she looks like a woman who eats her own cooking, which is more than I can say for Giada). And Ace of Cakes is fun because it accomplishes what most food shows can’t—it tells a story every episode. As JoelF points out, if you get Fine Living Channel (where old Food and HGTV shows are put out to pasture), definitely check out Molto Mario. I learn from him as well.

I've really enjoyed watching Anne Burrell's new show - Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. She really cooks! I love her unabashed use of salt on everything. You can tell she's a real cook. She also has a lot of personality. That may turn some people off but it seems pretty genuine and I get the impression that is how she is in real life. I like her quirks and like how she cooks. I read somewhere that the show got renewed and they're going to film more episodes.

viaChgo wrote:I've really enjoyed watching Anne Burrell's new show - Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. She really cooks! I love her unabashed use of salt on everything. You can tell she's a real cook. She also has a lot of personality. That may turn some people off but it seems pretty genuine and I get the impression that is how she is in real life. I like her quirks and like how she cooks. I read somewhere that the show got renewed and they're going to film more episodes.

I like that show as well. It's one of the only newly produced Food Network shows that actually teaches you how to cook something. I will say that after watching two or three episodes, her personality has started to grate on me a bit. Hopefully, the producers will tone her down a bit for the new season.

There was also the next iron chef show with people competing for the new iron chef position that was quite entertaining. And in the same line there is a show where people compete to get their own food network show - I think it's called the next food network star. I watch that sometimes. Similar to that there's Hell's Kitchen with some very angry chef yelling at a bunch of chef wannabes - never seen the whole thing, just parts of it and the ads for it. There is also a show where the same angry guy comes in and tries to revamp a failing restaurant. I only caught a bit of that once so I don't even know the name, but I'm sure you'll find it if you google it. Enough from me - it's embarrassing to admit how much of your life is eaten up by TV, no pun intended.

The Next Food Network Star is one of the most depressing shows onthe channel when you see the quality of the people they have competing. Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares (the last show you mentioned) are on Fox. There's a BBC America version of Kitchen Nightmares also with Gordon Ramsay which is much better.

If you don't get fine living, and bbc etc, you can watch some of these others on you tube!

FoodTV has turned to absolute sh*t in my opinion. Maybe its because I am becoming more of a food snob and know it all but I swear that the programming is for the same audience that watches daytime TV. I am a big fan of Iron chef but only the original and they stopped showing that a while ago. Right now about the only thing I watch is diner, drive-in's and dives.

Ya I know that Guy can be kind of a herb but hes also really nice and loves exploring for food in the same way I do. I met him at the white palace when he was filming and he was really cool and we saw each other the next day at the Bears game and had a few shots and exchanged some food spots we've come across. He's just from California, they're different out there. But his show seems to be one of the only legit shows that doesnt seem to cater to the same crowds that the other shows do. When any of those people like Bobby Flay, Rachel ray, Mario Batali (and any show other than Alton Brown's roadfood special) are in town they always go to the familiar spots close to the tourist zones.

Its like the disney channel of food. I dont like it and much prefer the food shows on travel channel. Its my dream to one day get a food travel show on HBO or showtime and do something similar to Bourdain...but with the "nothing is out of bounds" style of HBO/Showtime. He may talk a good one in his old age, but im just hitting my prime.

Like a trip to Tampa to explore the art of the Cuban sandwich and the art at mons venus...Real deal jerk smoked pork while smoked out of my mind in Negril...real Indian frybread taco's and a trip to the unknown...literally. You get the picture. Eat by day. party thru the night. Eat again late night/early morning. Do it again.

Its my dream to one day get a food travel show on HBO or showtime and do something similar to Bourdain...but with the "nothing is out of bounds" style of HBO/Showtime. He may talk a good one in his old age, but im just hitting my prime.

Just do it.

eatchicago wrote:

gleam wrote:Ace of Cakes! Awesome. Otherwise, most of what Michael listed, minus Giada and the Barefoot Contessa.

I did forget about Ace of Cakes. I actually do Tivo it and watch it occasionally. It has absolutely nothing to do with food, but it's a fun show with some great personalities.

Best,
M

Very true that it has nothing to do with food. It's a reality arts and crafts show, really. But the people are so fantastic, and so genuine in a way that most of the people on food network don't seem to be, that I love it.

Da Beef wrote:Real deal jerk smoked pork while smoked out of my mind...

Where can one find this in Tampa (the pork part, not the mind part)?

stevez wrote:Where can one find this in Tampa (the pork part, not the mind part)?

Sorry, didnt clarify..."real smoked jerked pork in Jamaica, while..."

Da Beef wrote:

stevez wrote:Where can one find this in Tampa (the pork part, not the mind part)?

Sorry, didnt clarify..."real smoked jerked pork in Jamaica, while..."

You had me all excited, since a trip to Tampa is in my not too distant future (and jazzfood is there right now for an extended time).

don't laugh, but I like Tyler Florence. Mainly because when I reproduce his recipes at home, they always work and are always delicious. In my book, Alton Brown is king, but even he can't touch this record of success. Which is surprising given the scientific-method nature of Alton's show.

I also kind of like Ellie Krieger despite her bland sunniness. I like getting new ideas for cooking healthier food and also, like Tyler, her recipes usually work. My husband and I love her blueberry walnut coffee cake. and she uses butter and full fat mayo, so it's not like she's some rabid calorie-cutter who doesn't know what good food tastes like. and her sweaters are pretty.

Molto Mario is awesome. I always learn something. His knowledge and passion for the food and culture is often moving and inspiring.

I like Nigella Lawson too. she's almost campy.

Ok, I'm biased because I live in Cleveland and love his two restaurants, but I love the new Dinner Impossible with Michael Symon.

ugh. Sandra Lee is making a grape jelly and ricotta tart this morning. How on earth could they have replaced David Rosengarten with this crap?

Personally, I think that Tyler Florence offers some great recipes for the home cook. This morning he made a great looking pot of osso buco. The Indian style curry and a really simple garlic lemon roasted chicken, made from scratch from one of his cook books is really excellent.

FWIW, Sandra is now topping Maxwell House coffee with cool whip.

I was out of town most of this week and stayed in a place that had DirectTV dish. What a hoot to be able to watch the original Iron Chef, Molto Mario and even Emeril was fun to watch on the FLN. I also enjoyed the DIY channel. It rained a lot so I got to indulge in more TV than usual, also enjoying BBC America. I hate to think what Comcast would charge to view any of these channels. BYW, I liked the FN show that was on many years ago with different ethnic chefs. I just remember Michael Symon with some one and Cheryl Smith, the woman from Jamaica, with another woman. It was a very entertaining show. Aaron Sanchez was another one of the rotating chefs.

LikestoEatout wrote:I liked the FN show that was on many years ago with different ethnic chefs. I just remember Michael Symon with some one and Cheryl Smith, the woman from Jamaica, with another woman. It was a very entertaining show. Aaron Sanchez was another one of the rotating chefs.

I remember that show as well. Two of the chefs were Cat Cora and Rocco DiSpirito. I remember them being paired together and Cat Cora being all googley eyed over the studly Rocco.

YourPalWill wrote:ugh. Sandra Lee is making a grape jelly and ricotta tart this morning. How on earth could they have replaced David Rosengarten with this crap?

Will, it's scary that in real time, we both simultaneously turned on the TV and then turned to our computers in disgust. I suppose grape jelly and ricotta is marginally better than canned-frosting truffles.

I generally like Tyler Florence's cooking (sometimes it's a bit fussy,) but he doesn't hurt my eyeballs, either.