The Cooking Channel... why does it exist?

[bookgirl]

I like Chuck's Day Off and Hungry Girl. I also like the old Julie Child shows.

I've never seen Hungry Girl, is it the same chick who wrote the book? That might be worth watching.

 

[suzannen]

Other than Barefoot Contessa, I also can't stand most of the programming on the Food Network. They got rid of most of the trained chefs and gave us hours and hours and hours and hours of people like Rachel Ray. So we've been watching the Cooking Channel - love Julia Child, Mark Bittman, Tyler's Ultimate, Chefography, Two Fat Ladies. It is the old Food Network.

I've been watching Avec Eric. I think he's too subtle to do well on Food Network, but I like that different kind of cooking show.

bicker, I also LOVE watching Eric Ripert cook, what a remarkable chef. I could watch him (and also Jacques Pepin) all day.

 

[dngnb8]

Remember when you didnt have to be eye candy to host a show?

Now it seems all the chefs (Male or female) could make the cover of Cosmo or GQ

 

[JerseyJanice]

I hope they start playing Two Hot Tamales and the old, non-live Emeril show. Those were the programs that got me watching Food Network back in the day.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Count me as a Food Jammers fan, as well as some other shows on the Cooking Channel. I like the eccentricity of the Food Jammers crew, and I can't believe some of the stuff they've come up with. And, they're not afraid to say that whatever they make is disgusting. No fake, "Mmmm....that's soooo good," moments like you get from Ms. Paula all the time.

 

[Kae]

I can't even stand the previews for that show - I have to change the channel or turn down the volume!

I do, however, find Extra Virgin strangely charming. And Kelsey's Essentials - is that on Cooking Channel? I think so.

Yes Kelsey's show is on the Cooking Channel & enjoy it & Cook like an Iron Chef we like too.

Kae

 

[bgirldeb]

I've never seen Hungry Girl, is it the same chick who wrote the book? That might be worth watching.

YES! She shows how to make her recipes and has different 'survival guides'/ tips for different occasions like her website/newsletter.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I think this is why. Lot's of people didn't like the direction in which Food Network has evolved, so they decided to offer the "old style" too.

But it is old style with poorly made shows, IMO. And of the few shows I can watch, why, after a year, do we get like the same 6 episodes over and over?

I was a Food Network FANATIC for about the first 8- 10 years. But once it became so much of fake reality shows, and contests, I can barely watch it. I was really, really hoping to like the Cooking Channel.

 

[java]

But it is old style with poorly made shows, IMO. And of the few shows I can watch, why, after a year, do we get like the same 6 episodes over and over?

I was a Food Network FANATIC for about the first 8- 10 years. But once it became so much of fake reality shows, and contests, I can barely watch it. I was really, really hoping to like the Cooking Channel.

I think you are watching at the wrong time.

Original Emeril shows
2 Fat Ladies
Julia Child
Molto Mario
Chuck's day off!! (have a little crush on Chuck!)
Chinese Food Made Easy
and I am looking forward to Bobby Flays Brunch show!

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I think you are watching at the wrong time.

Original Emeril shows
2 Fat Ladies
Julia Child
Molto Mario
Chuck's day off!! (have a little crush on Chuck!)
Chinese Food Made Easy
and I am looking forward to Bobby Flays Brunch show!

I can't stand those 3. And I watched all of the Chinese shows ( like all 6 of them... maybe not even that many, as I keep tuning in and finding reruns )... And again, most of these shows that didn't air on the original Food Network don't have many episodes....

2 Fat Ladies is "OK" in small doses.

 

[java]

I can't stand those 3. And I watched all of the Chinese shows ( like all 6 of them... maybe not even that many, as I keep tuning in and finding reruns )... And again, most of these shows that didn't air on the original Food Network don't have many episodes....

2 Fat Ladies is "OK" in small doses.

You don't like Julia?????

 

[Toad_Passenger]

You don't like Julia?????

I was thinking the same thing. How could any self-proclaimed Food Network Fanatic not like Julia? (Or Molto Mario for that matter).

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

You don't like Julia?????

Nope. Mostly because her voice grates on me. I'm sure she is a wonderful chef, and I even watched a biography about her, but her voice is just too grating on my ears.

I was thinking the same thing. How could any self-proclaimed Food Network Fanatic not like Julia? (Or Molto Mario for that matter).

I don't like anything about Mario... from his pony tail to his orange clogs, to the food he cooks. There is very little he makes that I would eat.

But I was in fact a FANATIC before it all turned to crap in the last few years. My list of shows / folks I loved:

Emerill - pretty much everything

Alton Brown - Good Eats

David Rosengarten - Taste

Bobby Flay / Jack McDavid - Grillin' and Chillin'

Bobby Flay - Showdown - in moderation

Two Hot Tamales

Michaeal's Place

Sara Mouton's shows

Michael Chiarello - Easy Entertaining

Sandra Lee

East Meets West

Rachel Ray

Food 911

Low Carb and Lovin' It

Ready! Set! Cook!

The Surreal Gourmet - But I know Bob.

Tyler's Ultimate

And probably more than that..... these are the ones I can remember. There was also another one... 2 young Hispanic guys who made Mexican food. I know the one guy still shows up on Food Network - his name is Alex.

 

[nephthys43]

I agree! Bring back the two fat ladies!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The Cooking Channel is what The Food Network was 12 years ago. A channel about COOKING. Doesn't bother me. The Food Network has gotten into too many reality shows and is getting away from teaching cooking skills.

 

[java]

I agree! Bring back the two fat ladies!!!

Two Fat Ladies is on the Cooking Channel.
Unfortunately they can't bring back any new shows. One of the fat ladies died in 1998.

 

[dngnb8]

Nope. Mostly because her voice grates on me. I'm sure she is a wonderful chef, and I even watched a biography about her, but her voice is just too grating on my ears.





I don't like anything about Mario... from his pony tail to his orange clogs, to the food he cooks. There is very little he makes that I would eat.

But I was in fact a FANATIC before it all turned to crap in the last few years. My list of shows / folks I loved:

Emerill - pretty much everything

Alton Brown - Good Eats

David Rosengarten - Taste

Bobby Flay / Jack McDavid - Grillin' and Chillin'

Bobby Flay - Showdown - in moderation

Two Hot Tamales

Michaeal's Place

Sara Mouton's shows

Michael Chiarello - Easy Entertaining

Sandra Lee

East Meets West

Rachel Ray

Food 911

Low Carb and Lovin' It

Ready! Set! Cook!

The Surreal Gourmet - But I know Bob.

Tyler's Ultimate

And probably more than that..... these are the ones I can remember. There was also another one... 2 young Hispanic guys who made Mexican food. I know the one guy still shows up on Food Network - his name is Alex.

Interesting list. Emeril was entertaining, but his ingredient list could only be in the cupboard of a millionaire. Yeah, I have lobster and saffron just sitting there all the time. His menu was upscale restaurant food and not something people cook daily. He was highly entertaining, and single handedly made the food network, but I would bet people dont cook that stuff like he does with those ingredients at home.

I cannot stand Bobby Flay. His cocky, "I'm all that" attitude for the everyday food he creates reminds me of football players who do End Zone dances while their losing by 3 TDs. Your menu and food isnt all that outstanding sir.

Sandra Lee is a phoney. She has that show because she is a surgically enhanced barbie doll. Someone has connections, I would bet just about anything. Her semi-homemade crap with cheesy table decor is absolutely horrid.

I love Alton Brown, he is the one chef who tells you why you cook the way you do. The science behind the food is as important as anything else. He actually presents info you can understand that will make you a technically better cook.

 

[tlbwriter]

Sandra Lee is a phoney. She has that show because she is a surgically enhanced barbie doll. Someone has connections, I would bet just about anything. Her semi-homemade crap with cheesy table decor is absolutely horrid.

OMG, Sandra Lee, can't stand her and that stupid kitchen that changes to match her ridiculous "tablescapes" with every episode. I don't know if she does this on every episode, but the ones I've seen generally show how much money she's saving by doing things her way... I saw one where she made pesto cheaper by using vegetable oil instead of olive oil. No thanks!!!

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

OMG, Sandra Lee, can't stand her and that stupid kitchen that changes to match her ridiculous "tablescapes" with every episode. I don't know if she does this on every episode, but the ones I've seen generally show how much money she's saving by doing things her way... I saw one where she made pesto cheaper by using vegetable oil instead of olive oil. No thanks!!!

OK, as a guy, I can do without the tablescapes, for sure. But I wonder why so many people say she is a phony. Have these people met her? I would guess Paula Deen to be much more of a phony, especially since when I visited Savannah, when I mentioned her there, more than one person just shook their head.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Interesting list. Emeril was entertaining, but his ingredient list could only be in the cupboard of a millionaire. Yeah, I have lobster and saffron just sitting there all the time. His menu was upscale restaurant food and not something people cook daily. He was highly entertaining, and single handedly made the food network, but I would bet people dont cook that stuff like he does with those ingredients at home. ....

Not so much anymore, but I used to cook his recipes about once a week, and we're not rich. Maybe a meal would cost $30 to prepare, but would have been $75+ in a restaurant.