The Food Network caters to its market. Clearly many people here are not their market. But there are millions that are.

The "Fine Living" channel is a good alternative. Napa Style and Andrea Immers' wine show are a few notches up over any Food Network show. That's what I watch, although I find some amusing shows on FoodTV and use their website extensively.

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http://seattle.vinocellar.com

don't get the Fine Living channel..

por vino

A lot of those shows, 30 minute meals especially, are like watching train wrecks - horribly nightmarish yet freakishly fascinating. But do you ever watch Jacques Torres? That guy is a wizard. I love watching his show.

quote:

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Originally posted by Queen Of Hearts:
The Food Network caters to its market.

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QOH,

you mean to say there are people out there who enjoy watching the same episode of "Unwrapped" 25 times over? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

Andrea Immer's show doesn't seem like it would appeal to most people on this board as it is really geared to individuals with little or no wine knowledge. Having said that, I usually watch the show (being a relative novice). The Hawaiian episode, by the way, was pretty bad (probably the worst of all I have seen).

In response to Chef Neil-

Jacques Torres is amazing, a true artist in his field. Watching him work is fascinating and has inspired me to attempt to make candy (truffles and barks mainly). Next time I am in New York, I think I will visit his store in Brooklyn.

I agree that the Food TV programs that has caused disdain must have an audience, but I also think that there is room on the network for the audience here and we would like a quality show about wine !! (And fewer repeats of Unwrapped )

In response to vita excolatur:
If memory serves me right...
Kishi has a problem with tasting salt. do you ever notice that she always complains that the dish "Could have used more salt."? And I think she is having an affair with Sakai.

quote:

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Originally posted by andreasx:
There are people out there who enjoy watching the same episode of "Unwrapped" 25 times over? WHO _ARE_ THESE PEOPLE?

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I travel alot and believe me, "THOSE PEOPLE" are out there. Just look around the airport boarding areas. Luckily I'm sitting in Delta's Crown room at the moment and don't have to American-people-watch.

Andrea's Hawaii show was really dumb. And while her shows are not for wine intermediates, she has some interesting topics and I have picked up a few unknown, to me, facts here and there. I like that she doesn't talk down to her audience and she doesn't use any cleavage to get her point across.

I think you have to have satellite to get Fine Living or ask your cable company about its availability.

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http://seattle.vinocellar.com

I enjoy the travel/food/wine shows that FN air. I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain a lot. I like Mario Batali's show. He seems on a mission to preserve the "originals" in Italian food. Giada de Laurentis is great in my opinion, and is probably the most beautiful woman on TV, in my opinion. That smile . . . those eyes . . .oh, sorry.

Alton Brown is simply too detail oriented for me and Jamie Oliver is sloppy - they are opposites. Perhaps a show where they are expected to work together would be funny and potentially violent! I can see it now . . .

JO- "Well mate, you just whack in some of this pukka, lovely tukka"

AB- "Excuse me, what cooking technique does "whack" refer to. My God, where did you study? Folks, one should use a precise, julienne techique, approximatey 1/8" wide, using the appropriate knife and a non-reactive bowl."

JO- "Piss off, mate. If I wanna say "whack," I'll say "whack." While I'm at it mate, I'll whack you in your bloody proper American gob."

It has potential!

originally posted by grunhauser-
"cheap skate Rachel Ray from $40 a day and 30 minutes meals is driving me crazy! i remember awile ago someone described her as "hot" she is such a giggling fake italian couchon! ban her from the screen! along with Emeril's mother and that duffus from Unwrapped!"

Well, grunhauser, we are all entitled to our opinions, however, I personally enjoy "30 Minute
Meals"...As a working mom and wife, I am often throwing dinner together in a hurry as soon as I get home from work with littlek111 intow...I think the recipes/techniques utilized on this show come in pretty handy.

Cheers!

cdr11,

LOL
Now that's a show I'd pay to see!

"In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women!" --Homer Simpson

About the best I've seen on Wine on FoodTV is on Emerils. I dig him, but in smaller doses than I used to. I wish they'd bring back Iron Chef!

I think they could find a cute or informative host, put on half an hour and give Wine it's credit to food at LEAST twice a week.

Sascha

quote:

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Originally posted by kpak:
I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes they would put some good wine shows on FoodTV.

por vino

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http://www.lunaravencreations.com - fine hand crafted beaded jewelry

I've written the food network numerous times about the pathetic programming right now. What ever happened to the educational, entertaining, creative shows? I suggest bombarding the website www.foodtv.com with our concerns.

kathleen, there are better sources for simple menus for working homecooks than Rachel Ray, even on FN. in her case, not only the recipes are of second freshness, the tv image she's created is absolutely ridiculous and not something i would advise anyone to recreate in real life. in short, she stinks.

Free Martha!

There are some talented chefs on this network but the programming is really off. Everybody has a favorite and a favorite to rip on. Below I offer a take on some of the shows and/or chefs...

Essence of Emeril- Informative and entertaining but this show proves that the man is on way too much. I do like a lot of the recipes that he makes.

Emeril Live- Fun show but it is on so much it is over the top. Emeril is a good man with a big heart but this show demonstrates that he will just hack his way thru a lot of dishes. Guests are annoying most of the time and the garlic/booze audience responses are silly. No one in their right mind could eat some of the raw garlic amounts that he tosses in his food. Slow down and quit ramming this show down our throats.

Sweet Dreams- Gale Gand is a very nice lady. I met her a few times and I have worked in special functions with her on a couple of occasions. The show is informative and it is educational and she does a good job presenting her dishes. The only negative is she brings her personal life into the show way too much. I hear more about her son than I care to know and when he is on the show goes off.

Cooking Live- Sara Moulton drives me up a wall most of the time. I would love to see this lady get on an actual restaurant line and cook. Her techniques put me to sleep.

Sara's Secrets- A step up for SM because she brings on some very good guests and they show the viewer what can be done and how it is done.

Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay- Is there a more arrogant chef on the network? Bobby makes some interesting food and some innovative recipes for his style of cuisine but he amuses himself with his swagger and that is a turn off. He just rolled over Jackie Malouf on the original show and the tension was so thick in the air it was good entertainment but he needs to come back down to earth.

Chocolate with Jacques Torres- Can be a fun show and there is no mistaking his skills but there is no way a home cook is going to put together some of these creations. He is always working with molds and that is, once again, over the top. Love when he hits the road to show us places and people of interest.

Food 911- Tyler Florence is a very good cook and this is a fun show IMO because he cooks with ordinary folks all of the time. I love it when he has the single guy and has to work with those gaudy plastic bowls and such. A real trooper who does no-nonsense food.

Tyler's Ultimate- Another good show from TF. Original and refreshing plus he gets high marks for showing us the different techniques of his guests and his creations.

Molto Mario- This is a fun show and Mario makes it happen with his well-versed knowledge of the cuisine and Italian culture. Fun sense of humor and some interesting guests.

Ciao America with Mario Batali- Excellent show but a bit too serious. It seems like someone whispered in MM's ear and told him to get serious. I just like when the chefs hit the road.

Wolfgang Puck's Cooking Class- Very informative and much better now that he is out of the studio with the live audience. The thing that strikes me is the amount of edits that happen on this show. Wolf is a very successful man but he sure is a hack.

From Martha's Kitchen- Not a big fan of the snobbery but I know a good show when I see it. Martha has great shows most of the time because she has awesome technique and uses the best. Nothing is compromised here from the cutting boards to the fresh ingredients. Everything is top-notch quality. It is funny to watch the tension when some of her guests are on.

30 Minute Meals- What more can be said about the queen of hack? The ridiculous facial expressions and the over exuberance is laughable. This is all about the cute girl next door with the tight jeans and the great connections. It's whom you know folks!

$40 a Day- More of the same. Tight pants, cute laugh and boisterous behavior. I just cannot fathom the lack of tipping and the fact that she orders like a hungry truck driver is just unbelievable.

Barefoot Contessa- I like this show because this lady can cook and she is all about having fun. Sure- we all wish that we can live in the Hamptons and worry about driving the 'Benz in for the daily shopping trip but she makes it look enjoyable without rubbing it in like Martha does.

Paula's Home Cooking- This is another fun show and the food is always down home scratch cooking at it's best. I can get a little turned off when Paula eats her samples and coos like a porn star.

Oliver's Twist- Very original and fun show. Nothing like a culinary imp to get the program going and Oliver can vamp it up.

Everyday Italian- Wrong wrong wrong! Cute granddaughter of a famous director gets her own show. Can this lady enunciate any better? How come she pronounces every Italian dish in the world different than everyone else?

How to Boil Water- OK, I am just not going there.

Good Eats- Another fun show but Alton Brown needs to cook more and leave the HS science spots out as much as possible. He can be scientific without being Mr. Rodgers.

Easy Entertaining- This show is informative but really is the west coast answer to Ina.

All in all, I missed a few but these are the shows that we watch the most. I think Sara and Emeril are on way too much and there should be more shows for wine and something along the line of Great Chefs. The travels and the cooking demonstrations are the best but the over the top stuff is just plain silly...

Bad news for you FN bashers. The ratings since the network changed over to more "travel" and "best of" type shows have skyrocketed. See below. Don't expect a change back to studio "how to" programming any time soon.

FN Ratings Take Off

Amazing. I probably click on Foodtv everyday but switch to something else cause its just same o sameo.

When does Tyler's Ultimate come on?

I like surfing the website for receipes on FoodTV.com.

I still go the website for recipes, too, but find most of the shows totally "unwatchable".

por vino

quote:

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Originally posted by JimmyV:
The ratings since the network changed over to more "travel" and "best of" type shows have skyrocketed.

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JimmyV,

I read the article and it appears it's the actual cooking shows that helped the ratings. Here's the excerpt from the article:

When the network made its debut on Nov. 23, 1993, its programs were largely instructional and kitchen-based, and those kinds of shows remain popular today. In the third quarter of 2003, ratings for the "In the Kitchen" lineup of how-to-cook shows increased considerably for the weekday and weekend segments.

So, there's still hope.

In any case, I'm still curious to know the profile of the people who watch "Unrapped" over and over again.

quote:

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Originally posted by Queen Of Hearts:
The Food Network caters to its market. Clearly many people here are not their market. But there are millions that are.

The "Fine Living" channel is a good alternative. Napa Style and Andrea Immers' wine show are a few notches up over any Food Network show. That's what I watch, although I find some amusing shows on FoodTV and use their website extensively.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://seattle.vinocellar.com

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QoH-- I just saw her program last night for the first time and I was going to mention it. It was pretty good, probably the best wine show I have seen. It's still fairly dumbed down, but she does explain things pretty clearly and we have to remember the target audience....

As for Food Network, I need to get a freaking Tivo so I can record Molto Mario and Alton Brown whenever they come on.

www.vinocellar.com -- Mm-Mm-good

I can't believe we are still wasting our time on this, buy books.

TJ, we just got DVR (Cox's version of TiVo) and we love it. Truly life-changing! It's only $10 a month (+ $3 for the box)... we just cancelled Starz! and it's been fantastic. Not sure if you have Cox or Comcast, but if you don't go the TiVo route (plunk down $$ for hardware), this is a nice alternative.

nice chocolate theme show from J.Oliver last night.

Free Martha!

Thanks JT. Been thinking about the Comcast version. It looks pretty excellent, too. Might have to check it out and give it a test drive.

I have to check, but I need to make sure BBC America is not comingled with Starz -- I hope so!

www.vinocellar.com -- Mm-Mm-good

The best cooking shows that I have ever seen don't air on the FN, but on PBS and KQED public television. America's Test Kitchen, Ming Tsai, Cooking with the CIA, Lidia, and Jacques Pepin and Julia Child all air on these channels, they are better programs, and best of all, they are free!

However, I could do without Michael Chiarello!!!!