In 1997 seven men filed a civil lawsuit against Jeff Smith (The Frugal Gourmet), charging him with sexual abuse. Six alleged that they were molested as teenagers in the 1970's while working at Smith's deli and catering service in Tacoma; the seventh claimed that he was assaulted in 1992, at age 14, after Smith picked him up as a hitchhiker. Smith denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed, but he and his insurers settled the cases for an undisclosed amount in 1998. The litigation ended his television career, though he continued his writing and 'charitable' work.
NO insurance company in the known universe parts with a fucking dime if they don't have to - the guy was a piece of shit. (He died in 2004)
I know Alton Brown can be polarizing, and the science is not always perfect, but Good Eats is what got me seriously into cooking.
I also like America's Test Kitchen, although I like the magazine better because it's easier to skip the Chris Kimball part. Now that they've bought him out I guess Bridget will be running things, and I'm OK with that.
I'm not a fan of competition shows. I liked Iron Chef America before they started adding all those people, because I liked watching Batali and Morimoto work, but they are rarely in the show now.
I don't get much out of cooking shows that just present a recipe and then prepare it. If they aren't telling me why or teaching me a technique then I could just read the recipe.
The Original Iron Chef was incredible. Seeing a young Chef Morimoto was like watching a famous artist in their youth. Watching those shows from Kitchen Stadium and having the show interpreted was great. Hearing "famous movie star" Koyuki Kato calling her meal "luxurious" was funny to hear sometimes, but then you had to understand how serious they took that show in Japan, My Wife and I watched that show Every Saturday night on the food Network, she bought me the Iron Chef cookbook for Christmas and that Tshirt with the half bitten pepper on it too!
Most of the ones I've watched have already been mentioned, so I'll just add a few here: Cutthroat Kitchen- some very talented people working under crazy conditions Guy's Grocery Games- a bit silly at times, but the people are generally quite good, and the ingredients available there are amazing- stuff I've never heard of before.
The Great Food Truck Race- competition show with food trucks traveling across the country, competing in challenges against each other.
Learned to cook in the days before cable food channels watching shows like Julia Child and The Frugal Gourmet on PBS
In 1997 seven men filed a civil lawsuit against Jeff Smith (The Frugal Gourmet), charging him with sexual abuse. Six alleged that they were molested as teenagers in the 1970's while working at Smith's deli and catering service in Tacoma; the seventh claimed that he was assaulted in 1992, at age 14, after Smith picked him up as a hitchhiker. Smith denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed, but he and his insurers settled the cases for an undisclosed amount in 1998. The litigation ended his television career, though he continued his writing and 'charitable' work.
NO insurance company in the known universe parts with a fucking dime if they don't have to - the guy was a piece of shit. (He died in 2004)
@Pavlov Being from around the Tacoma area, and old enough to remember, I can tell you he was widely regarded as an arrogant prick, to say the least.
@Pavlov Wow! Did not know that. That's some pretty messed up shit.
America's Test Kitchen all the way!
(also Julia and Jacques)
I like all those, except the competitive stuff not so much, gets old after a while.
@thismyusername THANK YOU. This is among my favorite episodes. In part, because I love ginger.
Julia Child is my idol. Also James Beard.
I like to have my travel and food porn all in one, so it's Anthony Bourdain for me.
I know Alton Brown can be polarizing, and the science is not always perfect, but Good Eats is what got me seriously into cooking.
I also like America's Test Kitchen, although I like the magazine better because it's easier to skip the Chris Kimball part. Now that they've bought him out I guess Bridget will be running things, and I'm OK with that.
I'm not a fan of competition shows. I liked Iron Chef America before they started adding all those people, because I liked watching Batali and Morimoto work, but they are rarely in the show now.
I don't get much out of cooking shows that just present a recipe and then prepare it. If they aren't telling me why or teaching me a technique then I could just read the recipe.
Justin Wilson
Never cook with wine that's not good enough to drink.
The Original Iron Chef was incredible. Seeing a young Chef Morimoto was like watching a famous artist in their youth. Watching those shows from Kitchen Stadium and having the show interpreted was great. Hearing "famous movie star" Koyuki Kato calling her meal "luxurious" was funny to hear sometimes, but then you had to understand how serious they took that show in Japan, My Wife and I watched that show Every Saturday night on the food Network, she bought me the Iron Chef cookbook for Christmas and that Tshirt with the half bitten pepper on it too!
@somf69 I loved Iron Chef. I tried to like Iron Chef America, but have a pretty firm loathing of Bobby Flay.
@jaremelz Bobby + Flay = Douche
I would say The a Frugal Gourmet, except they say the guy was a monster off-screen. Unlike Ramsey Gordon who is a monster on- and off-screen.
Instead, I say Good Eats FTW!
The original Iron Chef is a close second.
And a Honorable Mention for the "30% Iron Chef" episode of Futurama.
Most of the ones I've watched have already been mentioned, so I'll just add a few here:
Cutthroat Kitchen- some very talented people working under crazy conditions
Guy's Grocery Games- a bit silly at times, but the people are generally quite good, and the ingredients available there are amazing- stuff I've never heard of before.
The Great Food Truck Race- competition show with food trucks traveling across the country, competing in challenges against each other.
Bitchin Kitchen: Nadia G is a lot of fun to watch in her over-the-top presence with her equally wacky companions and guests. http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/shows/nadia-gs-bitchin-kitchen.html
Does anyone else remember The Galloping Gourmet (w/ Graham Kerr) ? I used to watch that when I was a kid and found it entertaining.
@macromeh He was great before he went on the wagon.
I remember the Galloping Gourmet... (whoops, methinks that might be a bit telling on my age!)
Dan Aykroyd as Julia Child
whole skit not on Youtube, but you can see it :
https://screen.yahoo.com/french-chef-000000398.html
or
http://www.hulu.com/watch/3523
or
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/the-french-chef/n8667
depending on your viewing preference.