Michelle Obama will appear on Paula Deen's Paula's Party show on the Food Network on September 20 at 7 p.m. ET. The episode will be called "Grease Is the Word," and Ms. Deen will teach Ms. Obama how to fry, fry, fry. [via The Village Voice]
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
It seems as that Jamie at Home isn't going to be back on tv until October. So in it's place I think I'm going to have Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello (Saturday 7 a.m. ET), and Tyler's Ultimate (Saturday, 9 a.m. ET, and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET).
Saturday (August 30)
Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello: "Dessert Party." Michael bakes some sweets for a party. 7 a.m. ET, Food Network
Tyler's Ultimate: "Ultimate Cioppino." Tyler makes cioppino, a seafood stew. 9 a.m. ET, Food Network
Ask Aida (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Catch of the Day." Aida makes fried cod bites with yam fries and spicy mayo; brown butter-sauteed tilapia with pistachios. 12:30 p.m. ET, Food Network
Paula's Party : "Deep Fried NY Party." I know many of your don't like Paula Deen's shows but this episode she deep fries a bagel and cannolis. Surely that's something weird enough to check out. 7 p.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Adam Kuban, August 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM
"Free ice cream. Cool ZIP code."
I have no idea what ice cream has to do with 90210, but the CW network has come up with a stunt to promote the revival of that icon of '90s teen dramas:
To promote its already much-hyped ZIP Code revival, The CW will give away 100,000 ice cream novelties over the Labor Day weekend. The network has hired ice cream trucks to drive around waterfront locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to distribute the tasty treats.
The story at TV Week says there will likely be ice pops and "something from the chocolate family."
We'll be fine as long as there are no sideburn-shaped creamsicles.
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 25, 2008 at 6:45 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: After reading the feedback in this talk topic about Food Network shows, I'd like to suggest:
NapaStyle - (Monday to Friday, 5 p.m. ET), also hosted by Michael Chiarello, on the Fine Living Channel was also recommended.
Tonight is the fourth and final episode of The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World. Monday, 9 p.m. ET, Sundance Channel
On Friday night check out Artist's Table: Jacques Pépin and Itzhak Perlman. Besides cook, they'll talk about their interests beyond what they're known for and their connections between food, music, and the arts. (repeat) Friday, 10 p.m. ET, PBS
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The former chef-turned-reality-TV-personality will appear on the ABC dance-off show, premiering September 22. Other contestants include Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Susan Lucci, and Lance Bass.
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 22, 2008 at 10:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
Big Daddy's House is The Next Food Network Star's winner Aaron McCargo, Jr.'s new show, set to feature "simple, fun and mouth-watering recipes that illustrate Aaron's love for big, bold flavors." His Wikipedia page reveals more about the show's theme: "He has a preference for meats and bold, spicy flavors, and avoids overly complex recipes. He calls the food he cooks 'soul food,' but with multiple cultural influences." Sunday, 1:30 p.m. ET, Food Network
Saturday (August 23)
Jamie at Home (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Pickles and Preserves." Jamie pickles courgettes (zucchini) with mint and chili, and aubergines (eggplant) with garlic and oregano. He also makes a fiery chili chutney with Welsh rarebit, and steak and chips on the barbecue with his homemade tomato ketchup. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Ask Aida (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Eggs." Aida shows you how to prepare eggs perfectly every time and gives you tips on baked eggs with Canadian bacon and huevos rancheros with tomatillo salsa. 12:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Erin Zimmer, August 20, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Winner of Food Network's reality show The Next Iron Chef, Michael Symon will begin hosting Dinner Impossible tonight, kicking off with two back-to-back episodes: one on Alcatraz Island, the other on the New Jersey boardwalk. Symon replaced Robert Irvine after "embellishments and inaccuracies" were made on Irvine's resume in February.
According to this video interview (Warning: autoplay video), Symon wasn't allowed to cook on the historic prison island so he prepared everything at an off-site facility then shipped in the food. But as Iron Chef proved, Symon loves a good adrenaline rush. "I'm always pretty jacked up for a good competition," he said in the video.
One episode to get excited for: a visit to the Crayola Crayon factory, where Symon had to spin a wheel with 64 crayons in a box—whatever color came up, that's the hue his cooked food had to be. The hardest? Symon says purple because as he pointed out, eggplant, when cooked, is no longer purple. Get all caught up on his blog, Symon Says. And after the jump, watch this preview episode of Symon making chocolate-covered bacon.
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 18, 2008 at 6:15 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: In his blog, Anthony Bourdain describes tonight's episode of No Reservations: "A seemingly straightforward scene at 'Espinaler' near Barcelona, where we crack open some cans of mussels, cockles and razor clams will cause, I’m quite certain, heads to explode across the internet, leaving only smoldering stumps." With a claim like that, this episode where Tony is in Spain should be worth checking out. He also also blogs about the editing of this episode. Monday, 10 p.m. ET, Travel Channel
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 15, 2008 at 6:15 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
If you want to take a break from watching the Olympics, check out Iron Chef America on Sunday night. In this episode, the Chairman challenges Chef Jose Garces and Iron Chef Bobby Flay to a special "Brain Freeze Battle." Besides containing the secret ingredient, the dishes have to have a frozen element. Sunday, 9 p.m. ET, Food Network
Saturday (August 16)
The Today Show: Features a segment on dumplings. 7 a.m. ET, NBC
Jamie at Home (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Tomatoes." Jamie makes tomato salad, fusilli with salsa rossa cruda, oven-baked sausage ragu, and pale pink tomato and vodka consommé. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Ask Aida (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Easy as Pie." Aida makes her perfectly flaky pie crust, double banana cream pie, coffee whipped cream, and caffe shakerato. 12:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Posted by Erin Zimmer, August 14, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Before you leave the house for any party, you do the routine check: keys, wallet, phone, mints. Now you can add hot sauce carry purse to that list. Because what if they hand you a burger and don't have bottles of tongue-burning, chili pepper-laden condiments waiting? "They ain't got no hot sauce! I told you we should have called first...C'mon woman, get in the car, we got to go!" Bernie Mac, who died Saturday morning of pneumonia, was freaking out in this SNL sketch until his lady whipped out her sweet Tabasco accessory, where each compartment is insulated and calibrated for maximum hot sauce freshness.
Bernie even had something for guys who didn't want to schlep around a girly bag. "Oh, it's still a purse, but it's for dudes." Conveniently, it just sits around your wrist plus it has that stylish Tabasco logo in the corner. Even when you're busy getting down on the dance floor, you won't even know it's there! Watch the video after the jump.
Continue reading »
Posted by Hannah Howard, August 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Making use of old episodes of Martha Stewart Living, which ran in syndication from 1991 to 2004, proved challenging to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. DVDs of the series did not sell well, online applications mustered minimal buzz, and reruns are nowhere to be found on television. The show is stale and dated.
Fast forward: Martha is watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 reruns during a sleepless night. Ding! If there's great TV revolving entirely around mocking sci-fi B-movies, the same could work for Martha Stewart Living.
And so, Whatever, Martha! was born. The Fine Living Network will unveil the new comedy series on September 16. It will be hosted by Alexis Stewart, Martha's daughter, and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt, Alexis Stewart's cohost on the Martha Stewart Radio show Whatever. The two will poke fun of Martha's unfortunate outfits, anal retentive tendencies, and "habit of mixing sexual innuendo with her household hints."
For a look at what they'll be poking fun at, watch a couple vintage Martha Stewart Living show clips after the jump.
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 11, 2008 at 6:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: In his blog, Anthony Bourdain describes tonight's and next week's episodes of No Reservations: "two episodes in a row of some of the purest, hardest, straight-to-the-action, food porn we’ve ever done on NO RESERVATIONS. And there are no better places on earth to get right to the heart of the good stuff than Japan and Spain." With a claim like that, it should be worth checking out. Monday, 9 p.m. ET, Travel Channel
Tonight is also part two of the Sundance Channel miniseries documentary, Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World. Mondays (August 4-25), 9 p.m. ET, Sundance Channel
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 8, 2008 at 6:30 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
If you're not interested in watching the beginning of the Olympics or want to take a break, check out the all the food shows on PBS Sunday afternoon. There will be steak, cabbage, baked treats for brunch, an alternative to beef chili, pasta, and Indian cuisine! Sunday, 3:30 - 6 p.m. ET, PBS
Saturday (August 9)
Jamie at Home (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Carrots and Beets." Pork chop with roasted carrots and beets, Indian carrot salad, and a foil-roasted smoked beetroots with beef and a cottage cheese dressing. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Ask Aida (warning, a video plays automatically on site): "Steak and Potatoes." Aida shares tips for seared strip steaks with North African spiced butter, olive oil oven fries, and marinated green beans with olives, shallots and lemon dressing. 12:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Posted by Hannah Howard, August 5, 2008 at 4:15 PM
The New York Times is unimpressed with Ted Allen's new Food Network show, Food Detectives, with unkind words for the "owlish" and "oddly peripheral" Top Chef judge: "You can call it the Ted Allen Rule: the best qualification for being a reality host or judge is having been a reality host or judge."
By coining this rule, critic Mike Hale questions Allen's credentials to judge on Top Chef, and whether having Queer Eye on his resume was enough to land him the Top Chef gig to begin with.
The show's segments on baking soda (do they really make our fridge smell better?) and celery (negative calories in there?) are called "thuddingly unsurprising." The review even takes a dig at the Food Network, bemoaning its downward spiral:
Those who complain that the Food Network’s best days are in the not-too-recent past... will only feel more disillusioned after watching Food Detectives.
The second episode of Allen's Bill Nye-reminiscent food science show will air tonight at 9 p.m. EST, with topics including: the sanitary impact of double-dipping chips and ginger's role in preventing motion sickness.
Posted by Erin Zimmer, August 5, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Yesterday, we told you that Next Food Network Star runner-up Adam Gertler got his own show from Food Network called Will Work for Food—even though he didn't win the series. Now, Lisa Garza, also a runner-up, tells us on her Facebook profile that she's "working on a TV deal with another network in NYC!!! Thanks to all my fans!!!" You're welcome, Lisa!!!!! Could it be Bravo or HGTV? The update also adds a shameless plug for her aprons, which are available at couturecaviar.com. The site is still under construction.
Previously:
The Next Food Network Star's Lisa Garza: Love Her or Hate Her?
The Next Food Network Star Season Finale
Posted by Erin Zimmer, August 4, 2008 at 7:00 PM
They may look like normal people (oh wait, they are normal people) but they're actually the next cast of Top Chef. Blogger Kurt Strahm waited outside the 20 Bayard building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—the luxe home of this season's cast members—long enough to see the four females and six males leave. According to Eater LA, the bald one in the green tee could be Los Angeles chef-turned-caterer Stefan Richter. Recognize any others from former meals? [via Eater]
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 4, 2008 at 6:30 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: Tonight is the premiere of the miniseries The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World on the Sundance Channel. The documentary follows the different aspects of West Lake Restaurant in Changsha, China, the world's biggest Chinese restaurant with room for 5,000 customers. Here's more about the miniseries. Mondays (August 4-25), 9 p.m. ET, Sundance Channel
Continue reading »
Posted by Robyn Lee, August 4, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Tonight at 9 p.m. ET is the premiere of the four-part documentary series The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World on Sundance Channel. The subject of the series, West Lake Restaurant in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, has 5,000 seats and over 300 chefs, and holds stage shows in addition to serving food. Watch the restaurant in action in a promo of the series after the jump. [via New York Times]
Continue reading »
Posted by Erin Zimmer, August 4, 2008 at 12:00 PM
The Next Food Network Star runner-up Adam Gertler, the one who cracked jokes and goofballed his way into the top three, will host his own show on the Food Network called Will Work for Food premiering Tuesday, September 30. That means, he basically won the series too since the goal was to win your own television show. Gertler's half-hour program will investigate the world of lesser-known food jobs. According to the press release:
Whether he's protecting his fingers while feeding sharks, closely examining potato chips for flaws or trying his hand as a dog food taste tester,
Adam will stop at nothing to learn how each job is done.
Adam is the former owner of The Smoked Joint, a Philadelphia barbecue spot he ran with his brother. But as Gertler mentioned in the final episodes, he had no job or girlfriend to go home to if he lost. Now he just needs the girlfriend part, apparently.
This also means Lisa Garza, a fellow runner-up, is the only contestant in the top three winner's circle that wasn't offered her own show. She had the couture aprons, former beauty queen resume, and could cook pretty well—what gives?
Posted by Gordon Mark, August 1, 2008 at 6:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
Saturday is the premiere of the new show Ask Aida on the Food Network. On this show Aida Mollenkamp will answer viewer submitted questions about recipes, ingredients, kitchen tools, etc. If you're wondering who this Aida person is, here is her bio on the show's site. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, Food Network
Saturday (Aug. 2)
Jamie at Home: "Potatoes." Jamie makes potato salad with freshly dug potatoes. He also finds some purple potatoes in his garden, and makes a Spanish omelet and a roast chicken tray bake with tomatoes and potatoes. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Ask Aida: "Hot Off the Grill." Aida Mollenkamp shows how to create delicious grilled dishes indoors like grilled flank steak with ginger marinade; grilled peppers and onions with limed sour cream; and cherry, almond, and herb salad. 12:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Posted by Raphael, August 1, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Slated to air last Friday, but bumped because of a Qantas jet explosion that occurred the same day, Nightline ran their piece on Iron Chef America last night. The segment, described as a "behind the scenes" look that was supposed to "reveal secrets," actually revealed nothing we didn't already know: they use stand-ins before the Iron Chef is selected, the contestants know the secret ingredient ahead of time (it's one of three), and the Chairman isn't really the nephew of the original Japanese version's Chairman. He's just an actor.
When asked about the judges, Cat Cora said, "you have to grin and bear it. There are times when you want to put a choke hold on someone but, you know, you just stand there and take in their feedback and appreciation." There was also a brief chat with frequent judge and Bon Appetit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton, who gets nervous during "battle quail or battle turkey and [sees] the ice cream machine flip on."
The best part of the segment came from Alton Brown, who explained what a total bloodfest last season was:
This season there's been a fair amount of blood. People have been cutting themselves, lopping off things... the chefs are more likely to injure themselves because sous chefs tend to handle knives better...[The chefs] become big on TV and they become sloppy with knife skills... It's like, 'Oops! I've cut the dickens out of myself.' ... You know, blood all over... Sous chefs are laughing."
Posted by Raphael, July 30, 2008 at 1:15 PM
This season's The Next Food Network Star finale snared 4 million viewers, the highest ratings in the history of the Food Network, and handily beat this past season's finale of Top Chef, which only got 3.5 million viewers. It's probably safe to assume there are going to be many more seasons of TNFNS.
Last night's winner Aaron McCargo, Jr., who will premiere his new show "Big Daddy's House" this Sunday on the Food Network, pinpointed his I-Knew-I-Was-a-Serious-Eater-When moment this afternoon on the phone: "I was four, and my family started passing out rice, peas, and pearl onions... they give me one chicken leg, and I said to myself, they got to be joking. When I get older, I'm going to cook a whole chicken and eat it myself."
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 28, 2008 at 6:45 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: This Tuesday night is the series premiere of Food Detectives hosted by Ted Allen. With the help of culinary technology and Popular Science Magazine the show will conduct experiments to test food myths and answer viewer questions. It's like a food-focused Mythbusters. You can submit questions on the show's website. Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 28, 2008 at 1:00 AM
And then there was one.
Tonight's season-ending episode made room for a new, more permanent face on the Food Network. Starting next week, you'll see this person—revealed after the jump—debut with a new show, and we can only hope success comes in as rich a form as T.G.I. Friday's commercials, as with former winner Guy Fieri.
For the final challenge, remaining contestants Aaron, Adam, and Lisa had to produce a pilot television show with help from Good Morning Australia and A Current Affair broadcaster alum Gordon Elliott. So whose face will we be seeing more on television?
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 25, 2008 at 8:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
It's the finale of The Next Food Network Star. Sunday night we'll find out who will be the, well, next Food Network star. Sunday, 10 p.m. ET, Food Network
Saturday (July 26)
Jamie at Home: "Zucchini." Jamie shows how to use zucchinis while they are still in season. Did you know that their flowers are edible? 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Hey! When did Stephen Colbert's intro change from "President Bush, have a hot dog with me" to "multi-grain"? Oh, I see, on Monday's episode.
Fancy-pants clothing designers have got nothin' on the likes of Lisa, Aaron, and Adam, the remaining contestants on Food Network's The Next Food Network Star. The latest episode had better ratings than the recent season premiere of Bravo's Project Runway. [via FNA]
Posted by Raphael, July 23, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Judging from the preview episode that aired this past Sunday night, the new Dinner Impossible with Michael Symon looks like a winner. This episode takes place in Wildwood, New Jersey, with a challenge to make "upscale boardwalk food" for 600 people using the boardwalk's vendors and supplies. In a stroke of brilliance, Symon gets the venerable Laura's Fudge to help make chocolate-covered bacon with almonds. Video of the bacon after the jump.
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Posted by Raphael, July 23, 2008 at 7:45 AM
Charlie Rose interviewed David Chang last night for a full hour. It's a great dialogue in that inimitable in-depth Charlie Rose style. The video is an hour long, but well worth watching if you have the time.
Video after the jump, plus a bonus video of Chang making pickled eggs on The Martha Stewart Show.
Continue reading »
Things come in threes. Regular Top Chef, Top Chef Junior, and now, Top Chef: Masters, debuting spring 2009. Sounds like a fusion of the Iron and Top Chefs. "Award-winning, widely-renowned" cheftestants compete, not dudes you don't recognize (but eventually learn to love deeply). Do the celeb chefs have time for television, on top of cookbook deals, blogs, and big deal kitchens? Will Bravo change its name to Top Chef-o?
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 21, 2008 at 6:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: The Martha Stewart Show has numerous chefs on this week including Jamie Oliver, David Chang, Pichet Ong, Gina DePalma, Lidia Bastianich, and Eric Ripert. 1 p.m. ET, NBC or the day after at 8 p.m. ET, Fine Living Network
Tuesday night is the series premiere of Road Tasted with the Neelys. In this show Pat and Gina Neely, of Down Home With the Neelys, travel across the country exploring different family-run businesses. This week's episode takes place in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Ed Levine spoke to Anne Burrell and confirmed that Secrets of a Restaurant Chef has been renewed for 13 more episodes: "She's shooting the end of August and is working feverishly on recipes and dishes."
Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 21, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Still in Vegas, last night's episode involved a bunch of crazy non-food elements. Showgirls, Spamalot cast members, poker tables, one contestant's vocal chords, oh, and a man dressed as Cher. Typical network coverage, no? The three remaining contestants (Lisa, Aaron, and Adam) were asked to create a Vegasian buffet for judges and past NFNS winner Guy Fiere. You know, the really successful one with peroxide hair all over T.G.I. Friday's commercials? The one they're all trying to be? Thanks to a big surprise at the end, they're all getting another chance next week.
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 18, 2008 at 6:15 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
Secrets of a Chef, not to be confused with Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, premieres this Sunday afternoon on PBS. Host Hubert Keller, the owner and chef at Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Burger Bar in Las Vegas, will cover peppers in the first episode. Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, PBS
Saturday (July 19)
Jamie at Home: "Cauliflower." Jamie gives a rundown of what you could do with curly kale, cauliflower, broccoli, purple sprouting, and kohl rabi. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 15, 2008 at 11:30 AM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: Tuesday night on the G4 channel is the series premiere of Hurl!, a show that combines speed eating with intense physical challenges. I'm sure you can guess what happens when those two things come together. Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET, G4
Continue reading »
Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Once again, the Next Food Network Star contestants were pinching themselves, wondering how they entered this surreal food media world. Paula Deen is here? And we're in Vegas? And our next challenge is a Throwdown-style in front of the Throwdown messiah, Bobby Flay? Whoa, I love my life.
This week, the remaining four had to make a signature dish and one-up their opponent's signature dish in a 75-minute battle. That meant Adam was recreating Lisa's cassoulet, the slow-cooked French bean and pork stew, which he'd never tried before, let alone recognized. Lisa, as a Southern girl, should have owned Adam's mac and cheese, but when her dish wasn't endorsed by Paula Deen, she looked weepy.
"I do not like it at all; in fact, I hate it." When the mother of all things gooey, fatty and cheesy, hates your mac and cheese, you're pretty screwed.
Continue reading »
Posted by Raphael, July 12, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Eater LA interviews Christina Machamer, and she reveals that her official title at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant is senior chef—not the promised executive chef: "Do I know what it takes to be an exec chef? Yes. Do I have it yet? No. For me, being where I am, I know it's not the right position for me."
Related
The Winner of 'Hell's Kitchen' and Gordon Ramsay's New 'Executive Chef'
The Prize of Winning 'Hell's Kitchen': Executive Chef by Title Only
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 11, 2008 at 5:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
Bobby Flay has new show called Grill It! With Bobby Flay. Each week he'll grill with a Food Network viewer (chosen from a casting call). This week he grills chicken breast. Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, Food Network
Saturday (July 12)
Jamie at Home: "Summer Salad." Jamie uses leaves from his garden for a roasted peach and bresaola salad with feta and a yogurt dressing. He also uses a wood oven to make a rustic Caesar salad. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Continue reading »
Posted by Hannah Howard, July 10, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Back in February, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia bought the Emeril brand for $50 million. Besides his famed television shows, Emeril boasts a website, twelve cookbooks, an extensive array of licensed kitchen tools, and food products from coffees to marinades.
Ad Age reports that Emeril is mixing it up these days. The man who helped create celebrity chefdom will premiere a cooking show, Emeril Green, on Discovery Communications' new Planet Green network on Monday.
Continue reading »
Posted by Raphael, July 9, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Last night the season finale of the ratings powerhouse Hell's Kitchen aired, pitting Louis Petrozza, catering director, against 25-year-old Christina Machamer, the culinary school student. Gordon Ramsay, known for expecting his chefs to be physically fit, picked Machamer as the winner over 47-year-old Petrozza, basing his decision on her "potential and drive." She gets the position of "executive chef" (in title only) at Ramsay's new Los Angeles restaurant, a prize "worth" $250,000.
Hitting the inbox today was a press release from the cooking school Machamer attended, the Culinary Institute of America, that helped explain why she was labeled a "culinary student" for the duration of the show.
The backstory, after the jump.
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Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Editor's note: Another Meet & Eat today with the folks behind Serious Eats. Today we're pleased to introduce Shane Lyons, Sunday night's dismissed contestant on The Next Food Network Star. His cereal-crusted chicken didn't make the cut, but he put up a good fight all season. —Erin
Name: Shane Lyons
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation: Cook
URL: thebluestar.net
Favorite comfort food? I LOVE Buffalo wings with thick and stinky blue cheese.
Guilty pleasures? Ben and Jerry's Cinnamon Buns ice cream.
What food won't you eat? Soy butter.
What would you like to try but haven't yet? Haggis.
Favorite food person? Alton Brown.
Continue reading »
Posted by Gordon Mark, July 7, 2008 at 6:30 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: There's a lot to watch this week: the new season of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation starts tonight, Sunny Anderson has a new show called How'd That Get On My Plate also premiering tonight, and new episodes of Emeril Live are airing on the Fine Living Channel.
Monday (July 7)
Emeril Live: "Emeril's Las Vegas Fish House." Secrets from Emeril's Fish House in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. 7 p.m. ET, Fine Living Channel
Good Eats: "Tuna, Surprise!" Canned tuna. 8 p.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Raphael, July 7, 2008 at 11:15 AM
This Tuesday is the season finale of Hell's Kitchen, pitting Louis Petrozza, catering director, against Christina Machamer, the culinary school student. Most people have doubted whether or not the contestants were actually qualified to function as executive chef at Gordon Ramsay's new Hollywood restaurant, Gordon Ramsay at The London, the reality show's grand prize. The New York Post runs the first in-print mention (that I've seen) that the prize is, unsurprisingly, fictitious and executive chef by title only:
Do you honestly think, my sweet pea, that I'm going to be that stupid and that vulnerable? That I would stick my ass to the window and give one of them a chance to run that restaurant, which is a multi-million [dollar] investment? One of them will be part of an amazing team, put in the deep end. But they will definitely not be running the room." For the record, the winner will be called an executive chef, but in fact will be one of 65 chefs responsible for all hotel meals, including breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner...
Previously
In Videos: Don't Burn Gordon Ramsay
'Hell's Kitchen,' The Game: A Review
In Videos: 'Hell's Kitchen' Uncensored, Season 2 Episode 1
Posted by Erin Zimmer, July 7, 2008 at 9:30 AM
If the remaining five contestants had never babysat, or were the types to ignore the brats and run away with the pizza money, it was clear this episode. Five delightfully cute Girl Scout Brownies (that means ages six to eight) arrived to moonlight as sous chefs. Some stole the stage and should really teach the remaining crew a thing or two about camera charisma—the pigtails helped—while others were ignored and silent. Like Shane's pipsqueak partner, who was basically shoved aside as he made chicken.
The Challenge: Who Has the Cutest Brownie Sous Chef?
Not really, but that was a major factor in achieving camera friendliness. Contestants had to perform a cooking demo on the Rachael Ray show alongside an eight-year old. If you had any strategy you knew to snag the one with the cutest, chubbiest cheeks. Cheek squeezability, such a key to any food media success. How perfect for Aaron, repeatedly criticized for lacking "personality," since he got the snuggliest of eight-year olds. Judges agreed that she, er he, gave his most "un-self-conscious performance yet." Can you fit her into your pocket for next time, Aaron?
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Posted by Raphael, July 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM
"What we do is the same thing like those on Broadway. Everyday you open the curtain and it's a new show." —François Payard
Learn more about renown French pastry chef François Payard of New York City's Payard Patisserie and Bistro in his interview on Nightline's "Platelist" series. If you're not craving chocolate right now, you will after watching Payard make chocolate French toast and chocolate cake. After watching the video, grab the recipes and read more of the interview at Nightline's website.
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Posted by Gordon Mark, June 30, 2008 at 6:30 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: On Tuesday night, check out the season finale of Hell's Kitchen. The last two chefs, Christina and Petrozza, travel to New York City to prepare their signature dishes. They are also given the task of designing and running their own restaurants. Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET, FOX
Monday (June 30)
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: "In the Family." Family run eateries in
Baltimore, Maryland; Miami, Florida; and Salt Lake City, Utah. 10 p.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Erin Zimmer, June 30, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I really wasn't a fan of this show when handed the beat. Everything felt so sloppy, forced; the goofy personalities were hard to watch. These people are seriously on television? Not to mention a decent Food Network time slot. But I found a new way of looking at it, and now I'm hooked.
The Next Food Network Star is less a food-food show, more a spoof of everything else on the network. The focus is not on raw kitchen talent, Asian street food or four-second meals. Instead, it's like a sketch comedy group's reaction to food television today. The overstated personalities, the ridiculous do-or-die challenges (involving something of grapefruit-caliber), and our obsession with fame. Then you realize it's not a joke, but a real show with real people running on a real network's budget, which fascinates me on some level.
The First Challenge: Avoid "Delicious, Amazing, Yummy" Descriptors
Iron Chef alum Cat Cora explained why six wicker baskets were sitting on the counter. Were they going on a picnic? Nuh-uh! Contestants had thirty minutes to create dishes using secret ingredients inside these baskets. But the second part was the real challenge. Explain another contestant's finished dish on screen without using the predictable "food" words or looking lame on television—their weakness.
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Posted by Sarah Wolf, June 28, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Is eating trash about to become cool? The forthcoming British Internet game show Ready Steady Skip, based on the popular TV show Ready Steady Cook, is poised to give dumpster diving some image-boosting publicity. Promoted as "the game show where needlessly wasted food is recovered from the bin and turned into delicious dishes before your very eyes," the full show will be released online in July. In the meantime, enjoy the cheerfully zany trailer, after the jump.
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Posted by Gordon Mark, June 27, 2008 at 8:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
It's the series premiere of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef with Anne Burrell. She'll be making a meaty Bolognese without overnight simmering or pricey ingredients. Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
Saturday (June 28)
Jamie at Home: "Beans." Jamie works with beans this episode as he cooks three different recipes to show the ingredient's versatility. 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Hannah Howard, June 26, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Food Network Addict brings news that Emeril Live lives on. The Food Network booted the show from its prime time line-up in May, but from July 7-11 at 7 p.m. ET, the Food Network's corporate sibling Fine Living will welcome Emeril with five new episodes of Emeril Live. After a week of abundant Emeril, an episode of Emeril Live will air every Monday evening. If that's not enough Emeril, Fine Living will show episodes from the Food Network library every other night of the week.
Will you be tuning in to watch Emeril kick it up a notch?
Related
Emeril: Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?
Martha Stewart Buys the Emeril Brand: What's It Mean?
Emeril Still Alive at Food Network
Posted by Gordon Mark, June 23, 2008 at 7:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: Martha Stewart is on Late Night with Conan O'Brien Tuesday night. Tuesday, 12:35 a.m. ET, NBC
On the Martha Stewart Show this week, she'll have Chef John Fraser and Chef Fabio Trabocchi. Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. ET, NBC
Monday (June 23)
Good Eats: "Celeryman." Alton Brown explores the different uses for celery. 8 p.m. ET, Food Network
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: "Where the Locals Go." Local favorites in Atlanta, Louisiana, and Albuquerque. 10 p.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Erin Zimmer, June 23, 2008 at 4:45 PM
The Next Food Network Star must have a private string orchestra for all the sappy music. It's becoming less a show about food, more a therapy session and mope party. Last week, our robotic, perky-faced friend Kelseybot turned on Niagara Falls for judges, "Um, I really am so passionate about ..." She goes on and on as tears stream down, and with that, her blond booty was saved.
Other contestants must have taken note, since this week, Aaron teared up about his still-missing son who ran away from home, Lisa dedicated her dish to her brother fighting in Iraq, and self-deprecating Jennifer overapologized after misshucking an oyster. "If I can't shuck an oyster, I can't do anything," the poor thing declared.
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Posted by Emily Koh, June 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Perhaps more known for his expletive-laced tirades more than he is for his restaurants, Gordon Ramsay is now facing an inquiry from the Australian Senate "for filling the television with an astounding volume of foul language":
The Australian Senate inquiry was prompted by wide protests against Mr. Ramsay’s coarse vocabulary, which is not bleeped out on Australian television because the show is broadcast after 8:30 p.m. Viewers pummeled the station with complaints anyway, the Catholic Church wanted the show dropped, and several senators, as The Telegraph of Britain delicately put it, “were outraged by the British chef’s turn of phrase.”
The inquiry was prompted after Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi saw an episode of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and was horrified by the number of times Ramsay spewed "the F word" in a single episode (read: 80 times in 40 minutes)—"And I'm not referring to fondue," he added.
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Posted by Gordon Mark, June 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
Based on what he's learned about different variations of pizza in Italy, Jamie makes a traditional pizza, a calzone, and quattro gusti pizza. He tops basic dough with fresh vegetables from his garden and bakes with a traditional wood oven. That's this Saturday morning on Jamie at Home. Saturday 9:30 a.m. ET, Food Network
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Posted by Raphael, June 20, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Nightline continued its "Platelist" series last night with none other than Gordon Ramsay. He does the standard cooking demo and the brief biography but shares some particularly harsh words for food critics:
"Unfortunately, today at the age of 41, my persona gets judged over my substance, which is really frustrating," he said. "I've been cooking for 21 years, and it shows on the wrinkles of my face. But here's the scenario: I'm now being judged by individuals that know less about food than I do. But yet, you have to take it like a man. Well I don't want to take it like a man anymore. I'm fed up with the sarcasm, the damn right rudeness and more important, the arrogance of food critics. Have they actually spent a 16-hour shift cooking 70 to 80 lunches, 120 to 150 dinners short staffed, fish cook is not turning in, produce inconsistent because of the weather?"
Oddly, Nightline cut out parts of the interview from the broadcast and posted larger excerpts to its website: Ramsay, the serial marathon runner and strong believer in physical fitness, insists that his staff be fit, expecting them to hit the gym, going so far as to weigh his chefs every time they step into the kitchen:
"Staying fit is part of the important role of a chef today. I think the days of the balding, alcoholic, fat chef have long gone. The pressure on young chefs today is far greater than ever before in terms of social skills, marketing skills, cooking skills, personality and, more importantly, delivering on the plate. So you need to be strong. Physically fit," he said.
"So my chefs get weighed every time they come into the kitchen. And they run. And they seriously look after themselves. They have free memberships to the local gyms, and more important, I need them to … not just to train their palate but to look after themselves."
Video after the jump.
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Posted by Raphael, June 18, 2008 at 9:15 AM
During last night's Hell's Kitchen, one of the contestants, Christina, burned Gordon Ramsay. Not once, but twice. His response? You get called a "thick cow" and, of course, yelled at. Videos after the jump.
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Posted by Gordon Mark, June 16, 2008 at 7:15 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: It's the reunion of Top Chef Season 4's chefs! They'll talk about the show and answer questions from viewers. Also, Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Ted Allen will appear, and the fan favorite chef will be announced. Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, Bravo
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Posted by Erin Zimmer, June 16, 2008 at 6:15 PM
©iStockphoto.com/Veni
Remember the Real World locale guessing game? "I heard Los Angeles! No, it's totally New Orleans, stupid." The same intrigue and mystery now follows Top Chef, except sources like food blog Snack and now Grub Street have revealed that season five will in fact call New York home. Come July, you can whip out your camera phones and start stalking the wandering knife cases.
Posted by Adam Kuban, June 16, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Top left: Kelsey yucks it up for Martha. Top right: Kelseybot explains her potato dish. Bottom left: Kelseybot turns on the waterworks. Bottom right: The judges aren't having any of it.
I have to admit, I haven't been paying that much attention to this show. I missed the first ep completely and only really caught up on the second one via Erin's recap last week, along with some online videos of the action.
Even most of the way through this episode, I was like, OMG, will it ever end?!?
But then, in the last five minutes, all became clear. I am now a devoted follower. As long as Kelsey remains on the show, that is.
I cannot get enough of her robotic, forced delivery. It is just insane. It's equal parts Rachael Ray (fast and cheap eats) and Ron Popeil (wide-eyed robotic peppiness) with some Home Shopping Network thrown in for good measure.
Like, check out her delivery after the Mini Challenge, which was to present "your culinary point of view," as expressed via the humble potato. It appears after the jump, along with spoilers, of course.
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Posted by Gordon Mark, June 13, 2008 at 7:45 PM
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended Show
The PBS shows are back after two weeks of Great Performances at the Met. Chef David Chang appears on Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie to talk about good fast food, and then Chang appears on The Best Recipes in the World With Mark Bittman to share a pork recipe. Everyday Baking From Everyday Food is all about cupcakes and Lidia's Italy focuses on boar. Sunday, 4–6 p.m. PBS
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