Your Favourite Cooking Shows Past and Present

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"Regarding cross contamination of surfaces et al, folks didn't worry about that then as they do now."

It also occurs to me that maybe it was once less of a problem. I am not an expert, but it seems like a lot of the problems with food making people sick comes down to modern factory farming.

Another reality: cooking shows are limited for time, and I can see the temptation to skip some basic cleaning steps. Even though, when I see this happen, it makes me cringe.
 
I give myself a small pass on not paying attention [to Jeff

I can't say for sure, but I'd also guess where a person lives would influence how much of this story one would hear. By 2004, Smith had been off TV a few years. Not many, but even 5 minutes is a long time for TV. In many parts of the country, he might not have been news long.

Around these parts, though, I think the news must have been pretty big, since it was his home state. At least, I know I was tuning news out as much as possible well before 2004--I got to a point between the lousy economy, the mess in Iraq, and everything else where I simply could not handle it any more! But, even tuning out, many things did slip in by osmosis. I knew about Smith's death right about the time it happened. One of the rare things I knew about when it actually happened.

My comment about tuning the news out reminds me of something connected to this thread's topic: someone else I knew got to the same cracking point I did. Unlike me, she continued watching TV--but when anything news came up, she'd flip to the Food channel!
 
Dione Lucas-

(Dee oh knee) was a Briton, and a graduate of Cordon Bleu, London. She was also an active alcoholic. Her food was very good, but she was not "friendly?" (approachable?) like Julia Child. Mrs. Child was everyone's lovable aunt, who was kind, but still a stickler for good thinking and good manners.

Ms. Lucas's claims to culinary fame were omelets and a to die for chocolate cake roll. She had a New York restaurant called "The Egg Basket."

Along with James Beard, she did help Julia and Simca launch Mastering The Art.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
The French Chef, Frugal Gourmet, Yan Can Cook, Great Chefs of New Orleans...used to love these when I was young.

Now it's Barefoot Contessa, America's Test Kitchen, Lidia's Italy, Julia and Jacques, Cook's Country, and of course Tyler!

jakeseacrest++10-26-2010-10-46-59.jpg
 
The problem!!

With cooking shows now is, they are geared to a wealthy audience,not the Mom who is trying to make good meals on a budget, not all of us can have filet mignon every meal! I doubt Barefoot Contessa has EVER had to cook on a budget, Paula Deen did but those days are LONG past!
 
Exactly!

Part of the problem is that in the 1970s, Home Economics was improperly viewed as nothing more than "stitching and stirring," and some of the feminists of the time led the crusade to eliminate Home Economics from school curricula entirely. They did not totally succeed, for which I am grateful.

This, however, led to the increasing lack of cooking literacy in this country. Of course, this lack of basic knowledge delights the conglomerated, colossal prepared food industry.

However, I firmly believe that this lack of cooking literacy has been a co-factor in the epidemic of overweight (that, and perhaps high fructose corn syrup.)

We (as a country) still need programs like "How To Boil Water," and "Cooking Live." We still need all purpose cookbooks like Joy of Cooking, and Better Homes and Gardens.

Stylish cooking shows and magazines are appealing, but to me, they are very rarely based in reality.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Cookin' Cheap!

Does anybody remember that one? Two middle aged guys, clearly gay, who would whip up the most godawful of recipes they'd receive in the mail from viewers. I believe it was produced by a PBS station in either Virginia or Maryland, back in the 80's. Very entertaining.

I agree with the statements about Food Network. They are out of control with whoring slebs. And now they're out to make a buck off of some of their most ancient re-runs on the Cooking Channel.

Everything we've tried from Paula Deen was a major disappointment.

I absolutely cannot stand Emeril's act.

Lidia's Italy almost always holds my interest. I was raised on Italian country style food, and Lidia manages to produce a type of fare that's simple to make, yet still refined. Italian food in its purest form. I've been meaning to buy one of her books.

Speaking of books, my mom used to swear by "Mangiamo" which contains recipes from Sylvia Sebastiani of Sebastiani Winery fame. The same book is now titled "The Sebastiani Family Cook Book" and I believe is only available through the winery. My mom's copy is full of notations in the margins and I refer to it often.
 
Not The Same Guys

But there is another "gay couple" who have a cooking show, but IIRC it is on PBS. Think they run a catering business as well, and in any case their recipes look very good.

Paula Deen - Like her recipes, but after awhile that accent get's on my nerves. Don't her sons have their own show as well?

Emeril - Loved his older shows, and even some of the studio versions (with the band), but he too seems to have gone "celb".

Tyler! Love him, love him, lahhhve him. Used to watch him all the time on FoodTV, then he went away. Finally started seeing him on again and couldn't believe how much weight he put on. Guess from eating all that good food!

Mary Ann Esposito - Prefer her show to Lydia's, though hard to catch since it is usually on early in the day or weekend mornings.

Little aside; when the Pope was here in NYC, Lydia was choosen to prepare his meals. She has a few restaurants in the city, but not sure why an Italian chef was chosen to cook for a German pope, but there you are.

Why has no one mentioned Jamie Oliver? Normally not a fan of British cooking, but he has done wonders with making simple and great meals that aren't boiled or fried to death. *LOL*

Alton Brown - I've met him several times, well actually run into him on the street is a better way of putting it. IIRC, his sister or some such family member lives in my neck of the woods.

Always loved AB's early shows, but now he does too much mugging for the camera,IMHO. Yes, it is very interesting to know the "theory and rationale" beind what one is cooking.

Love that big old huge supermarket AB shops in (located in Atlanta?), and his episodes on making roux and coconut cake. The later is *really* big in southern homes, and most every housewive (or whomever) has their way of making it. However no matter how one does it coconut cake is a time consuming and tricky process. As the old "cake lady" tells AB at the end of the episode, "now you know why we don't make it so often".
 
Jamie Oliver

I'd been wondering about Jamie Oliver, too. I haven't seen him, but have read bits and pieces he's written, and I've been impressed. Plus, he's fought against processed foods and for better diets.
 
Jamie Oliver is the "Naked Chef." I like his name/label.

Sometimes, I think maybe I should become a naked cook. I could regularly look down...at the slight bit of flab/weight gain that I'd like to get rid of, and be inspired to skip that "extra bit of cream--it won't hurt!"
 
thanks Hans

Regarding all the cooking shows deal with things that are beyond many folks' everyday budgets, particularly with families. and that type of cookin' just like you yourself have demonstrateed, is some of the best food around.

It's extremely rare I watch anything on food network anymore. I can relate to Paula's recipes since in the old days they wre largely from the South. But her acccent gets on my nerves after a while too. As for Emeril, from the very first time I watched him, I cannot simply tolerate that "BAM!!!" turned me off right there!! Master Rubble was fine saying "bam", but not Emeril.
 
Home ec

"Part of the problem is that in the 1970s, Home Economics was improperly viewed as nothing more than 'stitching and stirring,' and some of the feminists of the time led the crusade to eliminate Home Economics from school curricula entirely. They did not totally succeed, for which I am grateful."

I don't mean to stir the pot (pun fully intended!), but I can see the view of the feminists. Home ec. was once a girls class. Indeed, I knew one guy who was in high school in the 70s who took home ec. for that reason. Back in my parent's generation, girls took it because they'd get married and keep house. Boys took shop because they were the ones who'd fix the house.

I wonder how many families of the 50s--a time appear to want to go back to (and no, I'm not talking styling/quality of appliances, but the supposed family values of that era)--suffered because of gender roles. I can imagine meals that were so awful they would make a 2010 Banquet TV dinner seem like Julia Child's best, and carpentry projects that fell apart from the slight vibration of the family hamster's racing wheel across the house. Just because the family was locked into "Mommy cooks, Daddy fixes things." Maybe sometimes--if they could have looked past gender roles--Daddy could have done a better job cooking, and Mommy's natural talent could put Norm Abrams to shame.

This problem aside, I do think that home ec is something that should be taught. Indeed, maybe we should go back to making it a required class--make it a year or two of "Basic Life Skills" where people learn the basics of cooking, home repair, etc, etc.

Problem is: finding the time. Classes needed for graduation are increasing. Even some elementary schools, I believe, are eliminating recess to hit the books harder. (I'd have hated that. Recess was my best subject!)

Other problem with cooking is figuring out a way around dietary limitations. One other improvement has, I think, been more flexibility in our culture for those with dietary limits (alergy, other health issues barring stuff like wheat), or ethic issues (like vegetarians).
 
I agree! The Food Network is over-selling people who aren't really very good. IMHO the worst of the bunch is Guy Feati--the diners, drive-in's guy with the bad hair, bad grammer and no taste.
Tyler Florence left the food scene for a while to focus on family and I respect that. But the latest Better Homes & Gardens has his thanksgiving meal featured and I'm going to do a couple of the dishes from that because they are just right for what I want for my guests. Did I mention there's going to be TOO many? Tyler isn't letting himself be pushed and prodded into the "mold" that Food NW has perpetrated for the last 8 years or so.
Ina Garten is a gem. I have all her books and use them repeatedly. Yes, she is a princess, but she's allowed to be one. Try her Sagaponick corn pudding, her pan-fried onion dip and you'll be sold.
The three cookbooks I reach for the most are Julia's "Way to Cook", The NY Times cookbook by Craig Clairborne, and any of the 40 or so Junior League cookbooks I've collected from around the U.S. O.K., that's more than 3!
 
I remember a study from back in the mid 90s it seems...they changed the elective class from "Home Ec" to "Bachelor Living" and the enrollment greatly increased...with I could find the article. lol
 
The Deen Boys

Yes, their show was the definitive example of the Food Network's brainstormed vehicles for further whoring. All they did was go out and try mail-order food. It was a 30-minute commercial, nothing more.
 
Here's What I Say

Someone should create a show that gives today's housewives (and men), how to plan good and healthy meals, even when pressed for time.

Contrary to popular belief not all wives/mothers stayed home "back in the day", many worked outside the house either at a job or some such, or just simply didn't wish to spend hours each day slaving over a hot stove/oven.

Many today do not know how to shop for meats and other goods (especially when they are on sale), and also what to do with "cheap" cuts of say beef or pork that can make great meals.

Lost art of slow cookers (either in a dutch oven, or electric slow cooker), pressure cookers at el really is a shame. As well as canning and or making up lots of something and freeze into small portions. You can make a huge pot of tomato gravy (or sauce if you like), freeze it in small containers and viola, you have quick and easy dinner. Take one container out, defrost in microwave, simmer for a bit, maybe adding meat or fresh herbs, boil some pasta and you have dinner. Just add veggies.

Dishwasher or not, I don't want to have to use every pot in my kitchen every night.

We Amercians waste too much food as well. Not that long ago left-overs would be made into a meal, even if only lunch. Now if they aren't thrown away that night, often are left to rot in the back of the fridge. Either way it is a waste.

Today's people need to have grown up with those who either went through the "Depression" or war years or born to them that did. Nothing like knowing hard times to make you appreciate the value of a dollar.

The last really hard times Amercians went through was the 1970's with inflation. Think everyone was eating ground chuck chuck" or something made from it. Else there was tuna casserole, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and or whatever a creative housewife could dream up that fit her budget and her family would eat.
 
To be fair, the problem of cooking shows that push stuff beyond what normal people are able or willing to do is not entirely new. I haven't watched Julia Child, but I have read some of her books--including one based on an early TV show (I think her first, but don't quote me!). Even when I was cooking fairly seriously, there is no way I'd have done Julia Child 7 days a week.

Although, in defense of Julia Child (so many fans here armed with spare agitators that could be used to bash me over the head!), I know I learned a lot from her. Stuff I can use even use when doing the fastest dinner.

In fact, I think that's one thing that drives me crazy about a lot of cooking experts. They are great at making attractive dishes or creating a fantasy. But I don't learn anything I can actually use.
 
I'm wondering: does anyone have an opinion of Martha Stewart? I know her show does--or has done--more than cooking. But I know many people who wouldn't miss an episode.
 

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