i watched the Nigella chefography too, and I love her even more now.
I don't know about that, I think that Tyler Florence has chubbed out quite a bit over the last year or so.
I don't know, none of the famous male chefs are all that sexy either, in my opinion. Maybe Jaime Oliver if only I could understand what the **** he was saying. *LOL* It's true though, I definately judge the women more - I'm usually either thinking "Yeah, right, like that skinny girl eats ANY of the food she is making" or I think "wow, you're eating too much of the food you're making" But I'm just judgmental.
As for Bourdain, I do find him oddly and disgustingly appealing. I don't know if sexy would fit it, but appealing and interesting if nothing else.
I've watched Paula's Party before and a little surprised at some of her comments...but I find the program entertaining and funny. Have I ever used one of her recipes- not sure because they are so loaded with fat... but being from the South, and less than 100 miles from where she originated (Albany GA)... I know that many people in the south cook like that.. . I've been guilty of it in the past the myself....And Gary's right- sex sells- even on cooking shows! My friend's dad commented recently how the women on these shows, Racheal Ray, Giada etc... are showing more and more cleavage.... if they do that to attract the men, what's wrong with Paula flirting with some men?
Well if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have a box of Bisquick, a tube of frosting, and a bottle of vodka and don't have a clue what to fix for dinner, watch Sandra Lee Seriously, she takes highly processed packaged mixes and adds a few canned items (I don't think I've ever seen anything fresh) and creates semi-homemade meals. Then she always ends with a recipe for some cocktail. Anthony Bourdain, who I not-so-secretly pine over, said this about Sandra Lee
Check out this forum devoted to Sandra Lee bashing. The sheer number of posts will make you dizzy. How does she stay on the air? Ok, she must have some fans, and I really hope I haven't offended anyone. I'm sure there are plenty of people that don't care for Bourdain, either, lol.
Suzanne 3FC, you're so on the money with Sandra Lee! My DH and I call her Betty Crocker on lithium. She's totally evil.
While I don't watch Paula much, I am very impressed by what she's done. She was 42, recently divorced, with two teenage boys, and basically agoraphobic, when she decided to start her own catering business with two hundred dollars. After a few years, she opened a restaurant, then came the books and show and all that. I respect anyone who turns their life around like that...even if I wouldn't eat anything she makes!!
I think Paula is hilarious! I don't really take her show seriously. I've only caught it a couple times, but the first time I watched it, she was talking about her husband doesn't eat vegetables...And how they'd be having dinner and eat everything but pass on the salad because he was "on a diet"
She also said that because he doesn't like vegetables...she rolls them up in puff pastry. She made spinach puff stuff. ridiculous!!
I don't agree with her methods all the time, but I don't live in the South, and have never been there and really don't know what it's like. I like how she's down to earth and friendly, and she actually eats her food!!!!!!!!
I wouldn't really make any of the food I see made on the Food Network, except if I'm splurging like making a dessert for a party or something. On a lot of the shows I enjoy the most, the way they cook has too much fat, oil, or sugar for me to ever want to add it to my regular diet.
Last edited by sweet_talker; 03-28-2007 at 02:30 AM.
I actually learned a lot from Rachael Ray. I had no clue how to time cooking so that dishes would be done at the same time. I never even knew how to make soup that wasn't from a can. (Pathetic, huh?). Now I take my basic knowledge and change things up to be a bit healthier. Tonight I am broiling salmon. That never would have happened pre-30 minute meals.
I admire Paula for how she pulled herself up by her bootstraps and found personal and professional success. I have not seen the show LLV saw, though.
I love Alton Brown and have learned a ton from Good Eats.
I also liked Surreal Gourmet.
It amazes me Sandra Lee is still on the air. Sometimes I look at her recipes just for the grossout factor. (like a wreck, you can't look away!)
Sandra Lee is evil. no one should create a "semi-homemade wedding". Ever. :shudder:. Oh, she is gross.
re: Paula - have any of you ever seen one of her "heart healthy" meals? Basically, they include a vegetable - nothing else. Bazillions of calories. Disgusting.
According to a friend of mine, Everyday Italian is pretty much filmed using the same techniques as softcore pornography...the music, the lighting, the camera angles...
And on Nigella Lawson - she is the creator of the worst recipe I have literally ever had, and now I can't watch her. Clementine cake...lets just say that the base of the cake was ground almonds, egg yolks, and whole clementines, boiled in the skins and pureed. Yes, pureed. With the skins. It was like chunky bitter pith custard. Seriously, SERIOUSLY evil recipe.
My future FIL is obsessed with what he calls "train wreck recipes". He has to make them. Thats how we got stuck eating the clementine cake. He just...can't...look away.
If I could spend a week cooking with 1 food network chef - it'd be Alton. I have basically structured my wedding registry to be full of Alton-approved products. His measuring cups and spoons, his thermometers, etc.
I can't STAND Sandra Lee...don't even get me started. That ain't food.
Paula Deen gets on my nerves, and none of her recipes sound that good to me. She's famous for a bread pudding that uses Krispy Kreme doughnuts - ick. I spend some time on a chefs board where the recipe was tried a few times, and it always got horrible reviews - people noted it was even more sickly-sweet than it sounded, which I can't even imagine. I just don't see the point in adding so much extra fat to food? What's wrong with bread - even something like brioche or challah can come in at fewer calories and fat than a Krispy Kreme, and would likely taste a heck of a lot better. Even at my heaviest I didn't like to eat that way, all grease and sugar.
Say what you will about Giada (does she really need to wear those low-cut tops in the kitchen?), but her recipes are GREAT! I've worn out my copy of "Everyday Italian"....everything I've cooked from it was a success, and so many of the recipes are either already OK calorie-wise, or easily adaptable. They also fit in pretty well with whole foods eating - lots of emphasis on fresh ingredients and simple preparation.
I think the Everyday Italian cookbook could be good, but Giada does NOT sound, look, or act like she actually makes them or that she has any place in the kitchen. Her stories seem fake and she doesn't dress like someone in a kitchen and rarely indulges in one bite of "her" creations. All that said, I bet there's some good recipes in the book.
The not tasting thing doesn't bug me a bit - before Food Network, PBS was the only place to get cooking shows (many of which were/are still the best, IMO), and professional chefs on those shows rarely, if ever, tasted their food just for the program. The tasting and "yummos!" are a fairly recent advent, and I could take it or leave it - if I can't taste the food for myself, it's pretty meaningless anyway.
Giada did indeed attend the Cordon Bleu, and worked at Spago for a long time (as well as other notable restaurants) - I do believe she's the real deal, although the packaging may not fit the perception of a pro chef. Keep in mind that Food Network's new focus is capturing the male demographic (20-40), and that accounts for a lot of the "look" of many of their shows now.
There are things about her as a host that drive me bonkers, and I don't like to watch the show much for that reason (goes for most FN programming these days, but I digress). The books, though, are great - primarily because, as you mentioned, there are some really great recipes...and they WORK! (always a plus in my book).
not sure because they are so loaded with fat... 
but being from the South, and less than 100 miles from where she originated (Albany GA)... I know that many people in the south cook like that..
. I've been guilty of it in the past the myself....And Gary's right- sex sells- even on cooking shows! My friend's dad commented recently how the women on these shows, Racheal Ray, Giada etc... are showing more and more cleavage.... if they do that to attract the men, what's wrong with Paula flirting with some men?
Ok, she must have some fans, and I really hope I haven't offended anyone. I'm sure there are plenty of people that don't care for Bourdain, either, lol. 
ridiculous!!
