Those Wacky TV Chefs
Published March 23, 2006
Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay is a redhead with a temperament to match his hair.
To read Flay's bio one would think this was the god of the chef world. Bobby graduated from the French Culinary Institute and in May of 1993, was voted the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year.
All the plaudits mean nothing as they forget one thing. Bobby Flay has a notorious temper and has much difficulty keeping help. Now I've read this over the years on various and sundry gossip columns and foodie boards. This doesn't mean it's true, of course, but if one watches Flay a bit closely during any of his three Food Network shows, it's easy enough for the discernable to see a barely-veiled temper. This hasn't much to do with the average food TV viewer and if grilling is your thing, Bobby Flay does it very well.
Rachael Ray
Either love Rachael Ray or hate her. It's as simple as that.
Indeed across the mighty Internet there are entire web sites devoted to hatred of Rachael Ray and filled with rants and raves against this perky hotter-than-hot Food Network star.
The "problem" with Rachael Ray, and I suggest it softly, is that the woman has a bit of a childish air about her and indeed, in large doses, Rachel could torment.
Rachael also has several Food Network shows and her repertoire expands almost daily. I imagine that Ray appeals to middle-aged cooks much like myself who view Rachael's silly giggle good-naturedly as the child reminds us of our own children and grandchildren. But that's just me. This is enough to keep her popular even while large segments of the population view her with enraged eyes and ears.
I saw Rachael when she was not in that child-world to which she ascends when she was cooking during her 30 Minute Meals. It was during a recent showing in Food Network's series, The Next Food Network Chef, a reality competition series sponsored by the network. Rachael was giving advice to the would-be chefs entered in the contest and hoping to avoid elimination.
"Small bites are your friend," she told a young contestant who was charged with eating a food concoction he had prepared.
"Never stop the action," she shouted to another chef-in-training when the fledgling chef threw her arms up while cooking on camera and said she could not finish the task.
Pat Fish is a pop culture and political pundit. When she’s not working on her own blog she contributes regularly right here on Blogcritics.Pat lives in Delaware with her husband. They are owned by four cats, two dogs and one adorable granddaughter. Pat Fish is a published author and her books have drawn attention from her fellow reviewers on Blogcritics. Reviews of Memoirs of Josephine Fish and Mystery and Mirth have been conveniently provided for your reading pleasure.
- Those Wacky TV Chefs
- Published: March 23, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Tastes
- Filed Under: Tastes: Food and Drink, Video: Film and TV Business, Video: Reality TV, Video: Television
- Writer: Patfish
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- Patfish's personal site
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you missed the best chef on the Food Network....TYLER FLORENCE!
On Rachael Ray: I saw an episode of her "$40 a day" in which she ate in France for under $40. So she's been there.
Also, she's got a legion of young thirty-something male fans, too, some of whom don't even cook. SHe's been in Maxim magazine, if you can believe that!
That said, despite the fact that Rachael Ray warms my heart whenever I see her, Alton Brown is the best of the bunch.
I like Emeril, but he is getting a bit over-exposed. And Alton is the best thing going on the network right now. Even my four-year-old loves to watch his show.
And I didn't even know Giada cooked on her show ...
Everyday Italian is food porn. In addition to the low cut tops, have you noticed that each episode features at least one close up shot of Gaida gently washing her hands under running soapy water?
Now that you mention it, Sean, you are correct.
She leans over the sink in that low-cut top and washes her hands in, yeah, a somewhat erotic fashion.
Who'da thunk washing hands could be a sexy thing?
You know Warren, she really does cook but if you held a gun to my head I wouldn't be able to name a single thing she's cooked.
the oddest-looking oven I've ever seen
i agree. i want one...bad. love that pop-up broiler.
maybe it's one of those retro-fit things where they take an old "shell" of a stove and install new plumbing & the like.
p.s. this person here thinks the stove is a "Chambers".
Emerils other (and longest-running) show is "The ESSENCE of Emeril".
Giada's show is produced by her own people in Hollywood, not NYC, and also features excellent camera work worthy of the film industry. She performs each show TWICE in a day, and the footage is stitched together in editing to create the finished show. The editing folks also enhance the audio (chopping, pouring, crushing ingredients, etc.) while cutting in great closeups of knifework, etc.
I love, love, love George Duran! Ham on the Street is very entertaining and not at all condescending to the people that are interviewed. His recipes are fun and off the wall. Of course the "Free Food" episode made me squirm a little as it is always slightly uncomfortable to watch people's reactions to others acting inappropriately in public.
The fact that George is very cute in that Teddy Bear way does not hurt at all. The show has just been picked up for a second season and I also hope they will use George in a few of the network's numerous specials.
And yes, Giada is selling a little something more than Italian cooking, but who can blame her? Rachel is adorable and I swear all those people on the other sites are just jealous as I have yet to see any of them have their own shows.
I agree with the comment above about Tyler Florence. He is one of the most popular chefs on the network and my fave. Whats with that? He is getting a new show come May 6th. This must be about the 6th show he has on the network.
Ilike to see one them do a show on the connection between a chef and gardening think that would great
How about Mario Batali? I like his cooking show because there's an absense of a wild always clapping mob. or a band making sound effects as he grates or sautes something. Also he gives a short talk on what region and the ingredients they use in the recipe. All in all, I enjoy his show.
Raytard is a sad commentary on the state of the nation today. Anyone who would watch this manic, arm flailing, joker-mouthed, no-necked, chunky loud irritating voiced freak is just contributing to the dumbing-down of America. Quit calling her a chef, she is NOT a chef!
Giada is kinda scary too, with her oversized bobble head and her fake velociraptor smile. It hurts my face just to look at it.
Yes, her stove is a Chambers. They were big in the 1930's. They are wonderful and there are many clubs out there dedicated to restoring them. They were the original "crock pot". You fire it up in the morning and put food in the oven, turn it off, and the residual heat would continue to cook the food for several hours. They are VERY heavy. The saying is that your best friend will help you move a Chambers...once. I had one but I left it in a house that I sold. Too heavy to move. I wish I had kept it.
How do you have an afternoon brunch? I thought whole point was that it's between breakfast and lunch.
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You must be anti-Scientology - Chef's missing:)