What do you think of the new Cooking Channel?

I stumbled across it today and saw Roger Mooking on Exotic Cooking. My mouth was watering the entire time. I liked his show, at least this first one. I got some ideas for cooking with mango, anyway. I liked the storage idea for his spices, very clever and handy, and certainly a conversation starter.

[Jenise]

I've never seen it, not that I've looked for it. But so far as I know, our cable company doesn't offer it.

I've never seen it, not that I've looked for it. But so far as I know, our cable company doesn't offer it.

In reading about the Cooking Channel, it is an off shoot of Food Network. Comments about it are mixed but many seem to like Chef Roger Mooking. As with most of the cooking shows, I get bored with them after a bit, however I understand they are doing Julia Child reruns.

They seem to be specializing in the really old. I ran across this channel for the first time while surfing recently and found Two Fat Ladies, of all things. It's been ages - I find them occasionally entertaining, for the attitude if nothing else.

They seem to be specializing in the really old. I ran across this channel for the first time while surfing recently and found Two Fat Ladies, of all things. It's been ages - I find them occasionally entertaining, for the attitude if nothing else.

I loved the Two Fat Ladies!

Agreed with chef. The two Drunk Ladies - whoops - the two Fat Ladies were always a delight.

Best
Rogov

[Robin Garr]

I've never seen it, not that I've looked for it. But so far as I know, our cable company doesn't offer it.

It's the old Fine Living Channel, re-branded. If you had it on your old cable lineup, you pretty certainly have Cooking Channel in its place in the channel list now. Wearing one of my other hats, I had occasion to talk to some of the people who were setting it up earlier this year, and they really seemed to want to make it like Food Channel used to be before it got dumbed down. But my early experience with it hasn't been good. A lot of old cooking shows - Two Fat Ladies, yes, also the Galloping Gourmet. A pair of new shows called Indian Cooking Made Easy and Chinese Cooking Made Easy, both from Britain, might have had potential, but (1) they are made TOO easy, and (2) both personalities appear to be ethnic versions of Rachael Ray, and I suspect they are actors - watching carefully when they're cooking, you see their faces, or you see utensils in woks and pans - I'm actually suspicious that the women are reading the lines while stand-ins, not shown on camera, do the cooking.

Bottom line, I've found nothing there to excite me ... but maybe I'm just too picky.

[Jenise]

They seem to be specializing in the really old. I ran across this channel for the first time while surfing recently and found Two Fat Ladies, of all things. It's been ages - I find them occasionally entertaining, for the attitude if nothing else.

Yes, their show was really ALL about the attitude.

[Jenise]

I've never seen it, not that I've looked for it. But so far as I know, our cable company doesn't offer it.

It's the old Fine Living Channel, re-branded. If you had it on your old cable lineup, you pretty certainly have Cooking Channel in its place in the channel list now. Wearing one of my other hats, I had occasion to talk to some of the people who were setting it up earlier this year, and they really seemed to want to make it like Food Channel used to be before it got dumbed down. But my early experience with it hasn't been good. A lot of old cooking shows - Two Fat Ladies, yes, also the Galloping Gourmet. A pair of new shows called Indian Cooking Made Easy and Chinese Cooking Made Easy, both from Britain, might have had potential, but (1) they are made TOO easy, and (2) both personalities appear to be ethnic versions of Rachael Ray, and I suspect they are actors - watching carefully when they're cooking, you see their faces, or you see utensils in woks and pans - I'm actually suspicious that the women are reading the lines while stand-ins, not shown on camera, do the cooking.

Bottom line, I've found nothing there to excite me ... but maybe I'm just too picky.

Oh, I do think we got Fine Living but I'm not sure. It sounds familiar, one of those channels in the mid-200's that I page past about once every 8 or 10 months while looking for BBC America. My whole world is channels thru 35 thru 60 and I rarely venture outside of that zone. But yuck: anything called "made easy" is a total turn off. I'm mystified by hearing about the goal of "before it got dumbed down" and "made easy" shows in the same paragraph--not one, but TWO. What about Canadian chef Laura Calder's show, which was going to be on there? Not yet?

[Robin Garr]

I'm mystified by hearing about the goal of "before it got dumbed down" and "made easy" shows in the same paragraph--not one, but TWO.

I think the guy I talked to, who was a serious foodie with roots in Louisville, had a dream, but the executive suite had a different dream.

What about Canadian chef Laura Calder's show, which was going to be on there? Not yet?

Dunno. To be honest, I'm like you are ... I rarely venture into those triple-digit channels except for the HD ones, which for us are in the 900s. And what little free time I have has largely been taken up by World Cup this month.

[Jenise]

Okay, I found the channel last night. It's indeed a 240-something channel stuck up there with channels that play nothing but old game shows or Bob Vila re-runs. No wonder I never look. An old episode of Emeril was on. And after that was going to be something called The Bill Show in which Bill, according to the Info, makes 20 minute meals. Faster than Rachel Ray! Based on that fare I would never, ever be tempted to look at that channel again.

Wow, I so glad I hit on it with an enjoyable episode of the Roger Mooking show. At least I got to see a great spice wall with built in back lighting that has a following of people inquiring all over the place on where to find it.

I have only skimmed by a few times, but have seen reruns of Julia C,. Mario B, and the original Japanese Iron Chef. Also shows (unsure if new or old) by Rick Bayless , Sara Moulton, Michael Chia-something. I did watch a few minutes of the rather rudimentary Chinese show, it was simple but competent, and she seemed to be actually cooking (making dumplings). It's not perfect, but neither was the old Food Network. This is heads and tails above current FoodNet.

At least I got to see a great spice wall with built in back lighting that has a following of people inquiring all over the place on where to find it.

I always that thought that light was the death of items in your spice rack.