Food TV miscellany

[Jenise]

I just read this on Salon.com: The Food Network has entered a new era of programming, much to the dismay of many longtime fans and longtime hosts. The cable network — which garnered acclaim with shows like Giada De Laurentiis’ "Everyday Italian" and Ina Garten’s "Barefoot Contessa" — is straying away from stand-and-stir television and instead, revamping its lineup with a slew of reality competition shows.

Ridiculous. That didn't just happen, it's been the case for eons! And it's why I don't watch it anymore. In fact, for those of us who like "stand-and-stir" television, there's virtually nothing to watch anymore.

A bright spot we discovered last night, however, might be the documentary-style series Omnivore that's streaming on AppleTV right now. It's co-produced and ably narrated by Rene Redzepi of Noma fame, and we watched Episode 1, Chiles, last night. One segment was about Hungarian paprika, which moves me to comment that if you haven't had paprika in Hungary then you really haven't experienced paprika. Those grocery store cans of Szeged brand don't even come close to the flavor and superfine powdery texture of paprika there. Another segment about Thai chiles made me think of Paul W. It was a little uneven but I didn't hate it, and I look forward to seeing the remaining episodes.

I share your disgust for the Food network's trend to abandon serious food shows for often silly game shows. If they ever issued all of the Galloping Gourmet on DVD I'd be set for the winter. I am rewatching Redzepi's series Omnivore for relief from the culinary game shows but trying not to binge them as it will be a long winter......

If they ever issued all of the Galloping Gourmet on DVD I'd be set for the winter.

I'd also like to see the original series The French Chef and Joyce Chen Cooks on DVD.

-Paul W.

I thought it was just me being a curmudgeon in finding no room in my life for the "competition" cooking shows with giggly, fumble-fingered contestants, furrowed brow judges and pablum commentary about very mediocre recipes. I really like The Lost Kitchen with Erin French (MAX/Discovery) (with periodic assistance from her husband Michael. I love the way he looks at her!). This summer they hitched the Air Stream to the wagon and did a road trip to visit friends in the culinary passion field to look for new recipe inspirations for next season. Also on MAX I've found enjoyment with a drop in on Katie Button who goes to farms, fishing towns, and home kitchens to give us a deep dive on ingredients on From The Source. For cooking in the great outdoors I loved the one season of The Mountain Kitchen with Annie Starke (Glenn Close's daughter), and Big Sky Kitchen with Eduardo Garcia, who's just beautiful to look at! They are increasingly more difficult to find. But descent stand-and-stir cooking shows are still out there.