THE KITCHEN FOOD NETWORK

One of my favorite shows I have recorded for years. I appreciate the personalities of Zakarian, Sunny Anderson, Jeff Mauro and Katie Lee Biegal. The latest show Al Dente was all about noodles, so many differences, uses and flavors. Worth watching, and the mouth watering dishes they prepared.

[Jenise]

I've seen it at least once, but maybe not more than twice. I like Zakarian from his Iron Chef stints but Katie Lee instantly rubbed me the wrong way. Too, I find the general methodology of making food assemble/stir/voila! not that interesting. It's really more about the company than the food, I have to think. I watch zero FN these days. I'm more the Laura Calder type and there's nothing like her on the air anymore, it's all games.

I agree that shows like Laura Calder were great and I watched many of them. However, The Kitchen does have an interesting cast. Zakerian is a perfectionist, even getting a splatter on his suit jacket. Jeff Mauro is a goofy personality and I get a kick out of his choice of dress. Sunny Anderson is fun too, she has lived in so many places, has a beautiful yard, and raises all her veggies, herbs, and flowers. Katie Lee is gorgeous and she knows it, she likes to see herself on camera and often is caught doing that.
She is into fun and easy meal prep and has good ideas. She has an adorable daughter and is a good mom. That crew has worked together for years, and are friends off-camera.
For me it is not all about the food, I enjoy the facial expressions, personality differences, their dress, hair, and how they respond to each other's recipes. That Al Dente episode was interesting.

[Jenise]

That's exactly what I meant by "company". You get into their personalities, you know where they're coming from, they become friends. I totally get that.

I just can't forgive Katie Lee for season 1 of Top Chef, which she seemed very unqualified for, and after which she, then married to Billy Joel, flagrantly ignored her marriage vows and shagged her clothing designer. I'm surprised she ever got another job on a cooking show.

Older TV food shows (Laura Calder, Julia Child, Graham Kerr, Alton Brown etc.) were actual 'show how it is done and what the result is" sorts of shows. Today, almost (but not quite all) have become like foodie contest shows, which I find pretty boring. Perhaps I am the only one that is repelled by 'game show' food shows as they seem to have quite a following.

That's exactly what I meant by "company". You get into their personalities, you know where they're coming from, they become friends. I totally get that.

I just can't forgive Katie Lee for season 1 of Top Chef, which she seemed very unqualified for, and after which she, then married to Billy Joel, flagrantly ignored her marriage vows and shagged her clothing designer. I'm surprised she ever got another job on a cooking show.

I knew none of this about Katie. But from the beginning I never liked looking at her or hearing her voice. Especially her voice grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard. That high-pitched nasal sound is something that I cannot sit in a room very long with a person who sounds like that. In addition her cooking is very much like Sandra Lee (are they related?), the one who used to date Andrew Cuomo. Open a can and dump, then scatter around a few vegetables. I’m not a big fan of the show.

[Jenise]

I haven't seen her enough to get the Sandra Lee connection, though I know exactly who you're talking about. Wonder if they each came onto that show with a specific shtick. Like Geoff for fine dining, Jeff for man-food, Katie for shortcuts...or if that's really just her jam. If so, even doubly impossible to understand how she ever got her gig on Top Chef. Wouldn't fly with Tom Colicchio who has been there since the beginning. (And maybe he's why she didn't get a second season.)

Speaking of Top Chef, coming soon! Can't wait. It's the only cooking show I truly love.

Laura Calder - haven’t seen her for almost two decades! After the mention of her I looked for reruns of her show. They are available on YouTube. Going to look for Nigella Lawson too. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.