Had it with the Food Channel...

[Karen]

It's spelled pancetta, and like Richard, I am lucky, because living in such an ethnically diverse area, there's pancetta at my grocery store - it's in the deli department, near the specialty cheeses.

As far as produce, I am also lucky - the really good produce market nearest me has more variety than I have ever heard of - there are Asian greens that I would have no idea what to do with, every kind of pepper you could wish for - you name it, they have it!

Yes, I am spoiled, but I know it. Example? You may be able to get bok choy, and maybe even baby bok choy. but can you get junior baby bok choy? I can, and it was one of Miss Hoppy's greens of choice!

[cassiesmom]

I was very surprised by yesterday's "Next Food Network Star" episode. I won't say anything more in case others have not seen it yet - don't want to spoil it - but I was surprised.

Karen - what is junior baby bok choy? There is an Asian market near where I used to work, but it is always so crowded with shoppers of the different Asian nationalities that I chicken out from shopping there. Everyone seems to know exactly what they need (Shoppers on a Mission!); the market is always super busy. I usually go out right after I go in because I'm not sure where to start. On the other hand- There is a Polish grocer/butcher just a little way from my house, but I don't hesitate to dive into the fray there -- because I know more about what I'm shopping for! (Kielbasa and Polish rye, please and let me join the check-out line.)

[Daisy and Delilah]

You guys are so lucky. I love it when I find a shallot in the store.

Did anyone watch the NFNS last night? I can't pick the one I think will win at this point. They're all equally bad.

I noticed that Kelsey delegated too much out to Ricochet Rachel and after that, RR took over everybody's 4 minutes. One of them was dominated by her. Was that necessary because they needed help or just too much from her when not necessarily needed?
I also noticed that none of the judges complained about her dominance.

Is it just me or does Kelsey do everything they suggest to her and then get criticized for doing it the "right way"?

I'm also wondering why Lisa keeps zoning out. Do any of these people have what it takes to entertain people in a 30 minute network show?

I am seeing the commercials for Road Tasted with the Neelys. Why are Jamie and Bobby not doing it anymore? From what I've heard/read, that show sent the business of the featured companies into instant boom. A couple of them said they couldn't keep up with demand after the shows were aired. I think the prices are far more than the average person can afford.

I'm guessing they had to get Gina out of the studio because she was upstaging everybody. Maybe the road will tame her a little? I doubt it. You're right, Richard, how many things can you BBQ? It was getting old.

[RICHARD]

9 month old bok choy? Bok Choy would be like a romaine/celery cross.
The stalks are like a crispy, wider celery - they are very good raw or cooked, like in a stir fry!


First,
Cassiemom, What do you do for excitement?

This is your homework. One day take an hour of your time and go to the Asian market. LOL-think about the problems I had when I went into an Asian market for the first time! Imagine a tall, scruffy Mexican dude that looked like a cross between a hippy and a football player roaming the aisles! That was fun-for me!

Don't freak because of the 'bustle', take your time and check everything out.
Pick a part of the store and do that section -start with the produce!

Here's a clue about the fruits and veggies section- Most of the stuff is just like what you find in a regular store, but with a foreign accent.

Although this isn't the time to waste money, I learned about food by buying a can or a few pieces of produce or veggies that looked like they were good, took them home and cooked/opened/prepared it.....but not before looking for some recipes or ways to prepare them-that is one thing I love about the 'net! Food at your fingertips.

Food shouldn't be intimidating. Imagine all the good stuff you'll never try if you don't take a chance.

Like cactus.
Have you ever eaten cactus? With a scrambled egg and some red or green chile sauce? Like, who thought of that one? My RB GF couldn't get enough of nopales or menudo once she tried them. Nopales (No-pah-less) is paddle cactus, boiled and drained-taste like green beans! Menudo (Meh-new-doh) is tripe soup-pepper pot soup-made of tripe and hominy.That's really an aquired taste-I love it!

Take a chance, you won't regret it!

-----------

Karen.....LOL, what better thing to do than to go into the produce section of an Asian store, walk around, looking at things and saying, "What the..." There are some 'mutant' veggies and fruits but those add to the sensual experience. Touch, smell, sight.....and tastes-if you are sneaky and brave enough. The spice areas are the best, too!

--------

D&D,

Why were they crumbing on the "French food" kid? Wasn't that the biggest complaint about Amy from last year? They made her travels to France and bistros seem like a crime, then tell this kid he sucks because he's never been? The FN is desperately trying to find niche programs/ethnic cooks to fill their roster-but they don't see that niche programming runs it's course quickly.

Before I forget, anyone notice that Bobby Flay has an indifferent look/attitude when someone else cooks? If it's a recipe he can "borrow" he's all smiles, but when he tastes a dish and proclaims it "good" he acts like he could care less.

---------
What is it with RR and her "CHEAP" comments? Check out how many references she makes towards being frugal while cooking.

--------

As far as the "on the road" programs that the FN does.

IT's all a matter of economics.

Any eatery will welcome the free publicity/commerical they can get from the TVFN channel. As you said-and like a RR segment when she travels-people will flock (little 'mindless sheep' joke there) to places that she recommends. Since RR ate there, WE HAVE TO GO!.....Look what a little publicity did for Dr. Kervorkian! Everyone wanted a consultation with him as the news spread!

The TVFN sends out a producer, camera people, sound engineer and the talent. They pay for rooms and salary.

Compare that with how much it costs to run a studio with the staff-TV and food prep, shopping, electricity-With the OTR programs, they go on-site and the restaurants ante up the food, kitchen areas and staff.....the 'talent' just show up and oh and ah about the dishes. They have minimal work to do, the restaurants get exposure and the network gets another show to put on.

The NFNS is really bad and I think it's just a filler/competition for Top Chef/Hell's kitchen.

Last night having the kids talk to the contestants for 10 minutes then disappear was really stupid. Why not have them deisgn a meal and feed it to a studio filled with kids instead of having the RR syncophants there? Why not do a dinner for the charity that RR 'runs'? There was no rhyme or reason for the 'challenge' last night.

---------

The new show "how did that get on my plate" made me laugh. I watched the promos for it and when the hosts bites into the strawberry I thought, "I know how that gets on your plate! The 'braceros' (farm workers) pick the fruit, box it, put it on a truck and it's delivered to your store......"

Can I have a show?

Oh, I almost forgot.....

They tell Kelsey not to mention she's a recent food school grad, but on the opening shots of the program she's known as a "recent food grad".


And what is a "Hospital caterer-food person"?

At the meetings I went to when I worked in a hospital, they gave you a chit to go to the cafeteria or a sandwich that was either brought in or prepped by the kitchen.

That sounds like a "biological waste control coordinator"-the guy that does the bedpans?

[cassiesmom]

What is duck confit and why did Lisa only have one, anyway? Why was Jen banging the jar on the stainless steel counter? Did she even try to twist off the lid?

I noticed that Kelsey was not the only one who gave RR a task, but she was the only one who got a negative comment during the evaluation. I also thought they should not have docked Aaron for washing his hands. It's not his fault that RR's sink is where it is on the set.

And Richard, the neighborhood where I grew up used to be European and Eastern European (Polish, Italian, Czech, German, Irish, etc.) and is now largely Mexican. So I'm learning the difference between "fast" Mexican food like Taco Bell, places like Chi-Chi or Pepe's, and traditional Mexican cooking. My mom and dad still live in the house where I grew up. My Ukrainian grandpa used to eat tripe soup.

[RICHARD]

What is duck confit and why did Lisa only have one, anyway? .

And Richard, the neighborhood where I grew up used to be European and Eastern European (Polish, Italian, Czech, German, Irish, etc.) and is now largely Mexican. So I'm learning the difference between "fast" Mexican food like Taco Bell, places like Chi-Chi or Pepe's, and traditional Mexican cooking. My mom and dad still live in the house where I grew up. My Ukrainian grandpa used to eat tripe soup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_confit


And what is it with the dish that Lisa made last week and the dish she tried the Brownie kid to 'want' this week-the green bean dish......The "Harvick Couture".........giggle.....I love it when people use the 'gastronomic' term for a meal and when you ask them what it is they tell you something like "Cornflakes, it's Portuguese for cornflakes."

Green beans-----Oh, go to the Asian store and get some long greenbeans, oyster sauce, onions and mushrooms.

Saute the veggies until they are the way you like them, then put some oyster sauce in. If you like gravy, mix a little corn starch with water and add that to the mix. fast and tasty-but the oyster sauce can be salty, be careful.

Cook some chicken and you are there.

Check out the "chile verde" when you go out.....It's pork cooked in a green chile sauce-But be careful, some places cook it spicy- Mex restaurants don't have a standard recipe for food-it depends on what part of Mexico that cook comes from
---------------


If Aaron hadn't washed his hands they would have jumped all over him for that-either way, he was doomed for that. I had to laugh when Tooshman made the comment that one of the segments was 'hard to watch'..He hasn't tuned into his network lately.


--------

D&D,
I was thinking about the "entertainment factor" too.

IF I was looking for the NFNS, I'd be watching for information, technique, charisma and entertainment. One minute, 90 seconds or even four minutes isn't enough for one dish. I think the average program is 24 mintues long-minutes long- their times are nearly not long enough. Compare that to a person who HAS a show on-they are given staff, time and writers to script the show.

And when will they let them cook a whole meal?

IF they do, will Lisa make her "Futzie-Nutzle" green been dish?

[RICHARD]

I looked up lisa's green bean dish....just for the stupid name and cannot find it.

-----------------

I had to laugh at this....

MY mom had watched a RR program and I guess she was all about the emails that she gets from people.....

She had the meatballs to comment on all the people who sent her notes about her touching her hair while she cooked.....

Ya think?

-----

TONIGHT!!

[Daisy and Delilah]

RR is something else. I can't watch her without almost pulling my hair out. I seriously have to turn the channel. She's so hyper, it wears me out.

Did you see the reference she made one day to cooking something and burning it? Her dog, Izaboo, got scared when the smoke alarm came on. Now Izzy gets scared every time she starts to cook so she goes and hides in the house somewhere. RR made kind of a joke about it. She said she needs to work with Izzy and get her out of this worry mode. I found it completely unamusing but she was nervously chuckling through the story.

Anywho......now I've hear her laugh and joke many times since then about burning things and setting the smoke alarm off all the time at her house. All I can do is think of the poor dog.

I've also noticed alot of double dipping going on the FN lately. With food and with utensils. I've always wondered who is going to eat that food after the show goes off.


I watched the Booby Flake grill show this morning. I caught him last night on the South Beach special. With Booby, it's all about competition. He's so worried about someone outdoing him. It's almost an illness with him. Get over yourself Booby!!

Two guys on the grill show this morning used almonds in their pesto sauce. Booby told them he's going to steal the idea. What a shock!!

Secrets Of A Restaurant Chef--Holy Cow!! She keeps slapping the meat when she gets ready to cook it, throwing spices across the room, saying things that are really off the wall, and treating salt like it's a sacred object. A piece of work she is!!

Tonight we're in Vegas. I hope those guys can show some potential somewhere. I suppose the public will vote like last time. This year, I'll vote the opposite of what I really want and maybe my pick will win. Now I just have to pick somebody

Did anybody catch Emeril live the other day when he had Chef Jacques on there? I can almost swear that Chef J was adding eggs to a hot souffle mixture and you could clearly see the eggs scrambled in the bowl. I know they go to lengths to temper the eggs, but, in this case, he didn't. I never did see that souffle go to the oven either.
Chef Jacques drank alot of alcohol during the one hour segment and he possibly forgot to temper them.

[RICHARD]

RR is something else. I can't watch her without almost pulling my hair out. I seriously have to turn the channel. She's so hyper, it wears me out.

Did you see the reference she made one day to cooking something and burning it? Her dog, Izaboo, got scared when the smoke alarm came on. Now Izzy gets scared every time she starts to cook so she goes and hides in the house somewhere. RR made kind of a joke about it. She said she needs to work with Izzy and get her out of this worry mode. I found it completely unamusing but she was nervously chuckling through the story.

At the risk a taking flak for this one.

I do think that she is does a little self medicating,If ya know what I mean,
Check out her eyes on some shows. I know that she might be tired, she does/records alot of stuff, but I get the suspicion that there is something going on there

I feel sorry for the poor dog. It deserves better owners. I think that the dog has seen more than one incident like that.

--------------------------

THanks for reminding me about the voting....i have never voted for any contestant based show on the telly......IF people voted for the bistro lady, no wonder we have problems with elections here in the U.S.

I wonder how many '.99 cents per call' the FN will make?

-----------------

I just noticed that GF doesn't cook. I finally sat thru one of his shows.

He just prepares dishes, than goes to commercials

The most annoying thing is the lead in clips from commercials-he takes food and jams it into his pie hole. He owes me one-half hour.

[cassiesmom]

I looked up lisa's green bean dish....just for the stupid name and cannot find it.


-----

Haricots verts? Do you have Trader Joe's in California, Richard? They carry frozen haricots verts, which are skinnier and longer than regular green beans. As RR says, yummo

Rick Bayless is from Chicago. Frontera Grill is one of my favorite Chicago restaurants.

I was not surprised about this week's NFNS outcome. The Lisa creature is starting to grow on me.

[Karen]

Haricots verts? Do you have Trader Joe's in California, Richard? They carry frozen haricots verts, which are skinnier and longer than regular green beans. As RR says, yummo

Rick Bayless is from Chicago. Frontera Grill is one of my favorite Chicago restaurants.

I was not surprised about this week's NFNS outcome. The Lisa creature is starting to grow on me.

I just don't see Lisa as being stable enough to go the distance, she seems to blow hot then cold, with very little middle ground. Maybe if she stabilizes a lot ... I do like Aaron.