Had it with the Food Channel...

[Karen]

I'm glad I don't know much Spanish! And I was very happy when they made their decision tonight, although I have to admit that I thought Jeffrey was gone. Makes me want to go post over at the Food Network message board because all the know it alls there were convinced that Debbie had already won. LOL!

I was happy as well - how many times did they tell her to use more spice, make her food more flavorful? If she had stayed, I would have lost faith in the whole thing ... she may get a show anyway, time will tell! I have seen commercials for Adam Gertler - who didn't win season - and his "will work for food" show. (He annoyed me, I don't watch it.) And on Bravo, the contestant Tabatha, who didn't win that season's "Shear Genius" got her own show - and a TV show isn't even part of the Shear Genius contest!

[Daisy and Delilah]

I can't hide the fact that I was surprised when Deb was eliminated. I thought she was already chosen to win. Maybe that's what they wanted us to think. I think choosing between Jeffrey and Melissa will be really hard. I expect to see Deb in another FN show.

I remember the contestant that won a couple of years ago and never returned after her first episodes. Amy Findley, I think, was her name. Melissa sorta, in a very small way, reminds me of her. It would be difficult for me to try to do a tv show on FN and have 4 kids at home. I'm guessing that Jeffrey will win.

Richard::::What a Mexican education we got last night on the FN!!! WOW!!!
I was blown away by all the things I saw. I never realized that the Mexican culture included so many "unusual" food items. Are those insect items delicacies, for the most part, or normal cuisine in Mexico? The nest on the wall was unbelievable. I also couldn't believe how many ant bites those guys must have been getting while hunting for the eggs.

I almost barfed with the cow head segment. Actually, I almost barfed in several of the segments. Not so much what they were eating but listening to Corwin describe what he was eating. He kinda surprised me in the fact that he seemed to like everything but the cactus paddles.

I thought Corwin was trying to be a comedian and not really respecting the Mexican people as much as he should have. He had to be the center of attention.

I also thought it was great when they put the words on the screen. I couldn't understand anything they were saying.

It was fascinating to see the Mexican people in their homes, doing what they normally do every day. I can see why they appreciate America so much. They are incredibly poor but proud people.

Do they eat tortillas with every meal? Flour or corn? I saw them put everything in tortillas. Do they make all they'll need for the day and night in the morning? Those women must wake up long before dawn every day to start cooking.

What were the black sooty things on the ears of corn? Have you ever eaten that, Richard? Corwin called it "black pus". OMG!! I almost lost it.

Do the Mexican people grow all their own vegetables and fruits?

I was surprised to see the garbanzo beans in the menudo. I didn't remember ever seeing that either. Of course, I've only seen menudo a few times. It always looks delicious. Why do they choose to use tripe in it?

I was amazed at the alcohol they make. I know tequila is made from the agave. It was awesome to see the older gentleman extracting the liquid from the plant. I wondered if the older matriarchs normally drink a few shots while they're cooking, no matter what time of day it is. Was that a custom or just done for the show? I can hardly see them being pretentious for any reason though.
Richard, have you ever had mescale(spelling?)?

After that show, we had the throwdowns with Spanish fare. Fish tacos and puffy tacos. It was a Mexican night!! I really enjoyed it.

I'm sure I have more questions that will come up later.

[RICHARD]

Richard, have you ever had mescale(spelling?)?

Mezcal?

What do they say about the 60's? If you remember, you weren't there?

If I said I remembered, I only took a sip.

Pulque is trippy, it's like non-alcoholic beer, I haven't had any in years, altho I do have two agave plants in the yard! Most of the old men in the culture are some of the best people you will ever see. I think they are pickled-that is why they last so long-You can go into those small towns and see a group of men-60 to 80-sharing a table. The women on the other hand? I think the drink was just manners, none of the women in the family were drinkers.

The sound of glass clinking and smoke billowing tell you that there is a lot of living to be done!

I had an uncle who could roll a ciggie with one hand-had he lived any closer we would have killed him-How many ciggies could he have smoked in a day?

--------

No, not all Mexicans don't eat paper wasps off the wall. The strange stuff, like chapulins are staples in the really rural, poor areas. It's like delivery or shopping......the food is there, you just have to get off the couch and go shopping. Quite a few people have veggie gardens and slaughter their own meat.

Corwin is a food wussy.

Brain tacos are creamy and tasty....But, if you already have an idea that you do not like that food, you will give it a 'blah' review.


----------

CORN SMUT!

No, never had it. It's a fungus, like truffles or mushrooms. I'd give it a whirl-no 'caviar'!


Tortillas...

Every meal.

The cook wakes up early.

Their was the old line in a commercial about joining the Armed Forces-
something like "soldiers do more before breakfast than some people do all day". These women will probably cook 90-95% of the weeks meal's. So they do more cooking in two days than most of us do in a week.

Tortillas are a bit daunting when I try to make them.....An old Mex woman
can look at a pile of masa/dough and the tortillas make themselves....


Almost.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Does Mezcal have something to do with mescaline? Excuse my spelling please.

How did you rate the show overall, Richard? I was impressed to go into the inner workings of the families of the region. This is something we rarely get to see. I loved the way some of the people were totally unscathed at Corwin's behavior.
We have a large Mexican population here. These people are simple and determined. It's amazing how they are.

Being a simple culture, I can never believe the elaborate decorations I see in some of the Mexican restaurants here. I saw some of them on tv last night on the show. Our Mexican restaurants never serve anything like the show depicted but I imagine you can get that food somewhere around here.

I'll bet the FN start incorporating the corn smut in future shows like Iron Chef. It's fascinating and exotic. FN always tries to throw the stuff in that we can never find or afford. i.e. truffles The stuff looks like something that would taste exactly like mold.
Are Mexican people pretty healthy? I imagine their immune systems are perfect. Eating some of the things they do, they have to be strong.

I think I mentioned before that I learned, years ago, that the young Mexican girls are required to make tortillas. When my sister had 64% Mexican students, her students always had burns on their hands. They told her how they made tortillas before school to help their mother's.

I also see the Mexican families are all about family. No question about it. All the family members are together most of the time. It was a big thing for all the Mexican men to gather after dinner and especially on the weekends to party through the nights.

Very interesting information.

[cassiesmom]

Without being a spoiler let me just say I'm pleased with the result of this week's NFNS. I'm surprised that it was done, though. I thought Michael looked very different - wonder what happened to him after he left Miami?

I couldn't watch the show that was on afterward about food in Mexico. I tried to stick with it but I was grossed out. If Mexican families in Chicago are typical, all about family is exactly right. The generations are together and I like that about Mexican families here in Chicagoland.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I have to say it looks like a dead heat with Melissa and Jeffrey. I just can't decide who I think will win.

Any guesses?

[RICHARD]

I have to say it looks like a dead heat with Melissa and Jeffrey. I just can't decide who I think will win.

Any guesses?

Melissa,

They want to cement the woman/homemaker viewers.

[happylabs]

Melissa,

They want to cement the woman/homemaker viewers.

Are there that many stay-at-home moms these days?

[Daisy and Delilah]

I'm hoping everyone has seen the show by now. I was thinking Jeffrey had it in the bag up until they called Melissa's name. I honestly thought they would call it a tie at some point.

Melissa seems to have endless energy. Her girls are adorable and so young!! Best wishes to her. I hope she's able to pull it off and still be a great mom.

[RICHARD]

Are there that many stay-at-home moms these days?

They are all hidden in the house, I can't tell!

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

She came in with a 'plan' for her show.

I knew she would win when I saw a clip of AB talking to the guy and asking him to explain his 'cooking w/o borders' type of show/cooking.

They talk about the contestants not being original - when you can use keywords like "butter, mango salsa, yum-o, and cocktail time!" to ID the cooks on the network - I think that they have become way past the point of being predictable.

The life span of most of the cooks on the TVFN depends on how they can reinvent themselves when they get boring.

Lately, it's been inviting family to cook with the host or having them go 'on the road'.

I wouldn't mind the programs where they actually get out and show you where the food comes from, how it's grown or ????

It's the talent - and endless bowls of Yum-o mango salsa that make me gag.