Had it with the Food Channel...

[RICHARD]

I love (hate) the Food Channel.

If I am feeling crappy or have to deride someone, I load up on the NERF gun and tune in the the FC.

After a few minutes of target practice, I feel better.

Today, I tuned into Raychul Rae and she was doing some kind of hour long special on Christmas party food.

She was making cheese balls in olive oil and herbs and goes off to the local cheese shop to buy cheese for the party. She is making an antipasti platter?

I was trying to check out the prices-they had the little signs that have the little wire prongs on the bottom that get pushed into the cheese.

She checks out some 9.99 (looked like) cheeses, then the clerk pushes a 23.99 dollar a pound cheese on her-which, of course, she has to buy.

She walked out with two bags that I guesstimate weighed about 6-7 lbs.

I figure she spent about 75 bucks there.
She goes off to a meat market and buys some sausage and other meat.

I had lost interest by that time.

I love to watch food programs, but, I still get irritated by the claim that it's a meal that you can put up in your kitchen.

That 24 dollar cheese is probably 32 dollars in lost angeles.

I really doubt that RR would even consider her purchases if the FC didn't pay for them?

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Christmas really is a time for family and feasting.

I have always thought that if you invite me into your home and feed me a meal, I would gladly eat a can of dog food on account of your courtesy.

(Cat food smells too funny....)

So, I could buy a brick of velveeta, toothpicks some chips, stuff for salsa and a 12 pack of Pabst and have a rocking party. All that for 24 dollars and maybe I'll have a paper dollar to buy a lotto scratcher?

And to all?
A good night!

[Medusa]

I have always thought that if you invite me into your home and feed me a meal, I would gladly eat a can of dog food on account of your courtesy.

(Cat food smells too funny....)

So, I could buy a brick of velveeta, toothpicks some chips, stuff for salsa and a 12 pack of Pabst and have a rocking party. All that for 24 dollars and maybe I'll have a paper dollar to buy a lotto scratcher?

And to all?
A good night!

I love this, RICHARD. My sentiment exactly. I'm always thrilled when I receive an invitation. It's the company that I appreciate and the effort that's put into serving a meal or snack or whatever.

Hey, have you tried Mario Batali's jar pasta sauce? I usually have a container of sauce in the freezer b/c I make a batch when the boy comes home, then I freeze it. But I didn't have any left this time and I was in the mood for spaghetti but didn't feel like making a batch so I tried his sauce. The tomato basil is really good. It's light and isn't made w/puree. If you want a quick, light, meatless sauce, give it a whirl. I'm sure I'll play around w/it later and add a few ingredients but for right now, it's good. If you've tried it, let me know what you think.

[RICHARD]

I love this, RICHARD. My sentiment exactly. I'm always thrilled when I receive an invitation. It's the company that I appreciate and the effort that's put into serving a meal or snack or whatever.

Hey, have you tried Mario Batali's jar pasta sauce? I usually have a container of sauce in the freezer b/c I make a batch when the boy comes home, then I freeze it. But I didn't have any left this time and I was in the mood for spaghetti but didn't feel like making a batch so I tried his sauce. The tomato basil is really good. It's light and isn't made w/puree. If you want a quick, light, meatless sauce, give it a whirl. I'm sure I'll play around w/it later and add a few ingredients but for right now, it's good. If you've tried it, let me know what you think.

I am very old fashioned about food and eating at someone's home.

I would rather see a table of 'real' food, than a spread of fancy stuff that I cannot pronounce or spell. One funny part about that RR show was her discussion with the clerk/owner of the cheee store.

I think the expensive cheese had truffles in it....during the clip she mentions that the viewers can pick up a cheese with mushrooms in it if we can't find the truffle kind. Hmm, I guess us suckers will have to make do with what we can find?

I have never seen the MB sauces.

I tend to stay away from 'name brand' sauces. The get kinda pricey and sometimes are too sweet.

I do stock up on canned, flavored sauces, then, as you do, punch them up with other ingredients when I make spaghetti.

I'll keep my eye peeled for it next time I go shopping.

Thanks!

[Karen]

So what did you all think of the Top Chef finale?

It's funny how little we knew some of the chefs - it was "oh, yeah, her!" and I bet they were all relieved to not pick Robin out of the knife block!

[Pinot's Mom]

Out of the two brothers, I thought Bryan should have won - I think Michael is an elitist at best. However, given the choice of the three, I really thought Kevin was more inventive. I hated Michael's comment that Kevin "cooks what I cook on my day off" - arrogant SOB.

So what did you all think of the Top Chef finale?

It's funny how little we knew some of the chefs - it was "oh, yeah, her!" and I bet they were all relieved to not pick Robin out of the knife block!

[RICHARD]

I watched part one of the finale.

I was not upset that the gal was voted off, she had a strange vibe about her.

Tom C said that this year's finalists were top of the line, that this was the best season, talent wise.

[Pinot's Mom]

I watched part one of the finale.

I was not upset that the gal was voted off, she had a strange vibe about her.

Tom C said that this year's finalists were top of the line, that this was the best season, talent wise.

You're right, Richard, Jennifer was a bit off. She was talented, but as the competition went on, something just wasn't right.