Serious Eats
Fresh Food on TV: Weekday Edition
With all the channels on broadcast TV and cable—and the inevitable episode repeats—it's hard to sort out what's new or worthwhile. Let us sort it out for you so you don't miss anything worth watching. Times may vary with region; check your local listings for exact hour and channels.
Recommended shows: In his blog, Anthony Bourdain describes tonight's and next week's episodes of No Reservations: "two episodes in a row of some of the purest, hardest, straight-to-the-action, food porn we’ve ever done on NO RESERVATIONS. And there are no better places on earth to get right to the heart of the good stuff than Japan and Spain." With a claim like that, it should be worth checking out. Monday, 9 p.m. ET, Travel Channel
Tonight is also part two of the Sundance Channel miniseries documentary, Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World. Mondays (August 4-25), 9 p.m. ET, Sundance Channel
Monday (August 11)
Good Eats with Alton Brown: "Frozen Cache." Alton will show you how to properly preserve food in the freezer. 8 p.m. ET, Food Network
How'd That Get on My Plate?: "Cocoa." Sunny travels to Hawaii to visit on of the few cocoa farms in the United States. She then follows the beans to a Guittard Chocolate in Burlingame, California, and to hot cocoa at Serendipity 3 in New York City. 8:30 p.m. ET, Food Network
The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World: "A Good Match." In this second episode (of four), we learn about West Lake's owner's past. Also, the restaurant prepares for a wedding banquet. 9 p.m. ET, Sundance Channel
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations: "Tokyo." Anthony's off to Tokyo for sushi and the perfect knife blade, kendo, and Japanese flower arranging. 10 p.m. ET, Travel Channel
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (warning: a video plays automatically on site): "Brain Freeze." Original waffle cones in Norfolk, Virginia; Italian gelato at an Arizona creamery; and sundaes in New Orleans. 10 p.m. ET, Food Network
Tuesday (August 12)
The Martha Stewart Show (warning: a video plays automatically on site): Mario Batali is on to grill. He makes focaccina bread with roasted garlic, grilled clams in cartoccio, and robiola cheese wrapped in mortadella. 9 a.m. ET, ABC
Road Tasted With the Neelys: "Desert Desserts in Santa Fe." Tara's Organic Ice Cream, works of art at The Chocolate Smith, Chile Pecan Brittle at Chuck's Nuts, and Biscochito Cookies in Santa Fe. 9:30 p.m. ET, Food Network
Wednesday (August 13)
The Early Show: Celebrity chef Katie Lee Joel is a guest. 7 a.m. ET, NBC
Friday (August 15)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Paula Deen and her sons, Jamie and Bobby, are on the show to cook Southern brunch recipes. Jonas Brothers are also on, whoever they are. 4 p.m. ET, NBC