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The Ten Most Recent Comments By OKLibrarian

From Talk

Favorite Food Network Show and Chef

Alton is by far at the top--GE and FoA are two of our few "appointment viewing" series, and he's responsible for about 80% of my cooking skills that I didn't pick up from a relative.

2nd tier, I.E. the show's we'll watch if they're on when we flip past, would be Paula Deen, Molto Mario, Jamie Oliver (mmm), Iron Chef America (if it's an interesting ingredient/challenger), the current reruns of A Cook's Tour, Unwrapped (Marc Summers is fun) and occasionally 30 minute meals if she's doing something interesting (most of her stuff I already know, but I've picked up a timesaving tip or two)

Hate: Dinner "Slightly Difficult", Guy "Fee-eddi" (eyeroll), and most of the travel/competition shows that don't feature Alton ;-)

Dark Lord of the Sith: Sandra Lee

OKLibrarian at 1:16PM on 05/10/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

Jeff Smith is one of my three favorite cooking show hosts of all time, along with Julia and Alton. The Frug is where I picked up such educational tidbits as "hot pan, cold oil" and the joys of Parmagiano Reggiano. (I remember turning to my mom as a kid and exclaiming in wonder: "that stuff doesn't always come in a can?!"). I remember doing some research on the case out of curiosity a few years back, and not being terribly impressed by either side's story--my suspicion is that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Anyway, I don't think he deserved to keep his fame/fortune, but to refuse to use his cookbooks and such seems a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. YMMV, though.

OKLibrarian at 9:40AM on 04/12/08

Responses to Comments by OKLibrarian

From Talk

Favorite Food Network Show and Chef

I can't be the only one who likes Guy Fieri. I think most people who don't like him are women. Guy is a guy's guy cooking guy food for guys. He does stuff like hot dogs smothered with spicy meat sauce. And beer-can chicken. I can see how that kind of thing won't appeal to most women.

Personality-wise, he's loud and immature, like a too-successful frat boy. But who cares? He's enthusiastic about what he does and he communicates that enthusiasm well.

minstrel at 4:23PM on 05/18/08

From Talk

Favorite Food Network Show and Chef

#1 Alton, #2 Ina - love her style and her kitchen!, #4 Tyler - he's cute and his food looks great, #4 Bobby Flay - Throwdown, #5 Jamie - I liked his old show too when he cooked in the european style kitchen with the tiny fridge.

Sandra Lee is one of the reasons why remotes were invented - so I can quickly change the channel!!

kathyb at 10:28PM on 05/10/08

From Talk

Favorite Food Network Show and Chef

I would love to see Ina and Paula together. Head-to-head, teamed as "buddies"--the contrast between Ina's haute-New York and Paula down-home Savannah just seems so funny and interesting to me. Southern-boy Alton could assist Paula and Manhattan-bred Bobby Flay could help Ina.

Sorry. I appear to be having one of those "If I was an Executive in Charge of Programming" fantasies.

So I like Bobby, Paula, Ina and most of all Alton. I agree with all the people who said they've learned from Alton--whenever I have a new ingredient with which I haven't worked before, I see if Alton has a recipe/technique for it. And I love how many of his shows start at Kroger's or Bed Bath and Beyond, because that's where I do all my shopping and it makes it very accessible.

I also love Iron Chef America. I agree with the people who said the "Challenge" shows are time-wasters. And Guy Fieri should be shot out of a cannon. And hey, whatever happened to charming Amy Findley?

annien at 5:10PM on 05/10/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

I was a big fan of the Frug' and I think his influence changed a lot about how cooking shows are presented. I can't think of another show at that time that really explained the regional differences in how people eat.

He really raised the bar of food knowledge in the country, especially in the midwest where I grew up. In the mid-80s people just weren't eating things like squid ink pasta, balsamic vinegar, fennel bulbs, etc. etc. Al dente' was a word most had never heard.

If he hadn't had his troubles, and the evidence is pretty overwhelming against him even if he never had to admit to anything, then I believe he would be among the most revered food educators. As it is, most younger people don't know him at all, but his influence is still being felt in very strong ways.

It was a deep personal loss to me, he really taught me how to cook and also why it's important to be curious about the foodways of other cultures. I still have all of his cookbooks, but I don't use them much.

ebraun at 4:28PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

@Calichef: "So, just like abusive parents being a repeating cycle, so goes abusive chefs."

You don't know how true this still is!!

SayWhat at 9:20PM on 04/12/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

I agree that his accomplishments in food education on TV, and otherwise, were enormous. I also agree that ignoring his greatness because of unproven allegations (for which he was never prosecuted) is foolish. Every time I head to the stove I never fail to think to myself, "Hot pan, cold oil, food won't stick!" Plus I think it's silly to hold something that may or may not have happened (but probably things happened) against a dead man. I'm sure those last few years of his life were hellish and he suffered enough.

As for uppity Craig Wollam, he grated on my nerves something fierce! I suspected (even way back when he first appeared on the show) that he and The Frug were more than just "friends." I mean, all the trips, come on. However, I expect he's much more circumspect now that he's been taken down a bunch of pegs. I think counseling for kitchen workers that have been abused is a great idea and he will never run out of clients. All kitchen workers have been abused at some point.

As an aside, I once asked a chef why he was so hard on his crew and was told that he was treated the same way when he started. So, just like abusive parents being a repeating cycle, so goes abusive chefs.

Calichef at 9:13PM on 04/12/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

I remember this show. My mom used to watch it. The Fugal Gourment, Jeff Smith, passed away in July 2004.

paris221966 at 8:11PM on 04/12/08

From Talk

The Frugal Gourmet

It's unfortunate that someone's accusations can throw an entire carreer out the door. From what I've heard and read about Mr. Smith, he was a kind and gentle person. One could believe that he decided his career was over whether he proved himself innocent or not (something that's not supposed to have to happen in America) so why ruin someone else's career along with it (Wollum's). We are all supposed to be innocent until PROVEN guilty, and that did not happen. If the allegations were proven, I'd be right along side BITTER there, but they were not.

As for his recipies and cookbooks, with some experience and "Try, try again" spirit, you could get some darned good food out of them. Now Alton, he bats closer to 85%, little prior knowledge required!

2muchfood at 5:01PM on 04/12/08