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What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
I'm with you vinovamp, I think this leftover wine stuff might be a myth.
Red Velvet Find - Amy's Bread
Back to talking about Amy's cake. I've had it and thought it wasn't very good actually. The frosting when I got it was not even a cream cheese frosting, but some kind of whipped cream/sugar. I was NOT impressed. I agree it's difficult to find good red velvet in the city. Amy Ruth's used to be exceptional but it has fallen off in the past year.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
Just wanted to add I am always shocked to see how many people like Ina and Alton's shows. Ina I just find plain boring, and Alton is too much science, not enough cooking for me. The scariest thing, for me, about Alton is that people thing he's good to the point that it makes their mind go soft. I was semi-recently excited at getting to meet & greet Anthony Bourdain & Michael Ruelhman (sp?), and someone said to me well, they are not Alton Brown. Damn Straight.
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'Top Chef' Season 5, Episode 7: Toby Young Rocks
Despite the schtick, I actually agreed with what Toby had to say. Melissa has been bland since day one. Carla did add a protien because she was insecure with her base dish, she admitted that herself. And Eugene is experimental beyond his abilities. So I liked Toby because he was able to go in and instantly and accurately read these chefs from one dish. That, to me, shows skills that quite honestly Gail seems to be lacking.
As for some of the other characters mentioned, I find Padma stiff & disturbing, and Carla just works my last nerve. She is too cheesy and that hootie hoo is just ridiculous. Go ahead, go to your NY grocery store and try that.
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
I'm with you vinovamp, I think this leftover wine stuff might be a myth.
Red Velvet Find - Amy's Bread
Back to talking about Amy's cake. I've had it and thought it wasn't very good actually. The frosting when I got it was not even a cream cheese frosting, but some kind of whipped cream/sugar. I was NOT impressed. I agree it's difficult to find good red velvet in the city. Amy Ruth's used to be exceptional but it has fallen off in the past year.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
Just wanted to add I am always shocked to see how many people like Ina and Alton's shows. Ina I just find plain boring, and Alton is too much science, not enough cooking for me. The scariest thing, for me, about Alton is that people thing he's good to the point that it makes their mind go soft. I was semi-recently excited at getting to meet & greet Anthony Bourdain & Michael Ruelhman (sp?), and someone said to me well, they are not Alton Brown. Damn Straight.
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
I have a chef friend who uses wine to boil pasta in! Drunken Pasta has been a favorite of mine since then, and I use the leftover wine to make this dish. U can use part wine and water, depending how much wine is available. Toss is some fried peppers, hot and sweet, chopped parsley, grated cheese and enjoy!
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
What is leftover wine? I've never had any.
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
wish i knew of this earlier! it would have been such a great gift for the holidays!
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
@donnamarie ~~~~~ I thought I was the only one who thought that!!!!
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
Leftover...wine? What is that? I
If it's left over, that means no one wanted to drink it. Doesn't that mean it tasted bad and no one drank it in the first place? Wouldn't reducing it to one third it's volume make it worse?
What to Do With Leftover Wine: Mulled Wine Syrup
I freeze my leftover wine in a mason jar and use it for cooking. It doesn't freeze solid so it's easy to scoop out with a big spoon. Works great!
Red Velvet Find - Amy's Bread
Hmm--@spicegirl--I didn't know that about Crisco! However, I'm pretty sure that quite a few commercial snack cakes do contain animal fats, like Hostess cakes and Oreos used to.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
Let me give the FN a clue. because that is what is missing from this station. GET RID OF THOSE DAMN CHALLENGE SHOWS, NOT ENTERTAINING, NOT INTERESTING. Please get rid of RR, the 30min cooking show is horrible, I dont see a point in this show. I want to see REAL COOKS! TALENTED COOKS. Not perfect cooks, BUT TALENTED. Keep Alton, Ina, Sunny, Paula (one show puleese) borrow from PBS willya (these people know what they are talking about) Lidia, Jacques (the cook on the planet). What in the hell is the Food Detective, this show is horrible, my 8 year old niece thinks it for kindergartners.
Sandra, gotta go!!! The network has talent however sparingly.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
therealchiffonade,
Thank you for explaining why people like Ina. I have seriously been scratching my head for years about it. So it is the way she presents what she cooks - the way she explains it. OK, cool. I kind of get that now. I do not, however, agree with you about her voice. When she speaks I think, "Oh, this is what Ben Stein would sound like if he took estrogen." To me, her voice is like someone banging something extremely boring against my temple.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
I'd love to see some ethnic shows. How about Indian and Asian, to name a few? I'd also love to see Anthony Bourdain again (With his sexy self!). Get rid of the Throwdown. I think it hurts the livelihood of people when Bobby comes along, hoodwinking them, and perfecting their signature dishes that they've made their living off of, not to mention the embarrassment and uncomfortable looks on people's faces. Why the need for that? Find something for Ted Allen, his talent's being wasted with that silly show! Keep Bobby, Tyler, Paula, Guy, Rachael, I like the new "Aaron McCargo, I don't like his stereotypical name "Big Daddy", but he should stay. I'm looking forward to seeing Adam Gertler's new show not so much for the food, it wasn't so special, but he was pleasant to watch, and made people comfortable. You couldn't help but like him. Now bring on Tom Collichio and you'd have a huge new female following. He's sexy, too!
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
I agree with many of the comments here...but especially love @honeybumper's comments and yes, I would also add Morimoto...yes, he's a bit hard to understand sometime...but let him cook and I'll watch and learn more!
I would love to see shows on how to make sausages, (sausage guy in Albequerque sounds like a good one to watch!), and how to make beer at home. Alton did one show on it but as a home brewer there is so much more to learn! Also the wine and cheese show idea is great! Lets get some depth to these shows.
At first I enjoyed watching NFNS but it's all about personality now instead of the techniques and teaching. I want substance!
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
I'm pretty sure they don't get a cut from the restaurants, which i also have from a reputable source. However, once chefs sign a deal, it often covers merchandising, spin-ff rights, likeness, etc, so agreed there is definite money to be made.
FN has definitely become "talent-driven," and while they still have some great talent, it is called Food Network, and they shouldn't lose sight of the point.. food, silly!
I still find things to watch, but less than before, and it can be hit or miss. Fine Living is also owned by Scripps, btw!
ALTON BROWN FOR PRESIDENT!
(...of FN)
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
FN needs more real ethnic cooking shows, i.e. Daisy Cooks feat. Daisy Martinez or Ming Tsai's East meets West, and not the fusion cuisine they try to cook up like Ingrid Hoffman. Also, what happened to Dave Lieberman, who had a niche of making affordable food at home (and really knew how to cook too). I think they should make a new all french cooking show staring Boulud, Bouley, Ripert, and Ducaisse cooking in their restaurants.
Talent to keep: Alton Brown, Ina Garten, Mario B, Bobby Flay, Morimoto, Symon,
Talent to get rid of: Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee, Paula Deen, all of the next FN stars (except Guy on diners, drive thrus and dives), Elie Krieger, Ingrid Hoffman (too many others to name).
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
RIP Food Network. It's now called PBS, Fine Living and Travel Channel, with a bit of Bravo thrown in just for Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, Tony Bourdain and my favorite, Ted Allen.
I hear what FN did is demand a cut of everyone's restaurants, including those who built up the network in the first place (Mario, Emeril). After hearing that from a reputable source, I view any new "talent" chosen by the bean-counters with suspicion. No wonder they need contests to determine the next "personality" and use home cooks with no experience whatsoever. Like Sandra Lee, whose only expertise seems to be "tablescapes," color-coordinating Kitchenaid and kitchen window coverings, and cocktails.
What started as a novel concept is now mainly drivel because most of the people who can cook moved to other networks. Those who can cook (you know who you are) must have good agents/publicists to have sweetheart deals with FN that don't allow them to keep their hand in your pocket for part of your restaurant's gross profits.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
I know I am in the minority here, and accept that. I love FN and since I am a person who likes to eat - not necessarily cook - the shows that are entertaining and tempt me outside my comfort zone are the shows I watch. I love Guy Fieri and would watch DD&D every day. Ace of Cakes and Paula Deen are also on my list as well as the Challenges, Iron Chef and Dinner Impossible. Some of the best cooks on the network, like Ina and Mario are frankly, boring to watch. I like the humor, the fun and the wild ideas the other shows have. I guess I am their target audience since the rest of you are so ticked off!
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
Re: Ina. Lack of babblegene does not = Boring.
Ina speaks to viewers as though they might have a clue about how to cook instead of filling every second of airtime with mindless chattering about how "I'mgoingtostirthisandputthisinthesinkandputthisoverhereand..." Ina's succinct instructions make her a superior TV cooking coach. Her Night Time FM DJ voice is one of the areas where I give her highest non-cooking-related points. (Aspects of the show not directly related to cooking or technique.)
I heard new BC's are coming out and frankly, it's way past beyond time that happened!
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
All that's happening at the FN is they're continuing to grow the corporation and demographics. Hence, Neely's and Big Daddy (Afro-American demo),
Guy Fieri (younger demo), Dan and the other gay guy who "won" the first NFNS, (uh, expand gay demo)...anyway, you get the picture. To add my show opinion, best shows are Jamie Oliver's most recent (I think the guy's genius AND great technique), Tyler's Ultimate, make NEW Boy Meets Grill, and lose Flay's other ego projects, anything Batali, D,D,and D's (just because I love good diner food and all the Guy we get is pretty much just him eating), and the three new A chicks, Aida, Alex, and Anne. I guess ICA still entertains me. Lose everyone else and hire a few newer cutting edge chefs from great restaurants and let 'em cook for us.
Just my opinion...I could be wrong.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
@Tobey: I'm sorry that the back-and-forth here has turned you off to Serious Eats. This seems to happen anytime there's a Food Network thread. People really feel strongly about the network and otherwise friendly folks get a little angry. I'd urge you to check out other Talk topics and blog posts on the site before you leave completely! I promise there's more civil discussion going on here.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
No one seems to remember "How To Boil Water"! He was funny but they really cooked stuff. I am an accomplished cook and I have learned some great techniques from Alton and I respect his knowledge but this schtick on the "New" Iron Chef is grating. Yes, yes, yes, repeat the original Iron
Chef. Believe me that show saved me from complete meltdown at 1AM on a Saturday night after closing my restaurant, coming home completely amped up and the comic relief was just what I needed (with a soothing glass or two of wine). Sarah Moulton always an education, Two Fat Ladies pure pleasure. I'm tired of these wannabes. I agree that if they really need to search for a new "Network" star they should go to the top restaurants. Michael LaMonaco was another educator and they really need more of the ethnic touch, food from all over the world. Teach me how!
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
Love everything about Ina and her show, definitely keep her..
Ellie Krieger too, love her and her ideals.. a show about healthy cooking without a fad diet twist or using ridiculous and unappealing igredient substitutions.. just simple, nutritious, and sensible eating.. keep
And I have to say I love Rachael too, not all of her recipes are ones that I would personally try, especially from the older days, but these days she's somewhat more refined, and since launching her Yum-O organization her focus has definitely shifted from mounds of cheese on everything to more healthful recipes
I do love Paula, but not so much her recipes.. she's one of the ones I would keep more for entertainment value, and an occasional dessert I'd like to try.. but I agree with getting rid of Paula's Party, UNLESS they take it back to the original format when it was intimate and charming, not so glitz and showbiz, where she didn't have a guest every show and it was just her and the small audience filmed at her brother's restaurant
Keep Alton, Giada, Tyler, Bobby (if it's Throwdown, I never watch his grilling shows), and possibly a couple of the newbies.. i really like Ask Aida and the premise of the show
And please bring back Gale Gand.. now there are no shows dedicated to just dessert, and she's someone highly respected who actually knows her stuff when it comes to sweets and pastry.. as an aspiring pastry chef I always looked forward to any tips and knowlege she passed on during the episodes
Oh yeah, and one old school guilty pleasure.. Two Hot Tamales, who remembers that one? lol
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
It's all in the label. FN needs to become the FPN, The Food Porn Network, the food channel for people who don't cook. Those of us who love food and cooking need our own network with people like Bourdain, Ruhlman, Moulton, Morimoto, and Alton.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
I used to really enjoy "Calling All Cooks" and "Door Knock Dinners"--also all things Sara Moulton.
I definitely don't watch FN as much as I used to and neither do my Mom and 3 sisters (and one brother with a serious Emeril attachment).
But I do love RR and watch her NBC show as well. And keep Ina, Tyler, Robin Miller, Ellie Krieger and the Neely's. I take good notes when I watch "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"--and take Guy's advice! I want to eat immediately every single thing Big Daddy makes.......drool, drool.
I turn off the TV the minute Alton Brown shows up.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
Please give Mario a better time slot! He's lost in the mash-up of midday shows that few people are able to watch. He deserves better.
Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee and Paula Deen should be exiled. Bring them to an island so they can work on recipes that include deep frying store-bought desserts in EVOO. Ugh.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
I agree that Sandra Lee has got to go. I'm sick of her color-coordinated outfits and kitchen. I'm sick of her crap food and I'm sick of her "you can serve anything if they are drunk enough" attitude.
Keep Ina. She may be kind of bland and her food isn't very healthy, but it is tasty and she actually cooks! Paula Deen can cook from home, but that stupid party show has got to go.
Both the Nealy's shows have to go, and don't just bring back Paula's sons. We really don't need shows that are nothing more than ads for cross-country shipping stable foods.
I love Alton. His shows are educational, entertaining and the couple of recipes he cooks on each show actually end up tasty. Because of the education he gives it's easy to adapt his recipes for your own tastes.
Bobby Flay is ok if you chain him to a grill, otherwise, forget him.
I really like Giadda's food, but the constant cleavage and the boob-cam have earned her the nickname of "Boob-arella" at our house.
I can see how Guy Fieri can rub people the wrong way with everything from the bleached, spiky hair to his insistence on pronouncing his last name "Fiedi," but he does appeal to young viewers and his food, while relying on entirely too much tequila, is actually pretty decent.
Another idea, how about running those early morning weekend shows again in the afternoon? Lots of us really enjoy sleeping in on weekends. We aren't all "hit the ground running and watch a show before we go to the farmer's market at dawn" types.
I can't stand that Sunny Anderson woman. Please, my son was a better cook (and more comfortable and adept in front of a stove and with knives) than she is when he was 12. That new show of hers, "How'd This Get on My Plate," is just, plain dumb. Anyone with any interest in food knows that dairy comes from cows, or goats. Puh-leeze.
Also, let's cut down on how crap food is made shows. Corn chips are extruded, ice cream novelties are molded and chocolate is poured over them, "spiral freezers" are common. We get it already. There is no need to show that same stuff every freaking night!
FN really needs to start listening to what people want and stop promoting people and shows viewers hate. Really.
Food Network... Let's give them a hand!
They must get rid of Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee!! I get so angry every time I see that show on the network. It is just a bunch of pre-made, highly processed items that get mixed together and then pose as a good, quick meal. That is not cooking! The show is an embarrassment to the food network.
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Despite the schtick, I actually agreed with what Toby had to say. Melissa has been bland since day one. Carla did add a protien because she was insecure with her base dish, she admitted that herself. And Eugene is experimental beyond his abilities. So I liked Toby because he was able to go in and instantly and accurately read these chefs from one dish. That, to me, shows skills that quite honestly Gail seems to be lacking.
As for some of the other characters mentioned, I find Padma stiff & disturbing, and Carla just works my last nerve. She is too cheesy and that hootie hoo is just ridiculous. Go ahead, go to your NY grocery store and try that.