Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Grilled with the husk on! NO need to soak or remove the silk beforehand unless the husk is extremely dried out. Then, butter and seasalt and the shameful secret.

When it comes to corn on the cob--ONLY crappy powdered black pepper will do, in enormous stomach burning quantities. I will choose it over the finest fresh cracked in an instant. Only for corn...and sunny side up eggs.

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.

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!

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)

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.

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!

@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.

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

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.

left aside for the corn lovers. Can't deal with it, myself.

@chiff -- I have given up the rest of my vices, which leaves eating and drinking. When DH and I travel, we make the rezzies first and then book the travel!

@iza - I do love Maine . . . DH has never been, but it was my family's summer vacation for years. I dream about the Edward's fried claims . . . seriously, we would drive about an hour each way from our summer place just to eat dinner. Two orders of fried claims each!

Honestly if I could I would love to travel to all the greenmarkets an farmstands an open markets in the States an all over the World!!!! Anybody want to go?

Mizbee - love your list. More like a 55 Gallon Drum list than a bucket list!