Emeril Lagasse talks with the 305th Services Squadron during 9/25/06 taping of Emeril's Thanksgiving special at McGuire Air Force Base, NJ.
My love affair with Food Network ended when they canceled Emeril Live in December 2007. How about you? Do you like their revamped format–or not? Three years later, I still don’t really like what Food Network has to offer.
I remember being really confused when I heard the news about Emeril Live going off the air. I just couldn’t understand the reasoning of the execs at Food Network.
Little did I realize that this was just the beginning of a whole lot of changes at Food Network. And as each change was made–as chefs Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay, Gale Gand, Jacques Torres (and more) had their shows discontinued, I railed at the TV. Why was Food Network taking chefs Florence and Flay and putting them in a format where you couldn’t learn much, if anything, from their culinary knowledge? I’m sure the promise of better profits had much to do with it.
I was sad when Food Network started doing reality shows, like The Next Food Network Star and Chopped, and disgusted with the boring features on how certain candies and snacks are made (Unwrapped). I occasionally enjoy watching Dinner: Impossible, but doubt I’ll watch their new offering, What Would Brian Boitano Make.
The only show I still like to watch regularly is The Barefoot Contessa. Even my kids will watch it with me, marveling at the amazing food Ina Garten whips up. My 3-year-old son watched The Barefoot Contessa with me today, exclaiming at the chicken pot pie she was making.
“That looks delicious,” he said. “You’ll have to make that tomorrow, Mommy!”
“Well,” I told him, “I’ll have to make it this weekend after I go to the grocery store. I think I’m out of shortening.” Maybe it’s unusual for someone so young to love to watch The Barefoot Contessa. But I think The Barefoot Contessa’s audience comes back for seconds because of the content and format. I admire her because she’s a great cook, I learn new techniques from her, and her show tells a story. People love that!
What food network star do you miss the most? Vote in the poll. And if you have a second, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject in the comments section! What do you think of the Food Network changes the past few years?
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Unfortunately, FoodTV has made a strategic decision to dumb down most of its programming. It’s not about aspiring to cook great dishes. It’s about watching Bobby Flay square off (and most likely lose) to some regular Joe in a hot dog cooking contest. It’s about the manufactured drama of 4 chefs competing for money. It’s about some spikey-haired doofus doing a show on diners. Inspiring people to cook? Nope. It’s more like attempting to inspire people to go out to eat, and it’s boring.
Mike,
You made me laugh out loud with your astute observations. It’s sad but true– all of what you said. Food Network’s decision to go after different segments of the population is leaving all of those who actually like to cook, and learn new techniques from professional chefs, COLD. What little free time I have I don’t want to waste on FoodTV. I like The Barefoot Contessa’s show, and that’s about it.
I don’t need inspiration to go out to eat….that’s for sure! I do want to watch and hear from chefs on different and creative ways to kick it up a notch.
I will watch Paula Deen on occasion since my hubby is from Mississippi and I learned how to make many of his favorite dishes from her cookbooks but other than that I rarely turn it on anymore. My favorite was Jamie Oliver but you never see him anymore.
Diana´s last blog ..Penny Pinching
Diana,
Oh, yes, please bring back Jamie Oliver! He is such a down to earth kind of guy who is a gifted chef. I think I read he took on some gig rejiggering the menu (in a healthy way) for a school (or schools) in the UK. He’s a busy man. I need to find him on Twitter and follow him. 
I like Paula Deen, except that most of her dishes are ones that I can’t serve my hubby, who is on a diet.
I will say that in my line of work, I do enjoy some of the competition shows and like to challenge myself to do something a bit more outside the box. I also enjoy Sandra Lee and Rachael Ray for their quick, simple recipes. I thought I might enjoy Melissa d’Arabian’s show, but honestly, I find her hard to watch and my four year old isn’t terribly interested in French or Turkish cuisine on a budget!
Beyond that, I don’t watch much on Food Network. I miss Emeril, but he was cancelled when we didn’t have cable so it didn’t phase me much when he wasn’t there.
Heather´s last blog ..It All Started With Pie
Heather,
I do like a lot of Rachael Ray’s recipes. I just can’t watch her anymore…I think I OD’d on her a couple years ago. LOL. I still look on Food Network’s website for recipe ideas and creative food ideas. And like you, I enjoy recipes that come together in 30 minutes, or are easy, slow cook in a Dutch oven kind of meals.
As far as the competition shows, I think you either like that kind of thing or you don’t. I’m one of the ones who doesn’t enjoy it…but there are plenty of people (like you) who do.
It’s kind of like certain types of food–anchovies, for instance. Generally, you either love anchovies or you hate them.
Wow, the French or Turkish cooking on a budget sounds interesting, but I think my 3-year-old would disapprove (just like your 4-year-old).
So, what is your line of work, Heather? I assume you’re a professional chef or baker…
You’re right, the competitions are an acquired taste! For me, I’ve found I can only stomach them if served with a dose of sugar, flour, or other sweet treat!
Primarily, I am a caterer and event planner, but we have just started a sister company to plan cooking related fundraisers for organizations supporting kids. And while I can’t say too much just yet, I have to admit that one of the Food Network competitions led me to contact one of our amazing judges for the first event we’re planning!
Heather´s last blog ..It All Started With Pie
Heather,
LOL!
Wow, how cool to own your own businesses– I stopped by your blog about the sister company’s fundraiser. What a wonderful thing you’re doing!
I can’t wait to hear about your first event when you can let the cat out of the bag on the details on one of your amazing judges. Please keep me updated…don’t leave me hanging!!!
Trust me, I will be shouting from the roof top as soon as a few more details are firmed up and I can verify the judges we have a preliminary acceptance from. There are two possibly well known judges and then some local people.
Heather´s last blog ..It All Started With Pie
To be frank, if i wanted to watch a reality show, so bad it’s good, I’d watch Mtv2. They do it better. Food Network is just bland now.
Heather,
Good to hear…ha ha (corny joke, sorry)….
Seriously, I’m so happy for you and can’t wait to hear the details of your good news when you can share!
David,
Hmmm…think that Food Network needs to spice up its programming?
Can’t say I’ve watched MTV2 in a long time, but I’ll take your word for it that it’s the better choice.
I really don’t watch cooking shows, or any shows much. I do know my daughter (who is 22) LOVES Rachel Ray. She graduates from college this year and has asked for a “Rachel Ray” cookware set. LOL. Isn’t that a hoot?
I miss Alton Brown & new episodes of Good Eats – I love the science behind food and he totally explains why things happen. I love his cookbook, too, which is a good read. I also like Ina Garten (and her cookbook, too) and Giada DeLaurentis (sp). I do occasionally get a dose of Emeril on Green Planet (not sure if you get it or not) with ‘Emeril Green’ – it’s more about slow food and where our ingredients come from, which I enjoy.
When I want a real cooking show, I usually watch PBS – Cooks Illustrated/America’s Test Kitchen (love that magazine & their recipes) and Lidia Bastianitch (sp) cooking w/ her grandchildren, or reruns of Jacque Pepin; baking w/ Julia Child. We didn’t have Food Network for about 4 years and I didn’t miss is as much as I thought I did!
I do miss Mario, but only to watch, as he was so entertaining & obviously loved all regions of Italian cooking (although I didn’t like him on PBS w/ Gweneth Paltrow in Spain/Italy) – many of his recipes were too daunting to attempt. He is someone who’s restaurant I aspire to go to when in NYC.
I’m over the competition shows & ‘reality’ type shows, especially the dessert/cake ones. I hate Ace of Cakes. (I seriously wonder how good those cakes taste – they look amazing, but I’d rather make something that tastes as good as it looks – I like my dessert to look like dessert, not something else – just a purist, I guess ; )
Lea,
I love most of Rachael Ray’s recipes, but not her shows. That is a hoot that your daughter wants Rachael Ray cookware! I’m not keen on the orange handles that her cookware sports, but that’s just me.
Jenn,
Wow, I totally spaced on Alton Brown’s shows! Yes, I really enjoy watching him, and even my kids find his Good Eats shows fascinating! I haven’t picked up a cookbook by Alton Brown; I’ll have to look for one at B&N. What channel is Green Planet on; we haven’t seen that show of Emeril’s…it sounds interesting!
You make a good point about PBS; they do have some good cooking shows. I’ll have to look into the times they are on and record them! I totally agree with you on Mario; I never even tried to make one of his meals. But he’s a hoot to watch.
I think a lot of people wonder how good the cakes taste that Ace of Cakes produces; I’m in awe of how much work it takes to make one of those cakes! I can’t imagine the cakes that Ace of Cakes staff makes taste as good as, say, a cake produced at a French bakery.
love rachel ray and paula dean. love 30 minute cooking but dislike all the competition shows. i want to learn things to help me cook. love the cake shows. ace of cakes
pam´s last blog ..5 Question Friday
Pam,
I think Food Network needs to cater to the audience that they seem to be ignoring: the people who want to learn new cooking techniques, creative ideas and dish twists etc.! Paula Deen is a hoot! I need to set my DVR to record some of the shows that I like but I don’t have time to watch when they come on… TGIF!