Food TV

If you watch Food Network as much as I do it would only be natural for you to find some shows that you aren’t interested in watching. During the day, there are a variety of cooking shows on the network. On the weekend there are even more shows that you can sink your teeth into. Of course, not all of them seem worthy enough to help the home cook succeed in that jungle of a kitchen.

So, who could the network do without?

Sandra Lee and Semi-Homemade

If I haven’t said it before, I will now. Taking a packet of seasoning and rubbing it on meat or mixing it with something to make a dip, does not make it semi-homemade. Yes, it’s made at home. However, most food that is cooked at home could be called that. The show claims to use 70% store bought and 30% fresh ingredients, but they must be counting things like meat because it’s rare to see Sandra pull out anything that she actually has to prepare on her own, other than her cocktails.

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Earlier in the month I listed a list of women that were hot on the Network according to Stuff Magazine. Today, we’re gonna talk about the men. When it comes to the male food stars who is hot enough to make your butter sizzle?

The network includes such hotties as Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay, Emeril, Duff Goldman, Guy Fieri, Jamie Deen, Bobby Deen, Alton Brown, Bob Blumer, Mario Batali, and Michael Chiarello. I am sure there are others, as well. These boys are just the ones that are off the top of my head.

Add your comment on who you think the hottest male stars are and in the next few weeks I will compile the list according to your comments and opinions. Currently my favorites on the list are Bobby Deen and Bobby Flay.

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First, I want to say thank you to all the kind emails that came in from those of you who said you read the blog and love it. Second, I want you to know that I am still here. I had a brief absence due to some family health problems, but all is well and the posts will be coming in on a daily basis again.

In the coming weeks you can expect to see some new contests, some reviews of great products that have been shown on the Food Network, and plenty of wonderful recipes. You will also get the same blend of news, recaps, and articles on the stars and the Network that we all love so much.

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If I’m looking for something light, I typically make some sort of salad. I’ve made this salad and it is absolutely delicious. The flavor of the feta mixed with the tomatoes and oil/vinegar dressing makes for a light and flavorful meal. If you try this salad, let me know what you think!

4 pints grape tomatoes, red or mixed colors
1 1/2 cups small-diced red onion (2 onions)
1/4 cup good white wine vinegar
6 tablespoons good olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 pounds feta cheese

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I decided I was in the mood for grilling. So I cruised on over to the Food Network website and looked up the master of grilling, Mr. Bobby Flay. After browsing his recipes, I chose this one not only because I’m feeling a little spicy, but because it sounds really good. Feel free to share your thoughts, and as always, if you try this recipe, let me know how it went.

For the guacamole:
2 ripe Hass avocados, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
1 large jalapeno, finely diced
3 tablespoons finely diced red onion
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (more…)

If you’re looking for a delicious, quick pizza, check out this Carbonara Deep-Dish Pan Pizza by Rachael Ray. Featured on 30 minute meals, this dish is a quick, yummy meal for anyone in the family to enjoy.

Salt
2 packages fresh linguini, 9 ounces each
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 pound pancetta, cut as thick as bacon, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, grated or chopped
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you like it
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, a couple of handfuls
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
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In honor of Dominick, who has now fallen in lust with Nigella Lawson, I’ve provided you all with one of her delicious looking dessert recipes. As always, if you try this, please let me know how it tastes by leaving a comment!

Cheesecake base:
1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 stick butter
1 tablespoon cocoaCheesecake filling:
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped small
2 1/2 cups cream cheese
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1 tablespoon custard powder
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon cocoa, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water

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This is a guest post by Dominick Evans.

I decided to write two posts on Ashtyn’s Food Network Blog. This one is based on who can cook as opposed to who is hot. I’m sure you will find this list a bit different because I am actually including all chefs on the Network, not just the women! Essentially, these are the people I would let cook for me based on their skill and what they like to make.

So, without further ado, here is my top five chefs list. Let me know if you agree or disagree by making your own list in the comment section of this blog post.

5. Emeril

I think Emeril is an amazing chef. I would have placed him higher except for one little thing. Emeril likes to cook exotic food, a lot of which is fish. I am not overly fond of fish or fois gras or anything I can barely pronounce. That is the only downside to Emeril’s cooking. However, when he’s making steak, potatoes, and that famous Emeril cheesecake, he’s welcome to send me some any time.

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This is a guest post by Dominick Evans.

I brought up the idea of guest posting on Ashtyn’s Food Network Blog after reading her article on the Top Ten “Hottest” women on Food Network. Whoever chose that list was obviously smoking something because their choices were absolutely wrong. Do the vast majority of warm-blooded males agree with them or will they agree with my choices? Feel free to leave a comment letting me know whether you agree or disagree.

I chose the top five rather than the top ten because I cannot imagine naming ten hosts that I actually find hot on Food Network! I mean, I could name multiple chefs and hosts (both male and female) whose food I would eat, but when it comes to looks, I find that the amount of hot women on the Network seems to be lacking. Granted, you don’t have to be hot to cook, but it certainly does make a good show even more enjoyable.

That being said, lets get to the list.

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Iron Chef Mario Batali is known for his excellent Italian cooking. He makes dishes you might not always be able to pronounce, but that are certainly good enough to eat. So, when you hear his name attached to any cooking show it certainly is no big surprise. A name you might be surprised of hearing being attached to a cooking show is Gwyneth Paltrow. However, this fall Paltrow will be taking Batali on a road trip to Spain where they will be filming a cooking show together.

The show will pay homage to a country where Paltrow spent many magical childhood summers. It will also give her a chance to offer America a look at Spanish cooking. The two will be going through Spain, cooking, and sampling local favorites.

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Stuff Magazine recently put out a feature on the hottest women of Food Network and considering the type of blog this is, I could hardly resist check it out and seeing if they are ranking things the right way. So, let’s take a look at what Stuff has to say and why the girls in the lineup placed where they did.

10. Ina Garten

She’s not ideal for the one-night hook-up, but once her husband dies, we’ll be the first ones in line trying to move into her well-furnished mansion in the Hamptons.

I adore Ina. I will admit I don’t see her as hot, but she’s definitely cute. I love her smile and she’s got a great laugh. I don’t know that I would put her so low on the list, but at this stage it depends on who is ahead of her.

9. Sara Moulton (Does Sara even have an actual show that’s not re-runs anymore?)

Go ahead and try to deny it, but watch this woman finely chop a ripe red pepper and we guarantee you’ll start feeling a little al dente in the pants.

I can’t speak for you, but I wouldn’t. Personally I would have bumped Ina to 9 and placed Sara at 10, at least so far.

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The title of Iron Chef is about as prestigious as it comes in the food world. It is a title given only to culinary masters. With that in mind and in the tradition of the Next Food Network Star, Food Network has begun production for The Next Iron Chef.

This new reality competition will identify the next chef to be standing with the greats Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Masaharu Morimoto. The finalists in the competition will battle for a chance to be the next Iron Chef America. Alton Brown will be hosting this competition. Everything begins on October 7 at 9 PM EST.

Bob Tuschman, Senior VP of programming and production recently announced the list of finalists. The finalists were chosen based on their ability to be at the front of the culinary landscape. The goal was to find finalists who would be able to be a proud addition to the Iron Chef America team. The Food Network team looked for finalists that would have a chance to complement the current group and bring a unique sense of creativity to the show.

The eight competitors are listed below:

• John Besh (New Orleans, LA) Executive Chef, Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Luke and La Provence
• Chris Cosentino (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef, Incanto
• Jill Davie (Santa Monica, CA) Executive Chef, JOSIE
• Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef & Co-Owner, Jardiniere, Mijita and Acme Chophouse
• Gavin Kaysen (San Diego, CA) Chef de Cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn
• Morou Ouattara (Washington, DC) Executive Chef & Owner, Farrah Olivia
• Aaron Sanchez (New York, NY) Executive Chef & Owner, Centrico and Paladar
• Michael Symon (Cleveland, OH) Executive Chef & Owner, Lola and Lolita

Next Iron Chef, Food Network, Reality TV, Contest, New Chef

I first learned about Formaggio Kitchen because they were featured on Food Network. They are based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts where they specialize in offering gourmet foods from around the world at some of the most reasonable prices that I have ever seen, especially online. I knew from the minute I checked their website that I wanted to work with them. Everything looks so amazing I figured if they let me sample any item in their store I would be happy.

Tim, one of the great people at Formaggio got back to me and we went over some possibilities. I will be doing some future reviews, but for now we started with some breakfast foods. Tim had suggested various items including organic maple syrup, buckwheat pancake mix, and fresh bacon. I thought it would be a nice idea to add everything together and create a breakfast feast and that is exactly what I did.

The breakfast started with Grateful Ed’s Roasted Buckwheat Pancake Mix. Grateful Ed’s is based out of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In the package, this pancake mix appears to be like any other mix you might find in a grocery store. I wasn’t sure if I would like these pancakes in the beginning. I was curious, but I wasn’t sure about the idea of the roasted buckwheat mix. Add that into the fact that I am admittedly not a huge pancake fan and I was skeptical. Before I get into my thoughts, I will move on and let you know about the organic maple syrup that was the topping for these pancakes.

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I received this letter in my email a moment ago. The woman who wrote it assumed that my blog was more affiliated with Food Network then it really is. Despite that fact, I have decided to list her question as it deserves to be asked. She wants to know where the African American cooks are on the Network.

I just want to know why is it that you all have not been able to locate an African American cook with the skill to present on your food tv network. There are a few food network tv shows that I feel that we can do without, Sandra Lee, that quick fixes cook show, just to name a few. If you will have at least one African American cook show will assure me that you are truly diverse, it seems to be that there are more than enough Italian cooks on the food tv network. I hope that my interest will be considered and that i and my fellow African American food network tv watcher will have something to look forward to. Thank you.

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Do you remember how I was raving about Breadwinner and their Papa Don’t Peach bread they sent me to review? Well, now I have the chance to rave some more. With a nice little note thanking me for my review, I was sent the most delicious, mouthwatering bread I have ever tasted! I thought I would write another review to let the Breadwinner team know just how much I love their bread. In fact, if I were to move any place in the world simply for their food, it would be Atlanta because of companies like the Breadwinner Baking Company, Sweet Auburn Bread Company, and Dreamland BBQ.

Breadwinner is a family owned business that was started by Wendy Melkonian, her brother Geoff, and sister-in-law Katie. The unique flavors, moistness of the bread, and freshness are incredibly appealing. As I mentioned before, it is more like cake then bread, and everybody in the house devoured the loaf in record time! Dominick, the person who dislikes bread the most, ate a huge piece and asked for seconds. He had to fight off Robert for the last piece, but seeing as Robert is smaller and Dom doesn’t really need the extra calories like Robert does, Robert won. It says a lot that the pickiest eaters in the house fought over it though.

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