Food TV

If you’re a fan of Food Network you are no stranger to the large and jolly chef who always cooks Italian, Mario Batali. If you’re a fan of him specifically, this news may be something you do not want to hear. However, it is rumored that Mario will no longer be a part of the Food Network. Inside sources have said that they informed the chef last month that his shows, including Molto Mario, would not be renewed.

According to Page Six, when Batali was told that his shows were not being renewed, he informed the network that he would not perform on Iron Chef. At that point, the network severed the relationship. When asked for a comment, Lisa Del Colle, a network spokesperson said that Food Network does not comment on contractual agreements.

Despite the loss of his Food Network time slots, Mario has managed to do quite well for himself. In the time he was on the network, he’s received a $1 million advance for his book, Molto Italiano, as well as endorsements for plugging various products on his shows and elsewhere, such as NASCAR tailgating.

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I don’t know if it’s just me, but lately every time I turn on the Food Network I end up getting stuck watching a rerun that I have recently seen. Today it was practically all shows that have been on in the last two weeks. Now I realize that repeats will happen, but the majority of shows in the daytime lineup of Food Network have been on for more than one season. The Barefoot Contessa and Paula Deen have done numerous shows so there really is no need to repeat the repeats quite so soon.

It definitely makes it hard to watch the Network on a regular basis. Today Ina made fish. While the fish looked great, I saw it last week so I wasn’t as enthusiastic as I could have been. Once you see these shows a couple times they tend to lose their excitement.

The evening lineup is a little better about their reruns and some of the shows, like Dinner Impossible are back to their new seasons so there are a few things still worth watching.

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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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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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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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When it comes to cooking, Bobby Deen, son of Food TV’s most popular Southern Chef Paula Deen, is a man after my own heart. His recipes look and sound delicious. I am not the only one who agrees. Bobby has two of the top recipes on the Food Network Website currently. This is one of those recipes.

I first saw Bobby whip this dessert up on an episode of Paula’s Home Cooking, which was a birthday style episode. I haven’t had a chance to make it yet, but I just had to share it so you all could try it. It has four stars on the Food TV rating system. So, if you happen to try this recipe before I get the chance to do so, leave a comment and let me know how good it actually is!

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Barefoot Contessa is a show on Food Network featuring Ina Garten. Admittedly, Ina is not one of the forces on the Network that stand out for having multiple shows or a powerful exuberant nature. However, she is becoming one of my favorites on the Network.

One of the main reasons I like her should be the food she cooks and I do like her food, but I don’t think that’s the main reason. I like that her show is different. She features her friends on the show. She cooks for them and she invites you into her life. That just seems so rare in television of any form.

Ina offers a warm and inviting smile as she welcomes you into her home. She laughs with you as she tells stories about when she would send her husband brownies when he was in college or that it’s Friday night but she isn’t serving chicken.

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I am huge fan of Food Network. This is obvious because if I wasn’t I probably wouldn’t be running this blog. However, every now and then something comes along and makes me want to switch the channel. I think the majority of the network is great. It appeals to my needs as an aspiring restaurant owner and it appeals to my needs as a home cook. However, there is one show more than any other that leaves me baffled, if not semi-disgusted.

Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee is on twice a day in the afternoon. The premise, according to the opening segment before the show begins, is that Sandra uses 70% store bought (box or packaged) ingredients and 30% fresh ingredients to make something quick and delicious, and of course, semi-homemade.

I can understand the basic idea of this. It’s something that is accessible to the home chef. The majority of the work is done for you so it should be easy. It should be something that anyone can do. However, Sandra Lee is a bothersome force on Food Network and I just can’t shake that feeling.

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