290289 Thu Sep 12 18:08:46 -0700 2002 23 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1574838 Can anyone recommend a few particularly good programs to watch? I like food/travel programs, but not exclusively. Any suggestions appreciated! Thu Sep 12 18:08:46 -0700 2002 0 Kitty 1 1574841 Iron chef for entertainment value, not so much the cooking. I like a Cook's Tour, too. Thu Sep 12 18:18:18 -0700 2002 1574838 0 Caitlin Wheeler 2 1574910 Iron Chef is, far and away, the most entertaining show on television. Fri Sep 13 11:43:21 -0700 2002 1574841 0 Fluff 1 1574842 Iron Chef, baby! Most shows are more about personalities less about food and cooking. Thu Sep 12 18:24:13 -0700 2002 1574838 0 Lorenzo Saint Dubois 1 1574847 I like Good Eats. It's an informative fun show. Some people will tell you Alton Brown is a bit "dweeby" but everyone's got a bit of dweeb in them! Oliver's Twist is fun because he really gets into food. 30-Minute Meals (with Rachel Ray - down boys!) has some good tips for making quick meals with flavor. Iron Chef is a great show to watch. I love how creative those chefs get with their food. Alot of people have told me you'll get burned out kinda quick on it; it has it's moments. (I love the way he says Morimoto!) *grin* Thu Sep 12 19:07:30 -0700 2002 1574838 0 DeeS. 2 1574864 second both good eats and iron chef. good eats is always amusing and alton brown really does make yummy things simple to make and UNDERSTAND. iron chef is just pure entertainment although i've definitely been inspired to recreate some of the easier-looking dishes. i really like ming tsai but i'm not much into purely cooking shows since i don't cook too often myself...prefer shows ABOUT food instead. same reason i can't watch jamie oliver much...both delightful to watch and make delicious-looking dishes, but i just can't keep up the interest. Thu Sep 12 22:31:02 -0700 2002 1574847 0 Nancy 1 1574855 Iron Chef, definitely. A Cook's Tour is great. And I know I'm going to get flack for this, but Hot Off the Grill and East Meets West, because goshdarnit, Bobby Flay and Ming Tsai are just both so cute. Thu Sep 12 21:00:18 -0700 2002 1574838 0 Paulette 2 1574994 I need to add to my list the Italian/Greek episodes of Melting Pot, since Rocco Dispirito is just dreamy too (and his restaurant is amazing, so I'm always inclined to like what he cooks on the show). Fri Sep 13 19:59:11 -0700 2002 1574855 0 Paulette 1 1574857 -Iron Chef -actually unlike previous posters for food and cooking, lots of interesting ingredients -Cook's Tour -Molto Mario - Mario Batali's Italy travels -My Country My Kitchen -Follow That Food -Thirsty Traveler Thu Sep 12 21:05:55 -0700 2002 1574838 0 SG 1 1574860 "40 Dollars a Day" Thu Sep 12 21:31:44 -0700 2002 1574838 0 2chez mike 1 1574868 I particularly enjoy "Follow That Food" -- I've actually learned quite a bit from the show. The Australian host is not didactic in the sort of smug, smartest-kid-in-the-class mode of Alton Brown, however. When the "FTF" host tastes something wonderful, I find his "oh, my god this is unbelievably pleasurable" facial and body language is incredibly sexy. And the naughty gleam he sometimes gets suggests he is a voluptuary with a wicked sense of humor. Someone who no doubt enjoys a variety of life's pleasures with great gusto. Fri Sep 13 00:06:30 -0700 2002 1574838 0 zora 2 1574987 Ah, Zora You truly are a woman after my own heart :-)). First Mexican food, and now Gordon Elliot. We're probably the only two woman on this board that will admit to finding him rather impishly amusing. At 6'7" he probably does many things in life with great gusto. Fri Sep 13 19:24:50 -0700 2002 1574868 0 Gayla 1 1574882 Good Eats with Alton Brown. I don't know why but I just love that man! That and he really does have some truly good information. Iron Chef. Pure entertainment value. It will become like wrestling where you will become a fan of certain chefs; mine is Hiroyuki Sakai. Follow that Food. Interesting information. Gordon Elliot though is an annoying host (sorry I just can't get into his whiny voice and orgasmic silliness). Emeril Live- His food is really good and he is fun to watch. He also respects his guests unlike Bobby Flay. 30 Minute Meals. Rachel Ray has this fun "I'm your pal" attitude and her food really can be done in 30. The way she talks out of the side of her mouth sometimes can get on one's nerves. Food Finds. If you like to order unusual food stuff or on the lookout for that long lost food item, it will probably show up on this show one day. I am sadly addicted to Cheerwine. I prefer Mario Eats Italy over Molto Mario. He's more fun and relaxed and informative. On Molto Mario, he comes of pompous. That and you get to see some gorgeous areas of Italy. There really isn't a bad show (OK, that one with the guy (Keith something) from Survivor was a joke!) on. Fri Sep 13 08:14:18 -0700 2002 1574838 0 sistert 1 1574887 IMHO: Good - Martha's Kitchen Hot off the Grill w/ Bobby Flay A Cook's Tour Either of Mario's endeavors (my satellite guide describes one as " Mario Eats It" ) Sometimes good, sometimes annoying - Wolfgang Puck The naked chef Iron Chef Bad - Emeril in all his iterations The Best of.... Door knock dinners Try not to get hooked! Fri Sep 13 08:51:55 -0700 2002 1574838 0 danna 1 1574891 From the opinions received, quite obviously it's all subjective. For example I HATE anything to do with Bobby Flay, Emeril or Rachel Ray, you might love them. Just watch the various shows and decide for yourself. Fri Sep 13 09:47:55 -0700 2002 1574838 0 Hunter 2 1574903 I like "My Country, My Kitchen". Last night, it featured members of Brennan family of New Orleans. I think these are now all reruns, but I enjoy them. Thanks for listening! Fri Sep 13 11:07:48 -0700 2002 1574891 0 Donna - MI 2 1574904 I like "My Country, My Kitchen". Last night it was about members of the Brennan family of New Orleans. These may all be reruns now, but I enjoy them. Thanks for listening! Fri Sep 13 11:13:35 -0700 2002 1574891 0 Donna - MI 1 1574907 Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions. Since Iron Chef seems to be prety much a universal favorite here, it's #1 on my "must watch" list. I have a feeling I'm going to grow roots in front of the TV for the next two weeks, LOL! Fri Sep 13 11:30:14 -0700 2002 1574838 0 Kitty 1 1574944 OK, can someone familiar with Japanese tell me what the folks on Iron Chef are always saying. There's a word/phrase (?) they use (before or after an utterance) I keep thinking it's either the equivalent of "Excuse me!" or "Back to you Toru!" or something like that...a polite phrase to signify the speaker is either done speaking or is about to (I can't remember now whether it is said before or after...) And, to add my 2 cents to the thread, my new favorite has to be Alton Brown's Good Eats. Humor, science, food...what more do you need?? Also love the old, original Julia Child "The French Chef" episodes they sometimes air. I grew up with those and just love her! In any case, it sounds like "swee-san!" and is said very fast and forcefully. Anyone care to translate/explain this?? Not knowing is driving me crazy!! Fri Sep 13 13:58:17 -0700 2002 1574838 0 Jill-O 2 1574957 san is sort of "mr" in Japan. He's saying someone's name first and then "mr". Like one is Fukui-san, meaning Mr. Fukui. I second everyone's Iron Chef rec. And also love Good Eats. For some reaon I've also been watching the Surreal Gourmet but I'm not sure I like it yet. Fri Sep 13 14:52:22 -0700 2002 1574944 0 LisaLou 2 1574958 It's "Fukui-san." He is saying the name of the main commentator, Mr. Fukui Kenji. Since Ota has a tendency to speak rather quickly and since the 'u' sound is unvoiced in certain situations, Mr. Fukui's name becomes "fki-san" which is close to what I hear Ota saying: "fii-san". Or "Squeeze-ah", as others have said they hear. The "san" part is the Japanese equivalent of "Mr/Mrs/Ms." I'm actually quite impressed that the English dubbing of Ota has that same characteristic fast talking and even the same "Fukui-san" sound. Find out more at: Link: http://www.ironchef.com/ Fri Sep 13 14:53:01 -0700 2002 1574944 0 Lorenxo Saint DuBois 3 1574981 I assume the dubbing has the same inflection for the final, "the battle is OH-va" (like Fukuisan is actually from Long Island). Fri Sep 13 18:29:19 -0700 2002 1574958 0 Vital Information 1 1575007 Well, I must be the freak here. I HATE Iron Chef. As soon as I hear that music I can't change the channel fast enough. Some of my favorites are Good Eats, anything with Tyler Florence, the drink show, Food Finds. Fri Sep 13 23:57:50 -0700 2002 1574838 0 LB 1 1575090 If you'd like to learn something about Italian cooking and food watch Molto Mario (not Mario Eats Italy). I find it a very instructive show - entertaining too. Melting Pot is good too, especially when it features Alex Garcia and Aaron Sanchez. Sun Sep 15 19:11:57 -0700 2002 1574838 0 christina z