371193 Wed Feb 14 13:38:01 -0800 2007 5 33 Food Media and News 0 2293100 I'm not a big fan of this whole movement to idolize chefs and food personalities. It seems it is less about the food and more about the image. Perhaps I feel this way having recently moved to NYC. So many restaurants are unjustifiably expensive and image driven without focus on great food (at least in my opinion). Lots of magazines seem to really be taking this on as well as you posters point out. Any thoughts on what its behind this trend? Wed Feb 14 13:38:01 -0800 2007 52088 huruta 1 2293337 It's just one aspect of the general celebrity culture. Some people are into it, look at the circulation of People magazine. If you're not into it, there's lots of other stuff to read. Wed Feb 14 14:25:33 -0800 2007 2293100 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2293439 Once the general public started treating chefs like rockstars--rockstars they became. Like it or not, the public created food personalities. Leaving those in mass media plenty to write about. Wed Feb 14 14:52:50 -0800 2007 2293100 36312 HillJ 1 2294437 It's a great marketing device. Wed Feb 14 21:35:28 -0800 2007 2293100 10076 limster 1 2294762 Well, is it the celebrity culture? Is this a recent movement? The french have long revered their chefs, they are also more knowledgeable and more passionate about their foods. Part of it has to do with how expensive it is to eat out in France, so they demand more from their restaurants when they do go out, but they do put the chefs up on a pedestal. What I see is more of a hysteris or a mass movement kind of reaction. If everyone else is saying such and such chef is a rockstar, then I must jump on the band wagon. Thu Feb 15 05:44:31 -0800 2007 2293100 11826 Phaedrus 1 2294816 You know the coolest thing to me about these chefs is how accessable I find them- save the Bourdain, Mario, etc. but the local top chefs are always ready to chat after a meal and when you love food like they do they are just amazing to be around. I've bought many a local chef beers after work, and I adore it. For some reason celebrity has never crossed over into the cooking world for me, mainly because there is rarely a dish I see that I say "I can't do that if I had the time and energy" Thu Feb 15 06:21:01 -0800 2007 2293100 49180 jpschust