While some of his recipes intrigue me, I usually find myself feeling uncomfortable watching this show.
The bald middle-aged friends with stupid nicknames, the racecar numbering on the fridge, the fruity drinks - can someone explain this show?
EJC
Mar 25, 2007 07:25AM
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I'm not sure anyone could explain it.
Mr B (a middle-aged man) and I watched it this morning. I asked him if it made him want to cook. He said no f***ing way. Then I believe he called Guy and his friends "tools". Which I couldn't deny.
I can't imagine he would be targeting the college-age demo either, because those guys would just laugh at a 40-something year old man trying to be cool...and failing miserably.
Women? I doubt it. I can hardly stand to watch without rolling my eyes.
I can't imagine what they are shooting for with this show. I really can't.
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targeting "weekend warrior types" that are like Guy...everyone has that strange uncle that tries too hard....
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weekend warriors that are up early on Sunday???
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yeah, the ones that don't go out on Saturday night. :)
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Because they can't get dates. :-)
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Man, what a bunch of food snobs we are here. I didn't have a clue who this guy was when I caught his show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and was completely entertained by the format of the show coupled with his natural style. C'mon out of the french cooking classes and hold that cup with a folded pinkie, you might just find that you enjoy not putting on the dog just to enjoy food and drink with company. <g>
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The premise of the show is really great and it would take a real obnoxious moron to derail it. All aboard the Guy Express ! I'll give the dude credit though, he worked a connection somewhere and he is taking it as far as he can. How "natural" he is I have to question. That look is about as contrived as it gets with the sunglasses on the back of the head, the spiked dyed hair, and the ever present bowling shirts with sweat bands.
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Tony0, I know guys with sunglasses on the back of the head, spiked dyed hair, and ever present bowling shirts with sweat bands...and they don't even have a TV show!
But, personally, I would refrain from calling them contrived to their faces.
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I'll admit I do like to watch Diners,Drive-Ins and Dives as it is interesting to watch some of the ideas these small diners have and it's great to see many of them thrive in this age of chains. The one with the Chicken Gizzards had us rolling...yuck.
But, his other show with his buddies is pretty difficult to watch. I just have a hard time watching grown men talk and act as if they were 19. I'm not saying they have to act old, but lighten up on the "dude" aspect.
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I'm a retired exec certified chef and can't see how this guy got a show on Food Network.Hey Guy: COOKING101; you DO NOT wear jewelry [rings especially ] while prepping food. Ever hear of food poisoning from bacteria?
Can you make a dish without using 1,000 ingredients? The theme for the mid 2000/2010 is SIMPLE ingredients. Your cooking goes with your dyed hair, cocky attitude, and outdated recipes. I am another person who can't figure what your supposed to be doing with the swill you produce. It's amazing YOU have a show. I can see why Emeril,Mario and some other people are leaving the Food Network. It's not what it used to be.
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I'm sure I've also seen Paula Deen with jewelry on her fingers when she was kneading dough or something. I thought it was disgusting. Someone back me up on this.
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Rachel Ray always wears her rocks/rings and it grosses me out. Then she makes matters worse by taking them off at points and dropping them on the crowded table. Some poor intern is gone get a beat down when those things wind up in the trash.
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Aging, divorced former frat boys? Or perhaps they're attempting to target the male-counterpart of Rachel Ray's audience. I can't stand looking at all his jewelry.
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Guy won one of those reality tv host contests and was given his own show. I guess this was all they could come up with.
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Hey - he's only 39!
If you've ever lived in Southern California, you should know who his demographic is. There is a real subculture of hot rods, tattoos and pinup art. Guys like Guy are all over the place and they gather for hot rod shows in Vegas, NoCal and SoCal. Problem is, his show is on awfully early for a Sunday...
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And I'm sure they all go home after their hot rod shows and make fruity drinks! ;-)
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I have never had much of a reaction to the show either good or bad, but I will admit to chuckling a bit when he and his buddies shared a Grape Ape Drink or something similar. It was all terribly macho, hehe.
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And they all share his affinity for wristbands worn around their forearms.
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Yeah, what is up with that? I grew up in SoCal and thought it was cool but when you really think about it, that wristband thingy is sort of jarringly metrosexual looking.
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I haven't caught any of his shows (other than a couple of episodes of a cook-off show he hosts - the name escapes me at the moment) but some of the folks at a factory I used to work at wear bands on their forearms to help with repetitive motion problems. Is that a problem for cooks/chefs/kitchen staff (if that is what he is wearing)?
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As someone who has worked in the hospitality industry, you would be amazed by how many rough looking men order fruity drinks. You would also be amazed by how many people really like his style of cooking. Whoever said weekend warriers was right - big food, big people, big attitude - it is all there.
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Amen, mojoeater. You got it right. Guy is your typical rockabilly/psychobilly surfer dude with a love of all things retro, etc. I have known quite a few people like him throughout my life. They are often misunderstood as labeled "tools". It's sad how quick people are to judge BASED ON A PERSON'S APPEARANCE.
Do you people also dismiss Alton Brown because he's a "dork"? Do you dismiss Julia Child because she's a "grannie"??
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If a person's appearance shouts for attention, yes indeedy it is appropriate to judge that display.
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OK, then, Sharuf - since you're a mind reader - what number am I thinking of now? (Hint - it's between 2.1118 and 1,7368,776 / π.)
Almost every person with enough disposable income either consciously or not develops a "style". One of my wife's favorite shows is "What Not to Wear" and the show's hosts palates, which they think too be otherwise, is extremely narrow. It's meant to satisfy their concepts of style.
I don't know Guy. Why does he dress the way he does? Maybe he thinks it's cool? Fun? He is shouting for attention? Maybe he doesn't give it nearly as much thought to his "outfit" as some others seem to? Something else? Any combination of the above?
Get over it, or not - your choice. But to pretend you know his motivation is just plain, well, silly.
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I cringe at his use of squirt bottles.
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My boyfriend, who I must add is a great cook, attempted one of Guy's recipes. It was supposed to be cajun inspired but turned out as more of a pasta with bbq sauce on it. Ugh. Guy has lost ALL credibility with me now!
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I am not a fan. The faux macho routine, the wrist band on the forearm- uh...not my deal. And his food looks terrible. The other day I put it on and he made a salsa in a blender with probably 6 oz of beer. I love beer as an ingredient in stews and chilis, but uncooked (and that quantity) in a salsa? No way.
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Yeah, I saw that episode as well JCap. I thought it looked disgusting but then I figured that was just because he's lost all credibility with me since trying that cajun bbq pasta concoction of his. Notice they now gave him a new show, Diners and Drive-Ins or whatever it's called, probably because ppl wrote in to say how awful his dishes are! *LOL*
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His cooking show came AFTER Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
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His cooking show came first - I watched it before DDD.
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He won The Next Food Network Star and was given his cooking show. DDD came after.
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The reality show dilemma of what to do with the "winner" should make the suits think twice about running such contests. After Guy won the show, how could they NOT give him his own show....but how LONG that "prize" lasts is already surprising me.
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His food does not appeal to me and his carrying on does not either.
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I lived with a guy who tivo-ed it. a 26 year-old, ex-marine, part-time drunk who wasn't aware that olive oil had calories.
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Live here in Santa Rosa; heard he's been signed for 3 more seasons. Go figure. You should see the local ads for his restaurants with his MOTHER. Sorry, no logical explanation available ;)
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Ugh, 3 more seasons of his palate insulting show?! What has FN come to?!
His MOTHER must be the one telling him that his dishes are fantastic. Mama's boy. *heh*
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Yeah, the commercial is weird...his mother is bragging to the camera about how great his restaurants are...then Guy walks in from the back and looks all surprised, saying -- Oh Mother No !!! LOL
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Has he been signed for 3 more seasons of "Guy's Big Bite," or a 3 year contract with Food TV? I know he's got a new series coming up--something about diners, drive ins and dives...
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I think they are targeting the 30-something/40-something Dad who is up early with the kids on Sunday so the Mom can sleep in, or is up but not awake yet because the Mom and the kids have just gone off to church. Guy is like that jolt of testosterone that every dad secretly wants to indulge in. Do these viewers ever make any of Guy's recipes? Most likely not. But his show makes about as much sense to me as Rachel Ray's.
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3 SEASONS, I don't think the viewing public could take another jewelry infested show about cocktail/meat recipes.
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And this guy is going to turn on the Food Network?
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I *sheepishly raising my hand* made one recipe of his. Or rather my boyfriend made it and that was the first, last, and only recipe we've made of Guy's since.
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Hmm that describes me right now on this Sunday morning, but I prefer to cruise Chowhound instead...
I watched the show once or twice - his food etc. is not my cup of tea, though I liked him on the reality show. Watching his new show, really I just felt sorry for him because it seemed like FN was just fulfilling their reality show obligation, and didn't really put any effort or creativity into the show - seemed kind of flat to me (maybe it's changed?). I figured they'd go one season and drop him. Sounds like I was wrong about that if he's been signed to a long-term contract. Surprising to me it seemed like they were phasing him out not grooming him for more airtime.
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I am a huge fan of Guy's Big Bite... demographics? Well I am a college educated female artist living in NYC. .. I find his show refreshing and real. Some women DO like to see tough guys in the kitchen cooking and looking like they enjoy it. There seems to be no problem with accepting women of any age, body size, etc... doing the same, tasting the food, enjoying the process and wearing jewelry or tight clothing or revealing clothing. This man loves to cook, he loves his friends and you know you would like to eat the food too. I say good choice to the Food Network for someone refreshing, charismatic and cool.
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Yikes. The sunglasses on the back of the head (Dumpsters, Trailerparks, and Diarrehea or whatever they call his road show), using the term "money" every 45 seconds, some of the most disgusting drinks (dropping a shot of root beer schnapps into a beer for one), and food soaked in oil makes for one crappy show. And oh yeah, the goofy "friends" really add a lot to the show.
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Tony, he doesn't cook all that food himself. The point of the show is to highlight some of the culinary curiosities people call tradition in various parts of the country.
I don't see why this is so hard for people to understand.
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Oh trust me, I understand. The confunsion lies in the fact that there are 2 shows: The roadshow D/D/D, which I enjoy the premise of it is just the goofy personality and overuse of "catchphrases" and Guy's Big Bite which is just downright ridiculous. Maybe I should take a shot at becoming a FN "Star". At least my audience wouldn't have to stare at fingers covered with giant skull rings, learn to make frat house cocktails, and watch a parade of gluttons scarf down poorly made recipes.
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I'm not his biggest fan but I don't understand the personal attacks people make against this guy. Get your head out of your @**. There are tons of people like Guy out there in the real world. FN is catering to that demo. If you don't like his style, for God's sake don't watch him. Endless malicious comments only make YOU look like the immature frat boy.
Don't take that too personally. I'm just saying there are healthier things to do with your time than complain, complain, complain.
I would love to see you on the next season of TNFNS; with all the trash talking you do on CH, it would be nice to see how the real TonyO works.
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Stay Tuned ! I can guarantee you wouldn't see me crying because Bobby Flay didn't like something I cooked !
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His demographic is men who are clueless about food.
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Treat it as a comedy and it is actually almost watchable.
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Then his numbers will be huge. Most men just care if it tastes good. Don't even need to use plates. Stand up over the sink in the kitchen and bite into a burger. Nobody telling him not to make a mess. They'd probably love to ride with Guy.
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I am an over 50 male that lives in the burbs with a wife and a couple of kids, I was a trained professional chef and worked in the business for years. I'm no Iron Chef but I'm hardly "clueless".
I liked Guy first time I saw him in TNFNS. I still like him. I've seen his Big Bite show at times other than Sunday mornings (too long in the restaurant business -- I'm a night person) and like it. I like how he uses his buddies. I like his obvious passion. Etc. I don't know about the appearance stuff, but otherwise I echo blondlite's remarks.
All of you that consider him to be fake, etc. -- what on earth do you base that on? Mind reading? Some sort of personal experience with him? Or can't you resist the bandwagon? If you find him annoying, whatever -- that I understand. Heck, I find several FN personalities to be annoying. Do I doubt their integrity? I usually give someone the benefit of the doubt. (odd phrase, that last one...)
Do I like his appearance? I'm a guy; I don't care. Tattoos can look great, and I can appreciate that aspect, but I also do acupuncture (I'm a chiropractic physician) and cringe at what they have done to themselves. But I can easily get past them.
I rarely follow recipes. I look for ideas, different techniques (Wow! Look how he filleted that fish! Or -- I'd never do it that way!), flavor combinations, etc. He's given me some ideas -- some good, some not so much.
I like DDD, too. I'm not much on travel (Look at me! I'm being paid to travel and eat!) shows, but he lightens things up with an obvious passion and respect for those he meets. I like how he's not afraid to show that he does not like something -- the peanut butter burger comes to mind. For me, it's good TV. And some good ideas, especially for breakfast.
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Target demographic = guys that get up to watch NFL football on Sunday that aren't particularly smart or dumb but seek really weird and odd stimuli...think cold pizza sandwich with gauc/salsa and a bud for breakfast.
Guy strikes me as a new-age back slapper...not a bad guy but the sort who would spend a bunch of $$$ on a special tailgating truck to be the life of the party. Say what you want but there's not a lot representation in this niche and I'm sure marketing/branding gurus are yelling "that's gold baby!" .
Any way, I think his restaurants explains things pretty well: www.texwasabis.com
If his place is a goofy, hybrid one-off theme restro...then his demographic would be those enjoy that sort of eating...call it faux hipster fancy dive cuisine..or something like that.
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Guy's show is a great change from the boring, typical cooking shows on TFN. If you don't like the show, don't watch it and complain and whine about it.
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Waa , Waa. I like Guy, leave him alone ! Maybe he will invite you over, just make sure you remember your cool arm band.
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I have watched Guy since TNFNS so I have time invested in him.... I don't care who likes him and who doesn't-he has got 3 more years on FN to do some fun stuff-he has the personality and that is what the suits want. It is refreshing to have someone who isn't trying to be perfect and does his own thing over flooseys flashing their ta-tas all over the place. The only that does bother me is the sunglasses hanging off the back of his head and the food getting stuck in his goatee-yuck! But hey, nobody is perfect.
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Thank you. The complaints seems mainly to me to be only skin deep - we need to get past looks and look at what really matters. He loves what he does and makes people, at least on DDD feel very comfortable. I like both his shows. I also like him. If he wants to dress that way, who am I to comment. I certainly wouldn't want people to trash the way I look, jsut because it doesn't fit into the main stream mold that society has created for us.
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Thanks, kp, I haven't been to a fast food chain since a Mikkie Dee's was $.15 (just a little hyperbole there) and I like DDD too. Fun regional junk food, usually. Haven't yet seen the other show yet.
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No idea what demographic they're after, but I'm fully confident I'm not a member! But I do like DDD! I take it at face value. It's fun.
Of the three "food tour" shows on FN -- Rachel Ray, Giada DiLaurentis, and Guy Fiero -- I'll take DDDs any day of the week. Why? Because he pretty much explores the full-menu spectrum of the eateries he visits. The other two shows mentioned leave me feeling. what else they have to offer?
Oh... I rarely watch the Deen boys in their touring. Did watch Alton Brown's last Mississippi bike tour and found it lacking when compared to his first tour. But I'd rank it only second to DDDs. And if GF wants to dress funny and wear tattoos and earrings, I just ignore that an pay attention to the content of the show. Some of those diners, drive ins, and dives look fascinating!
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I'm OK with DDD, except that it seems like he's looking for his catchphrase... "that's a taste fest", "that's money". I guess you run out of adjectives at some point, especiallly after Yummo has been taken.
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LOL, coney.
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Damn - lotta snobs on this board. I'm a 43 yr old guy. I can't say I "love" his show, but I find it eminently watchable. More importantly, he has some nice recipes. I've tried 3 so far, and they've all been great. If the show was scheduled in the evenings, I'd tune in more frequently.
They must have study-grouped the whole "Guy's friends hanging out on the set" idea & found it wanting. I haven't seen anyone but him on the show lately. I concur with those who didn't like that component - I found it the weakest part of the show.
For those put off by the tats & the spiked hair, etc - y'all need to get out more. For me, the most off-putting show on FN is the semi homemade chick who color coordinates her wardrobe with the set so she can fawn over her asinine "tablescapes."
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Amen, Hear-Hear and Right On - I couldn't agree more
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AMEN..haha Sandra Lee can you please leave FN..I'd rather watch Dave Lieberman at 4AM
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My guess on the target demo is males between 18-35 maybe 18-45.
Most of the shows on FTV are geared towards women - Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Sandra Lee, Giada... etc. The male demographic is an untapped revenue stream for most TV networks since most tv shows are geared towards women. Men generally are the wage earners and have the extra cash for "toys" so I would bet Guy is FTV's effort to tap into that demographic.
I caught his cooking show yesterday. He lost some credibility with me when he kept referring to manteca/lard as beef fat.
I do like his other show Diner, Drive in's and Dives.
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Rachael, Sandra, Giada geared towards women? I think your TV must have a blown picture tube. With all the cleaveage and tight clothes being served up on these shows, unless they are catering to women of alternative lifestyles, it's very plain that these shows are going for a 30-45 male demo as one of their prime targets.
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I'm a 50 year female...and I love Guy Fieri! I love his demeanor, and he strikes me as a genuinely NICE guy. I like his easy interaction with people. I like it a lot better than Ina Garten's fake laugh and boring dinner parties. Try his tempura avocado with shrimp. Innovative and very tasty. And my husband saw the episode with his friends, who were absolutely clueless, and is still laughing! And that's why we watch any television show. Because we want to be entertained and I'm looking forward to 3 more years of Guy!
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I have no idea but I love the food that he makes on this show. Sure, he can be a bit annoying sometimes and over the top but he exudes the quality of a good FN host- he likes what he does and is passionate about it. much like Bobby Flay, and that may not be a popular opinion either but I DVR these guys shows all the time.
Im 30, male, love grilling and cooking just about anything and am into these shows. Im also not embarassed to say I often watch shows like Ellie Krieger along with my favorite, Good Eats.
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I do generally enjoy both Guy (the person and the personality) and the food he makes. With one exception.
"Dude" seems capable of making innumerable variations of the exact same side dish all the time. One week it's called Corn and Black Bean Salad. Next week it's called Corn and Red Bean Salsa. The following week it's Black Bean and Avocado Chutney .... Whatever it is, it's always a corn and some kinda bean, California meets New Mexico variation of the same exact thing over and over again.
Come on, Guy! Nice entrees, nice drinks, learn a new side wouldja?!
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Agree 100%- great point. Like the guy and his shows but you are dead on:
Scalloped potatoes with garlic sausa
San Fran chopped potatoes
Pintor and Chico's Potatoes
Low down Down low potato dish
theyre all the same!
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Yes I agree a lot of snobs on this board. I am a 29 year old educated male in NC, and I think his shows are great. Have tried several of his recipes and have liked them all. Have made several visits to one of his restaurants in CA (Johnny Garlic's) and have yet to be dissapointed. All you who have comments about his looks and taste in friends go back to high school so you can be righteous with your clicky friends. Apparently you were raised to judge people on there looks. My wife works in one of the nicest salons in Durham, NC and all the girls there love Guy as well. As far as the sweatbands go you should visit the cooks in just about every restaurant, most will be wearing sweatbands to prevent sweat from getting in the food (It can get pretty hot doing all that cooking) Congrats for the 3 more years look forward to it !!!
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i'm a 30-something [ahem] single woman with post-graduate degrees, and i've spent most of my life living in NY & LA...and i'll happily confess that i'm a big fan of DDD. i've never seen guy's cooking show so i can't comment on that one, but i adore the way he interacts with the people he meets when he's visiting all these local places. yes, he can be a bit over the top. and yes, i cringe when i hear him break out those tired, over-used catchphrases [e.g. "that's capital t tender!" & "brother, that's money."] however, he's more REAL than the majority of TVFN personalities have ever been, and i find it refreshing. i love the way he really gets in there to see how these places do their thing, and i've never seen an episode of DDD that didn't make me smile. his unabashed passion for eating is inspiring. plus, thanks to the show i have a ton of new places i'd love to visit during future travels to various places.
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I agree with you ... peroxide hair, bling, loud shirts and catchy phrases and still, he really really comes off a very sincere and warm hearted guy. And in many ways even more so than some of his co-Food Network hosts who have the normal hair, clothes and mannerisms.
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I like Guy; he's...likable. But I sure wish he would lose the jewelry; it's just not hygienic. Many of his "Big Bites" recipes are what I call "man gruel" and don't appeal to me, but some have been okay. For me, he is definitely for entertainment purposes only. His Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show is a different story. I like seeing the dishes that the chefs and cooks come up with, and when Guy samples the dishes, he makes them seem sooo good.
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BUT...I do wish someone would clue him to the correct pronunciation of "paprika." Every time he says "papparika" I wanna SCREAM.
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And, as has been discussed in another thread, his references to "au jus gravy" and/or "au jus sauce".
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Yeah, his ability to connect with the restaurant owners, chefs, food and patrons is nothing short of amazing. I get hungry just thinking about how enthusiastic he is about the restaurants he visits (even though I've been disappointed at a couple when I've gone there myself).
His cooking show, however, was boring...not his medium at all.
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It is a show that my balding middle aged, racecar loving, stupid nicknamed, husband with like friends that he has had all his life like to watch. That same husband is also a company president, and very well educated. He likes the type of food that Guy and his friends make. There is a market for Guy's show, as there are people out there who aren't total snobs who only appreciate the ultra trendy ultra expensive restaurants that serve a dime sized piece of meat for 40 dollars.
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Exactly. We love D D & D's...his big bite show is strange. His demographic must be bikers, drinkers, pool players, young people who like watching old people act like young people....????
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What do you consider old? I think it is a great show that highlights the hard working diners around America. It is free advertising for these places and it gives people a chance to try something off the beaten track and a place where locals go.
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Melly - see my post above.
I am none of these things. Do ya'll have a source for your suppositions or do you just make it up as you go along?
This site is "Chowhound" - it is not "What Not to Wear".
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I agree with you Richard16, My husband isn't anything like Guy - except for the beer drinking and the friends with strange nicknames, no tats, no bleached blond hair, but he really loves the DDD show.
See my post above.
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And if that IS the show's demographic? Those folks deserve TV shows they too can enjoy.
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That's just a silly supposition. My sisters and I really enjoy DDD, and we fit nowhere in the categories you mentioned.
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Dh & I had the pleasure of meeting Guy earlier this year. There is nothing like meeting an individual who celebrates life and all the opportunities before them. Whatever I might feel about the FN show, Guy is one lucky son of a gun.
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Guy is the MAN!! I love him. 23 in in college is this demo!!!!!
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ohh, and i love both DDD and Big Bite.
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