ridiculous quote of the week

[goodhealthgourmet]

compliments of nipa on TNFNS:

"i've never touched a dead fish before. it's slimy and gross, and i hate it."

oh yeah. perfect attitude for someone who's vying for her own cooking show.

[NYCkaren]

I can believe that she rarely eats fish and didn't like touching it. But she had to know she'd be given challenges outside her comfort level. To be that unprepared is just stupid. Also, she claimed to be a big expert on mixing spices. Like this is an extrenely rare skill. I'm wondering if she grew up in a town where no one else cooked with spices at all so she thinks no one outside her family has ever heard of garam masala.

[susancinsf]

Granted, I only watched one episode, and thought they all pretty much sucked, but in all fairness, IIRC her goal is to do a show involving straight up (as opposed to fusion) Indian food, and some regional cuisines within Indian cuisine are strictly vegetarian, ie no fish, so while it may reflect a squeemish attitude, it isn't necessarily reflective of her ability to pull off her proposed show....

[Withnail42]

You're right they all pretty much suck. But as far as the entitled little Indian princess goes peoples outrage had more to do with her blatant disregard and respect for the food product she was using. She essentially threw out an entire perfectly good fish. Nor did she even try to suck it up just acted like bratty middle schooler. So it in fact has a lot to do with her ability to pull of her proposed show. Which ironically there seems to be lots of interest for just not under any circumstances with her.

[janetofreno]

Well, I was sympathetic to her plight....DH comes from the same part of India as she does (Gujarat) and they are known for vegetarian cuisine and rarely if ever eat fish (the Bengalis and the Goans have the best fish dishes in India). OTOH, she should have known that she was bound to be faced with foods she wasn't familiar with or didn't like, and be better prepared. After all, part of the idea of the show (as was pointed out in this episode) is to see how the contestants deal with less than ideal circumstances, as those on Food Network often have to deal with "live" situations and have to know what to do if things don't turn out as planned....

Frankly, I had the distinct feeling that the fish was deliberately chosen as her ingredient just to see how she would react....at least she wasn't given beef......

[alkapal]

give her beef?! HOLY COW, Batman!

[cabbageking]

?

[mpalmer6c]

I thought these people were supposed to have some experience with cooking. I thought wrong. Eek! A fish!

[EWSflash]

Wow- I've never watched the show, and now I feel SO vindicated after reading this. That one broad from last season (forget her name, but she had what looked like an Orphan Annie wig for hair) they kept showing on the ads where she says "I want this so freakin bad!"- there was something really awful about that ad, and then she won- had her own show for a minute or two- then thankfully disappeared. Guy was the only keeper that I've ever seen. The Hearty Boys looked like they'd be great neighbors to have, but didn't have half a stage presence between the two of them.

Anybody notice that all the contestants tend to look alike from year to year?

[Withnail42]

It was Rory who said she 'wanted it.' She lost to Amy(the one with the hair). For her part Amy(who chews with her mouth open) had several meltdowns on the show came close to quiting, was eliminated. She was brought back for the finals when they had to let 'JAG' go for lying about his past. Amy won. Did her six episodes said it was too hard and quit again.

[YoDuh]

<rant ON>
The saddest part for me is, with a recession on and more people
deciding to learn how to cook (instead of go-out/take-out), there
will be more than a few that "learned to cook" by watching
this drivel.
<rant OFF>

I'm some how a little glad that Julia is not around to see this. RIP.

[sarahjay]

I teach a twice-monthly cooking class for the girls at church and nearly every class someone tells me I should have a show on FN, and every time I feel horrified at the thought of being on FN. But last night's class was the funniest, because the girl that suggested it said something about being a "real" and down-to-earth zoobie who actually knows about food and cooking. There is no way I would subject myself to the humiliation of being on TNFNS to get a chance to be on TV. I think I'll stick with the small classes I teach.

[The Dairy Queen]

My first thought was, "What kind of Minnesotan doesn't know how to clean a fish?" Land of 10,000 lakes, ya know.

~TDQ

[chef chicklet]

LOL!

[sommrluv]

I only caught the last ten minutes or so, and I was sure they were going to keep her, just because they NEED an ethnic show so badly.

It ALMOST makes me think a little more highly of the FN since they axed her.

It might actually be about the food.

And Chef 'Not Besh' redeemed himself a little in my eyes as well when he pointed to how much fish she discarded and said he felt that was disrespectful as a chef. We went deep sea fishing on Saturday, and I was appalled at how much fish is thrown overboard because it's just easier for the mate to filet a side and throw away the whole thing. (yes they buy chum..go figure)

[alkapal]

what a crappy practice by the captain of the fishing rig....did you object? i hate waste, but i guess the other fish will eat the scraps....

[sommrluv]

I was so shocked when he first started doing it!

I'm not one to be speechless, but well..yes!

It wasn't our charter, it was my husbands company. The boat could hold many people, and was 2/3 empty, so it was quite nice, but I was trying hard not to overstep my bounds. I was also 'trapped' near the front once he started cleaning fish, with a spray of blood in either direction, seagulls gleefully following in our wake...

I finally spurted by and people were speaking about recipes inside, so I managed to get quite a few nearly whole fish that DH is going to smoke over this weekend and take into his company for everyone to try. Apparently it's just too time consuming for the mate to gut...maybe they thought I was too squamish for a fish head because I'm a girl?

[alkapal]

wow! what an experience. if you wanted to make a stink, contact the local media, or (gulp) PETA. (i can't believe i said THAT!) ;-)

[sommrluv]

Oh GAWD. LOL I can't believe you did either, LOL.

No way. As offended as I was personally, it wasn't my charter..it was not even my employer's, it was DH's. If they were putting it in the garbage...Maybe I would've been a LOT more vocal. But it went to some use with seagulls eating it. (rats with wings)

And maybe there's some point that it attracts more Blues when they return with the second charter? who knows.

[alkapal]

i know. temporary insanity!

[kkak97]

Another reason why I refuse to watch this show. I won't give credence to people who have no business being there.

[Ericandblueboy]

After a ten course tastng meal last night and wine pairing, I passed out before I can watch this show. I can't wait to watch it tonight! I'm not watching because they're good. I'm watching because they suck.

[goodhealthgourmet]

"'m not watching because they're good. I'm watching because they suck."
~~~~~~~~~~
i think most of us are with you on that :)

[chicgail]

"'m not watching because they're good. I'm watching because they suck."
~~~~~~~~~~
i think most of us are with you on that :)

* * * * * * * *

I mean do they really think that any of those poor schmoes could actually garner a credible TV audience/following? It'd be like watching your own inept sister or son fumble around in the kitchen.

[kkak97]

You had me at suck! :-)

Just out of curiosity, has any of those wannabe's actually really made it or do they just get a couple of shows and then never heard from again?
Is there anyone you really thought was good and didn't make it?

[goodhealthgourmet]

guy fieri [season 2 wnner] is the only real success story...and his most popular show - Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - is a travelogue where we watch him eat, not cook. in his defense, though, i really like DD&D - it's a fun show and i've learned about a lot of places that definitely would have slipped under my radar otherwise. i've never seen his cooking show, and he also hosted a horrid - and thankfully VERY short-lived - competition show with marc summers. i think he's done a few specials where they look at kitchen gadgets too. guy is the perfect example of a FN "personality" as opposed to a chef.

i can't remember any of the contestants from season 1, and the winners were a bust.

season 2 i really liked nathan lyon - he has a show on PBS and if it's ever on while i'm channel surfing i watch it.

last season i really thought JAG was he only one who had any talent or appeal...but we all know how that ended.

[kkak97]

So, this leads to the obvious question: What did you think of Guy Fieri when he was on NFNS? Did you think he deserved to win?

[Ericandblueboy]

Didn't watch that season. But when I first saw Guy on his own show, I thought he sucked. I didn't know who he was and I don't know why he is allowed on TV. I refuse to watch his show(s). I'm happy to watch Hell's Kitchen but there is no way that I would eat at any of those contestant's restaurants, including Rock, who use to work in DC.

[davis_sq_pro]

I only watched the first three episodes of that season, but even in the first episode I figured him for the winner. He was the only one with a good on-camera persona and the only one with much real cooking experience (he owned (owns?) three restaurants, IIRC).

Agreed 100% with Ericandblueboy regarding Guy's own show. I watched two episodes before giving it three thumbs down in the TiVo...

[Ericandblueboy]

Guy apparently has alot of fans. It makes me sick.

[WineAboutIt]

I'd take Guy over Sandra Lee anyday...what contest did that fool win?

[LabRat]

"season 2 i really liked nathan lyon - he has a show on PBS and if it's ever on while i'm channel surfing i watch it."

I've caught Lyon's show on Discovery Health before, accoring to their website it airs on Mon and Wed at 4 and 4:30pm eastern.

[goodhealthgourmet]

excellent, thanks! i was wondering if i'd still be able to find it here in NY. back in LA he was a local boy.

[k_d]

You're forgetting about the "Hearty Boys" who I recall seeing not too long ago on a Sunday morning. Their shtick is party food and entertaining. I can't remember what season they were - maybe the first one?

In any case, the show isn't about finding new talent. If you just look at the lineup of new shows, you'll see that there are plenty of other ways to find new TV cooks. The show is about what it's about - showcasing and humiliating people who apply to be showcased and humiliated. FoodNetwork doesn't *need* the show to "find" the next "star."

[goodhealthgourmet]

actually, i didn't forget about the hearty boys, i said they were a bust. but they certainly were forgettable...

[Phaedrus]

Is this the culinary equivalent to going to a fight and waiting for a hockey game to break out?

[goodhealthgourmet]

pretty much :)

speaking of fights, it would be even more entertaining if some TC-style snarking ever developed between the contestants...

[jmckee]

Hey! We could make a new program! "Mystery Science Kitchen 3000".

[coney with everything]

Ooooh, I like it! Show Sandra Lee and Rachael Ray shows, with some robots and a chowhound or two making snarky comments all the while...

[Cpt Wafer]

Suicide by fish.