"chef's story" on the "create" network-- nice show

[alkapal]

on the dc pbs station "create" (affiliated with WETA? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Create_(television_network) ) i saw this program this morning, with andré soltner (of "lutece" http://gothamist.com/2004/02/11/au_revoir_lutece.php ). he talked about his philosophy as a chef -- a craftsman, and not an "artist" -- because you have to have discipline to do the same thing perfectly (or very well) EVERY day.

i believe there's a different chef every show. i didn't get to see the entire half-hour, but from what i did see, i would recommend the show. it is an interview format, but there is also a demo portion. soltner made the "perfect" french omelette, which he said was the dish that he used to "test" a job applicant for his kitchen. http://www.chefsstory.com/

the listing on the chefsstory.com website doesn't seem comprehensive at all. check your local listings.

WETA: WETA Create How-to, travel and cooking programming. (digital channel 26.2 / 27.2, Comcast 200, and Cox 800, broadcasting 24 hours).

ps "create" is also running lots of julia, lidia, jacques pepín, ATK....

[alkapal]

maybe this createtv.com schedule will help you find the show in your area...
http://www.createtv.com/CreateProgram...

[alkapal]

bobby flay today.

he apparently didn't do well at the french culinary institute, and the host kept alluding to discussing it "later" -- but they never get around to it.

flay also said re iron chef that he views it as an athletic event, and that he is very competitive. he also said something that made me go "huh?": "we don't know the theme ingredient until 5 minutes before we cook. it's quite a challenge."

i thought that they knew well in advance that the theme ingredient will be one of three particular ingredients -- so that's no real surprise.

i like that he set up a FCI scholarship for another student like him: barely making it out of high school, no college.....

[NellyNel]

Are you saying that they are told three items, and that it will be one of the three?

I guess I could understand that then. They must have 3 menus prepared in thier mind before they start.

[KTinNYC]

Yes, that's how the competition works. Chefs are told in advance that the secret ingredient will be one of three.

[NellyNel]

Thanks KT!

[KTinNYC]

This is one of the best behind the scenes account for a former contestant I have ever read. You'll enjoy the read if you are a fan.

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...

[alkapal]

thanks, kt! enjoyed it. chef kelly's got a big ego himself. ;-).

[alkapal]

nelly, here is another "inside iron chef" thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/542304

[sibeats]

alkapal, I thought the same thing about the ICA comment...we had a thread about it last year
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/494674
Cat Cora says the same thing during her interview, interesting that they both "stretch the truth".

[MrsT]

How funny that he didn't do well at the French Culinary Institute. I know somebody who is going there and she said the place is a virtual shrine to Flay.

[alkapal]

he looked fairly "close" to the host, who heads the school. i think he must help the school, and that scholarship deal probably involves him a lot with the school, as he meets the pool of potential scholarship recipients from the high school every month (did i hear that right?) and even in july. he makes the selection. he mentioned that four other kids also got some sort of scholarship, as bobby worked in conjunction with the host to "find" other money for those kids, too.

i know the show was shot in 2007, but he spoke only about his daughter, anastasia ?, but no wife. i thought he was married (Wife 2) to some texan blonde --in the same period as he was shooting "boy meets grill" iirc.?

and no, i'm not a flay stalker! ;-).

[Scargod]

Right. The listings on http://www.chefsstory.com are way outdated. The site might be useful for ordering the DVD...
WGBH, in Boston, is running the program.
I found it on channel 133 (Create), for us on Cablevision, in south central CT .

Create TV's scheduled broadcasts on cooking: http://www.createtv.org/CreateTV.nsf/...

[LabRat]

Do they really want $20 per 30 minute episode on DVD?

[Scargod]

Absolutely! And here's the kicker: They want almost $12 for shipping (in the US) for a total of $31.85!! PER EPISODE! They do give you a shipping price break of only $1 per if you order more...
My DVR can record these just fine, thank you! I bet I can get all episodes on one DVD.

[alkapal]

wowee, i never looked at the dvd prices! get real!

[LabRat]

So by my cipherin', if you carry the naught, that is only around $800 if you want to get the whole season on DVD!

[KTinNYC]

I saw the Chef's story with Soltner. His explanation about how a chef is a craftsman as opposed to an artist was perfect.

[chileheadmike]

I saw the last 30 seconds of Bourdain, and all of Jose Andres. I like the show and look forward to more episodes.

[sibeats]

It's actually an old show, I think most of the episodes are from spring of 2007. That being said, it was one of my favorite shows lately...really interesting listening to all of the chefs.

[KTinNYC]

It's old and has since been discontinued.

[alkapal]

maybe they'll produce another round, with more chefs, since this "revival/rerun" of the series seems to have a renewed audience on the create network.