614666 Fri Apr 24 11:17:01 -0700 2009 6 33 Food Media and News 0 4625407 PBS has put a handful of Julia Child episodes up on their site. This one in particular, which I watched last night, was a revelation to me: http://www.pbs.org/video/video/1094273768/program/1073557581 I liked Emeril when the Essence of Emeril first came on, but I was only twelve or thirteen at the time. I've found him obnoxious since, especially on Emeril Live, so I figured I only liked him initially because I was too young to recognize obnoxiousness. However, I knew there was a talented chef inside the guy somewhere. After seeing him in his young and talented form, behaving in a calm manner with a droning voice, instead of the spastic loudmouth of Emeril Live, I'm thinking maybe at some point in the early nineties he made the switch from quaaludes to cocaine. Very unfortunate. Fri Apr 24 11:17:01 -0700 2009 36408 danieljdwyer 1 4625533 I agree with you; I recall that Emeril episode. However, his new "Green" show shows a quieter Emeril - more like what I remember him being like. Not quite quaaludes; but most definitely not cocaine. :-) http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/emeril-green/ Fri Apr 24 11:51:14 -0700 2009 4625407 10532 LindaWhit 1 4625550 I can't even conceptualize being able to cook while on qualudes.....now watching in awe as someone cooked while I was on qualudes I can conceptualize. Ahh but I digress. It is unfortunate when a chef's true talent is undermined by their stage persona. I have seen the PBS episode you were referring to. There are a number of TV chefs who are very talented and well trained but the cooking shows are about the entertainment and not about the food. The chef I was surprised about was Giada. IDespite the fact I have made some of her recipes, I assumed she got her show because of her looks and family name. I was suprised to learn she really is well trained, she knew no French and had to learn it because all of the courses were taught in French. I have used a number of her healthier pasta recipes and family and friends love them. Fri Apr 24 11:57:58 -0700 2009 4625407 216123 folprivate 1 4625633 I'm pretty sure that what you saw on Emeril Live was just the persona that the brain trust at food network created for him. They seem to have a thing for loud and obnoxious. From what I've heard from others and what I saw when I watched him film a segment for a morning "news" show once, he is a quiet and reserved person when off-camera. Fri Apr 24 12:31:43 -0700 2009 4625407 73013 LabRat 2 4625671 He IS quiet and reserved in real life...my son served Emeril at a bar here in Naples when he was here for the Wine Fest a few years ago...the man was exhausted at the time he came in (he was also staying at the Inn adjoining the pub) but a total gentleman and tipped very very generously for the Grey Goose. Fri Apr 24 12:43:59 -0700 2009 4625633 11983 Val 2 4628792 Same persona has been reincarnated into Paula Deen Sat Apr 25 18:59:21 -0700 2009 4625633 89493 scubadoo97 1 4631755 Before TVFN became ubiquitous, the Spouse and I ate at Emeril's in NO. This was back in the day before he was a branded conglomerate. He actually cooked in his own kitchen then (!) and greeted diners at the door. The meal was outstanding and the man was gracious and talented. I'm happy for his success but I wouldn't eat in any of his restaurants anymore or buy any of his cookbooks. You know, the ones that a panel of NY Times professionals determined don't actually work. I won't fault him for taking advantage of the many opportunites presented to him, but this Emeril is a created character, not the real man. Mon Apr 27 06:20:01 -0700 2009 4625407 25244 rockycat