Chef Michael Smith in Vancouver Nov 2/2009

[maplesugar]

Just got a tweet that he's in Vancouver and will be signing books at BJs Books to Cooks at 4:00pm today.

[ck1234]

For all you Michael Smith fans that don't know....He's challenging Flay on Iron Chef America tonight on Food Network. Go Bobby Flay! :-)

[fmed]

That's so....um....patriotic of you ck!

[ck1234]

You should have heard me when Lynn Crawford was on! ;-)

[vandan]

lynn crawford is just plain nasty

[lunchslut]

Michael Smith unfortunately crashed and burned. Wasn't sure if it was his cooking or the judges..(I don't like lamb, I don't like oysters...sigh)

Does Michael Smith have a restaurant in PEI?

[vandan]

no, pretty sure he does not

[Florentine]

The judges were harsh and pathetic. I didn't expect to hear (and I paraphrase) the following phrases from Iron Chef judges:

"I don't really eat avocado"
"I don't eat oysters"
and
"I don't really like the gameyness of lamb"

[jahvay]

I enjoy his cooking programs. He shows a real passion for food, and encourages people to cook at home, and to be adventurous. He also has a great philosophy toward food, and its place in the family.

His new cooking/travel show is also a favorite. I saw the Italy show, and it was quite good.

I can see some not liking him. He could be percieved as contrived.

[chewy_bakah]

Here's another vote for liking MS and BB

[fmed]

Thanks maplesugar. I remember seeing him in person once....he is a giant! I mean literally - almost 7 feet tall ;-)

[ck1234]

I can't stand him! I know where I won't be today! :-)

[maplesugar]

Yeah I saw a pic of him with someone I knew to be about 6ft tall and he dwarfed her. I'm sorry to hear not everyone has a positive opinion of him... what I've heard and read (til the post above) was that he's a genuine nice guy.

[fmed]

He is a super nice guy - very genuine. He spent the time to actually talk and have a real conversation.

[ck1234]

I don't know him personally! He might be genuine and nice. I'm just basing my opinion of him on his FoodNetwork shows! I find him painful to watch. As soon as a show of his starts, I switch the channel now! Followed closely by any Bob Blumer show! :-)

[fmed]

Definitely with you on Blumer.

[tdeane]

Really, I kind of like "Glutton for Punishment".

[grayelf]

Me too. I have a weird obsession with Bob Blumer's hair (he's the Lyle Lovett of cooking), and I admire his competitive spirit. Plus there's some Canadian connection that I'm too lazy to Google, so that lots of his shows have interesting CanCon.

[ck1234]

He's Canadian, from Montreal. He lives in L.A. now.