Disclaimer: I absolutely loath and despise "reality"
shows. That being said, however, I was intrigued by the
idea of this show so I had my aunt tape it for me since I
don't get Food Network. I just watched the first 2 episodes
this weekend. It's truly fascinating so see how bad anyone
can be at cooking. The best part was the 1st episode where
each contestant presents the chefs with an example of their
"cooking". There was one that the guy was afraid to even taste
after seeing it. Someone even screwed up macaroni and cheese,
fer crisakes!

The episode on knifes was quite nerve-wracking. Unbelievable
how inept they were, for adults. I could see it if it were
young children learning to handle a knife, but this was ridiculous.
I mean, I didn't really expect them to do the faster-than-light
sort of slicing that good chefs do, but they couldn't even cut
properly at the horse-and-buggy speeds. ;-)

These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
more interesting.

Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

"Kate Connally" > wrote in message
...
> Disclaimer: I absolutely loath and despise "reality"
> shows. That being said, however, I was intrigued by the
> idea of this show so I had my aunt tape it for me since I
> don't get Food Network. I just watched the first 2 episodes
> this weekend. It's truly fascinating so see how bad anyone
> can be at cooking. The best part was the 1st episode where
> each contestant presents the chefs with an example of their
> "cooking". There was one that the guy was afraid to even taste
> after seeing it. Someone even screwed up macaroni and cheese,
> fer crisakes!
>
> The episode on knifes was quite nerve-wracking. Unbelievable
> how inept they were, for adults. I could see it if it were
> young children learning to handle a knife, but this was ridiculous.
> I mean, I didn't really expect them to do the faster-than-light
> sort of slicing that good chefs do, but they couldn't even cut
> properly at the horse-and-buggy speeds. ;-)
>
> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
> more interesting.
>
> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)


Is that the show where the dominatrix female chef kicks everyone in the ass
and makes them grovel to her like they were in Marine Corps boot camp?

Paul

On 2010-02-01, Kate Connally > wrote:

> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)

You should have her tape Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, where he
goes into failing restaurants and tries to turn them around within a
week. Like the cooks in your show, the ignorance of some of the
people calling themselves chefs is appalling. One young "head chef"
admitted he never ever made an omlet!!

There's even a website that tracks the restos Gordon advises and sadly
most fail. This, contrary to what many might believe, is not Gordon's
fault. Most are run and staffed by morons and were on the brink of
failure in the first place and they usually backslide into their
original bad habits after Gordon leaves and continue on to their
inevitable doom. The ones that do good typically do so by firing the
chef!

http://gordonramsayskitchen.com/

Some episodes may be viewed on http://www.hulu.com/kitchen-nightmares.
Be aware hulu may be now requiring membership of even $$$.

nb

"Kate Connally" > wrote in message
...
> Disclaimer: I absolutely loath and despise "reality"
> shows. That being said, however, I was intrigued by the
> idea of this show so I had my aunt tape it for me since I
> don't get Food Network. I just watched the first 2 episodes
> this weekend. It's truly fascinating so see how bad anyone
> can be at cooking. The best part was the 1st episode where
> each contestant presents the chefs with an example of their
> "cooking". There was one that the guy was afraid to even taste
> after seeing it. Someone even screwed up macaroni and cheese,
> fer crisakes!
>
> The episode on knifes was quite nerve-wracking. Unbelievable
> how inept they were, for adults. I could see it if it were
> young children learning to handle a knife, but this was ridiculous.
> I mean, I didn't really expect them to do the faster-than-light
> sort of slicing that good chefs do, but they couldn't even cut
> properly at the horse-and-buggy speeds. ;-)
>
> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
> more interesting.
>
> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)
>
> Kate

Having my own 'worst chef' at home give me great insight into what these
people are going through. It's mostly not a matter of skill. Most people can
learn anything. Its more a matter of self confidence.

My SO never learned to cook while growing up. Her mother never cooked and
her father thought that army food was high cuisine. In her previous marriage
any attempts she made at cooking were med with scorn and derision, so this
just reinforced her phobia of even trying. She's an accomplished manager
and Actuary with an Ivy league education.

I'm seeing the same thing in most of the contestants on WC. They are more
than just ignorant of technique, they are afraid of the consequences of
trying. Of course in this case, it's warranted. The chefs of both teams kick
their butts up and down the kitchen. Not exactly positive reinforcement.

BTW, my wife is doing GREAT in the kitchen. She's graduated from grilling
and sauté and is making pies from scratch. She will now try almost anything
from a recipe and is starting to try to see what the results are when she
switches up the flavor profile a bit.

Jon
Jon

On Feb 1, 11:12*am, Kate Connally > wrote:
> Disclaimer: *I absolutely loath and despise "reality"
> shows. *That being said, however, I was intrigued by the
> idea of this show so I had my aunt tape it for me since I
> don't get Food Network. *I just watched the first 2 episodes
> this weekend. *It's truly fascinating so see how bad anyone
> can be at cooking. *The best part was the 1st episode where
> each contestant presents the chefs with an example of their
> "cooking". *There was one that the guy was afraid to even taste
> after seeing it. *Someone even screwed up macaroni and cheese,
> fer crisakes!
>
> The episode on knifes was quite nerve-wracking. *Unbelievable
> how inept they were, for adults. *I could see it if it were
> young children learning to handle a knife, but this was ridiculous.
> I mean, I didn't really expect them to do the faster-than-light
> sort of slicing that good chefs do, but they couldn't even cut
> properly at the horse-and-buggy speeds. *;-)
>
> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
> more interesting.
>
> Very entertaining for a reality show. *And it makes me feel
> like a cordon bleu chef. *;-)
>
> Kate
>
> --
> Kate Connally
> “If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
> Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
> Until you bite their heads off.”
> What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
>

I think the food network is running out of ideas.

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:04:58 -0500, "Zeppo" > wrote:

>Having my own 'worst chef' at home give me great insight into what these
>people are going through. It's mostly not a matter of skill. Most people can
>learn anything. Its more a matter of self confidence.
>
<snip>
>
>I'm seeing the same thing in most of the contestants on WC. They are more
>than just ignorant of technique, they are afraid of the consequences of
>trying. Of course in this case, it's warranted. The chefs of both teams kick
>their butts up and down the kitchen. Not exactly positive reinforcement.

OK, I've seen this show twice and to tell you the truth I wasn't
watching it with both eyes but that's how I watch tv. As far as I
could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
intimidation. Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
wash your hands. Nobody was yelled at and there didn't seem to be any
pressure, so I don't understand why some team members fell apart. I
think they were just being drama queens.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

sf wrote:
>
> As far as I
> could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
> basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
> intimidation. Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
> lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
> wash your hands.

The contestants seem to be folks who have never seen a cow being milked,
who don't seem to be aware that cans don't grow on trees, who can't take
a taste of a food and make an educated guess about it's ingredients and
how it was prepared. That's alien for foodie folks here on RFC but I've
encountered tons of folks like that on low carb diet support boards.
These contestants started out hardly even knowing what end of the knife
to use. They are doing well for such a starting point.

> Nobody was yelled at and there didn't seem to be any
> pressure, so I don't understand why some team members fell apart. I
> think they were just being drama queens.

The contestants have the embarassment that they have been nominated as
the worst cooks in America by people who know them so it starts out with
them insulted. Then they are taught by top quality professional chefs
when what they really need is a few lessons by a local cook. Then they
get offered $25K if they can beat out the other contestants and if they
don't they get booted off the show on national TV.

I'm not surprised that some break down. I'm pleased that some managed
to go home with obvious pride in how far they progressed how fast.

> OK, I've seen this show twice and to tell you the truth I wasn't
> watching it with both eyes but that's how I watch tv. *As far as I
> could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
> basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
> intimidation. *Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
> lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
> wash your hands. *Nobody was yelled at and there didn't seem to be any
> pressure, so I don't understand why some team members fell apart. *I
> think they were just being drama queens.
>
> --
> I love cooking with wine.
> Sometimes I even put it in the food.

I thought Anne Burrell was the master of negativity. She made fun of
most of her team at one time or another; made stupid faces at them
like a teenager; over-reacted like a ham actor, and generally acted
like a juvenile. She totally turned me off the program, which didn't
take much, because who wants to watch failure?

I love reality competition programs where a person can learn something
or see something new - this show, not so much.

N.

On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:19:05 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> wrote:

>I thought Anne Burrell was the master of negativity. She made fun of
>most of her team at one time or another; made stupid faces at them
>like a teenager; over-reacted like a ham actor, and generally acted
>like a juvenile.

Huh. I didn't see that on the shows I watched.

> She totally turned me off the program, which didn't
>take much, because who wants to watch failure?

I like her, but the premise of the show (hate the title) didn't turn
me off either.
>
>I love reality competition programs where a person can learn something
>or see something new - this show, not so much.

You mean shows like Iron Chef and Chopped? I don't like them and
don't watch. So there we are - bookends... and that's what
programming is all about.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Doug Freyburger wrote:
>
> The contestants seem to be folks who have never seen a cow being milked,
> who don't seem to be aware that cans don't grow on trees, who can't take
> a taste of a food and make an educated guess about it's ingredients and
> how it was prepared. That's alien for foodie folks here on RFC but I've
> encountered tons of folks like that on low carb diet support boards.

That lack of basic food knowledge it likely at the root of why they need
a diet support board...

In article <205ab5df-d3c6-4f5c-848f-79d6895677d3
@q16g2000yqq.googlegroups.com>, says...
>
> > OK, I've seen this show twice and to tell you the truth I wasn't
> > watching it with both eyes but that's how I watch tv. *As far as I
> > could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
> > basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
> > intimidation. *Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
> > lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
> > wash your hands. *Nobody was yelled at and there didn't seem to be any
> > pressure, so I don't understand why some team members fell apart. *I
> > think they were just being drama queens.
> >
> > --
> > I love cooking with wine.
> > Sometimes I even put it in the food.
>
> I thought Anne Burrell was the master of negativity. She made fun of
> most of her team at one time or another; made stupid faces at them
> like a teenager; over-reacted like a ham actor, and generally acted
> like a juvenile. She totally turned me off the program, which didn't
> take much, because who wants to watch failure?
>
> I love reality competition programs where a person can learn something
> or see something new - this show, not so much.
>
> N.

I caught the show for about 5 minutes, then turned it off. The poor guy
who had to host the show with her looked horrified.

Scotty

On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:04:58 -0500, Zeppo wrote:

> "Kate Connally" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
>> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
>> more interesting.
>>
>> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
>> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)
>>
>> Kate
>
> Having my own 'worst chef' at home give me great insight into what these
> people are going through. It's mostly not a matter of skill. Most people can
> learn anything. Its more a matter of self confidence.
>
> My SO never learned to cook while growing up. Her mother never cooked and
> her father thought that army food was high cuisine. In her previous marriage
> any attempts she made at cooking were med with scorn and derision, so this
> just reinforced her phobia of even trying. She's an accomplished manager
> and Actuary with an Ivy league education.

<snip>
>
> BTW, my wife is doing GREAT in the kitchen. She's graduated from grilling
> and sauté and is making pies from scratch. She will now try almost anything
> from a recipe and is starting to try to see what the results are when she
> switches up the flavor profile a bit.
>
> Jon

you must be a good, or at least a patient teacher. your wife is already
beating me in the pie department.

your pal,
blake

notbob wrote:
> On 2010-02-01, Kate Connally > wrote:
>
>> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
>> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)
>
> You should have her tape Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, where he
> goes into failing restaurants and tries to turn them around within a
> week. Like the cooks in your show, the ignorance of some of the
> people calling themselves chefs is appalling. One young "head chef"
> admitted he never ever made an omlet!!

No thanks! I hate that sort of thing. He throws tantrums and
is just ridiculous. That's why I hate reality shows. Really,
who wants to watch that crap. Sheesh!
Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

Chemo the Clown wrote:
> On Feb 1, 11:12 am, Kate Connally > wrote:
>> Disclaimer: I absolutely loath and despise "reality"
>> shows. That being said, however, I was intrigued by the
>> idea of this show so I had my aunt tape it for me since I
>> don't get Food Network. I just watched the first 2 episodes
>> this weekend. It's truly fascinating so see how bad anyone
>> can be at cooking. The best part was the 1st episode where
>> each contestant presents the chefs with an example of their
>> "cooking". There was one that the guy was afraid to even taste
>> after seeing it. Someone even screwed up macaroni and cheese,
>> fer crisakes!
>>
>> The episode on knifes was quite nerve-wracking. Unbelievable
>> how inept they were, for adults. I could see it if it were
>> young children learning to handle a knife, but this was ridiculous.
>> I mean, I didn't really expect them to do the faster-than-light
>> sort of slicing that good chefs do, but they couldn't even cut
>> properly at the horse-and-buggy speeds. ;-)
>>
>> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
>> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
>> more interesting.
>>
>> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
>> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)
>>
>> Kate
>>
>> --
>> Kate Connally
>> “If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
>> Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
>> Until you bite their heads off.”
>> What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?
>>
>
> I think the food network is running out of ideas.

For that matter, I think all the networks are running out
of (good) ideas! And when there is a good show it gets
cancelled way too soon. But the main problem is too damn
many networks. They have to fill the time so they go with
the lowest/cheapest form of tv - reality shows. Blecch.

But I find Worst Cooks to be one of the least objectionable
reality shows. At least it has some modicum of entertainment
value. None of the others do - they're in the *negative*
entertainment area. Whatever is the opposite of entertainment
that's what they are.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

Doug Freyburger wrote:
> sf wrote:
>> As far as I
>> could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
>> basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
>> intimidation. Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
>> lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
>> wash your hands.

Well, I thought that whole thing was unfair. Usually one doesn't
have to *memorize* a recipe. They never told them to memorize it.
They assumed, as would I, that the recipe would remain up there for
them to refer back to. Yes, you read the whole recipe through before
you start but, if you don't know you're supposed to memorize it why
would you? And then they take it away without warning? That was
totally unfair, even if they had been experienced cooks.

> The contestants seem to be folks who have never seen a cow being milked,
> who don't seem to be aware that cans don't grow on trees, who can't take
> a taste of a food and make an educated guess about it's ingredients and
> how it was prepared. That's alien for foodie folks here on RFC but I've
> encountered tons of folks like that on low carb diet support boards.
> These contestants started out hardly even knowing what end of the knife
> to use. They are doing well for such a starting point.
>
>> Nobody was yelled at and there didn't seem to be any
>> pressure, so I don't understand why some team members fell apart. I
>> think they were just being drama queens.
>
> The contestants have the embarassment that they have been nominated as
> the worst cooks in America by people who know them so it starts out with
> them insulted.

Well, I don't think anyone forced them to go on the show. So I am not
going to cry for them on that score.

> Then they are taught by top quality professional chefs
> when what they really need is a few lessons by a local cook.

I agree with this. I think it is ridiculous to expect them to
make those restaurant-type dishes. Especially since they're
not even the sort of thing I would want to eat or order in a
restaurant. If I were on the show and found out that was what
they wanted to teach me to cook I'd just quit. I won't even eat
half the stuff in those dishes - like mushroom, scallops, mussels
(or were they clams?). Although I do like duck so that one wasn't
too bad but I could have done without the weird salad. And the
pork thing might have been okay. But the point is they should
have taught them to make everyday food. Maybe they should have
had Rachel Ray as one of the chefs. ;-)

> Then they
> get offered $25K if they can beat out the other contestants and if they
> don't they get booted off the show on national TV.

Well, they knew that when they signed up for it. Again, no one
made them do it.

> I'm not surprised that some break down. I'm pleased that some managed
> to go home with obvious pride in how far they progressed how fast.

I was amazed at the apparent stupidity of the guy who left and
said was would continue "attempt to try" to learn to cook on his
own? Aren't rhere cooking schools out there? Doesn't he know
someone who could tutor him. Sheesh. He made it sound like he
was left totally on his own to try to teach himself to cook.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

On Feb 2, 12:17*pm, sf > wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:19:05 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
>
> > wrote:
> >I thought Anne Burrell was the master of negativity. *She made fun of
> >most of her team at one time or another; made stupid faces at them
> >like a teenager; over-reacted like a ham actor, and generally acted
> >like a juvenile.
>
> Huh. *I didn't see that on the shows I watched.
>
> > *She totally turned me off the program, which didn't
> >take much, because who wants to watch failure?
>
> I like her, but the premise of the show (hate the title) didn't turn
> me off either.
>
>
>
> >I love reality competition programs where a person can learn something
> >or see something new - this show, not so much.
>
> You mean shows like Iron Chef and Chopped? *I don't like them and
> don't watch. *So there we are - bookends... and that's what
> programming is all about.
>
> --
> I love cooking with wine.
> Sometimes I even put it in the food.

I think the judges on Chopped ruin the program but I like ICA, Top
Chef, Project Runway, Dinner Impossible, Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, and
shows like that - learn something/see something new.

N.

On 2010-02-02, Kate Connally > wrote:

> who wants to watch that crap. Sheesh!

The same ppl that frequent newsgroups?

nb

In article >,
says...
>

>
> I was amazed at the apparent stupidity of the guy who left and
> said was would continue "attempt to try" to learn to cook on his
> own? Aren't rhere cooking schools out there? Doesn't he know
> someone who could tutor him. Sheesh. He made it sound like he
> was left totally on his own to try to teach himself to cook.
>
> Kate

My wife looked into a local cooking school as a hobby. After the sales
pitch she got the numbers. It was to be eleven thousand dollars a
semester, yes, semester, not year...


My biggest problem with the cooking shows is the way they try to make
time such an issue so folks really can't just cook. Seeing someone work
so hard just to have to leave half the plate on the stove is stupid.
That would be like throwing a handfull of nails out on the track while
my daughter was racing, "just to make it more exciting"? Stupid, and
boring... I started watching the cooking channel just about the time I
started posting here, about a month ago. I got bored out of my skull and
stopped watching the cooking channel about two weeks ago

Scotty

On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:56:21 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> wrote:

>I think the judges on Chopped ruin the program but I like ICA, Top
>Chef, Project Runway, Dinner Impossible, Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, and
>shows like that - learn something/see something new.

Never heard of ICA and Project Runway; I must have seen Top Chef but
don't remember it... probably a chopped twin; hate all the cake shows,
but I do like Dinner Impossible - not that it's appointment
television, but I don't turn the channel if I blunder into it either.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:04:58 -0500, Zeppo wrote:
>
>> "Kate Connally" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
>>> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
>>> more interesting.
>>>
>>> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
>>> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)
>>>
>>> Kate
>>
>> Having my own 'worst chef' at home give me great insight into what these
>> people are going through. It's mostly not a matter of skill. Most people
>> can
>> learn anything. Its more a matter of self confidence.
>>
>> My SO never learned to cook while growing up. Her mother never cooked and
>> her father thought that army food was high cuisine. In her previous
>> marriage
>> any attempts she made at cooking were med with scorn and derision, so
>> this
>> just reinforced her phobia of even trying. She's an accomplished manager
>> and Actuary with an Ivy league education.
>
> <snip>
>>
>> BTW, my wife is doing GREAT in the kitchen. She's graduated from grilling
>> and sauté and is making pies from scratch. She will now try almost
>> anything
>> from a recipe and is starting to try to see what the results are when she
>> switches up the flavor profile a bit.
>>
>> Jon
>
> you must be a good, or at least a patient teacher. your wife is already
> beating me in the pie department.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Ha Ha! I had to show her that one and we both cracked up. This is the only
time I'm anything close to being patient with her. But then I have an
ulterior motive. I'd like her to be able to handle dinner once in a while so
I can take a break without having to pay a restaurant tab.

Jon

On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:33:07 -0500, Kate Connally >
wrote:

>Doug Freyburger wrote:
>> sf wrote:
>>> As far as I
>>> could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
>>> basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
>>> intimidation. Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
>>> lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
>>> wash your hands.
>
>Well, I thought that whole thing was unfair. Usually one doesn't
>have to *memorize* a recipe. They never told them to memorize it.
>They assumed, as would I, that the recipe would remain up there for
>them to refer back to. Yes, you read the whole recipe through before
>you start but, if you don't know you're supposed to memorize it why
>would you? And then they take it away without warning? That was
>totally unfair, even if they had been experienced cooks.

They don't have to memorize the recipe. The problem is the cooks
don't refer back to it enough!
>
>> Then they are taught by top quality professional chefs
>> when what they really need is a few lessons by a local cook.
>
>I agree with this. I think it is ridiculous to expect them to
>make those restaurant-type dishes. Especially since they're
>not even the sort of thing I would want to eat or order in a
>restaurant. If I were on the show and found out that was what
>they wanted to teach me to cook I'd just quit. I won't even eat
>half the stuff in those dishes - like mushroom, scallops, mussels
>(or were they clams?). Although I do like duck so that one wasn't
>too bad but I could have done without the weird salad. And the
>pork thing might have been okay. But the point is they should
>have taught them to make everyday food. Maybe they should have
>had Rachel Ray as one of the chefs. ;-)

I agree about the more basic food part, but I don't agree with you
about the ingredients they use on the show. I do order and eat them
all in restaurants.
>
>> I'm not surprised that some break down. I'm pleased that some managed
>> to go home with obvious pride in how far they progressed how fast.
>
>I was amazed at the apparent stupidity of the guy who left and
>said was would continue "attempt to try" to learn to cook on his
>own? Aren't rhere cooking schools out there? Doesn't he know
>someone who could tutor him. Sheesh. He made it sound like he
>was left totally on his own to try to teach himself to cook.
>
My motto is "if you can read, you can cook" - after you understand
basic terminology, like what "beat" or "cream" means. Sure there are
some things that you may need to have hands on tutoring while
learning, like pie crust or bread dough, but you can make most things
taste great the first time you make it if the recipe is written
properly. The contestant's main problem is they don't read the recipe
for comprehension - meaning knowing what order the steps are in and
how long each step takes. Some of that is experience, some is common
sense. You can't teach common sense, so they have to learn by
experience.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:33:07 -0500, Kate Connally >
wrote:

>
>Well, I thought that whole thing was unfair. Usually one doesn't
>have to *memorize* a recipe. They never told them to memorize it.
>They assumed, as would I, that the recipe would remain up there for
>them to refer back to. Yes, you read the whole recipe through before
>you start but, if you don't know you're supposed to memorize it why
>would you? And then they take it away without warning? That was
>totally unfair, even if they had been experienced cooks.
>

It has nothing to do with being fair, but it has a lot to do with
entertainment. It is also a very strong way to make a point. I bet
they read recipes through now.




>
>I agree with this. I think it is ridiculous to expect them to
>make those restaurant-type dishes. Especially since they're
>not even the sort of thing I would want to eat or order in a
>restaurant. If I were on the show and found out that was what
>they wanted to teach me to cook I'd just quit. I won't even eat
>half the stuff in those dishes - like mushroom, scallops, mussels
>(or were they clams?).

Only thing I'd pass was the salmon roe. I thought all the other
dishes were just great. We certainly don't eat some of the fancy
dishes every night, but a couple of times a week, it is nice to take
the extra prep time and make dinner look very elegant. We also use
the good crystal and China sometimes too, just for the fun of it.




>> Then they
>> get offered $25K if they can beat out the other contestants and if they
>> don't they get booted off the show on national TV.
>
>Well, they knew that when they signed up for it. Again, no one
>made them do it.

Exactly.

In article >,
sf > wrote:

> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:56:21 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> > wrote:
>
> >I think the judges on Chopped ruin the program but I like ICA, Top
> >Chef, Project Runway, Dinner Impossible, Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, and
> >shows like that - learn something/see something new.
>
> Never heard of ICA and Project Runway; I must have seen Top Chef but
> don't remember it... probably a chopped twin; hate all the cake shows,
> but I do like Dinner Impossible - not that it's appointment
> television, but I don't turn the channel if I blunder into it either.

I have a hard time getting past the ads for Dinner Impossible. It seems
they all feature the "star" chef screaming at his crew that they need to
get this and that done RIGHT NOW!!!!!!! I don't think I'd enjoy the
program. (Isn't the chef on that show the one that was involved in a
kind of scandal a year or so ago re. his credentials or lack thereof?)

A food related show that I have never watched and never will is Man Vs
Food on The Travel Channel. From what I see on the ads its about a guy
who stuffs himself with fast food while an audience cheers him on. What
kind of entertainment is that???

I do like Chopped (but not their judges), Iron Chef, Top Chef, Ace of
Cakes, and, uh, Antique Road Show. The weather channel is interesting
too.

Best Regards,
Dave W.
In the Ozarks

On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:02:15 -0600, Dave W >
wrote:

>I have a hard time getting past the ads for Dinner Impossible. It seems
>they all feature the "star" chef screaming at his crew that they need to
>get this and that done RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!

OK, I don't watch it often enough to care and they are paid to do it,
so I don't feel sorry for anyone. They all know what to expect. I
was sold on the concept when he did the Thanksgiving show (applying
Dinner Impossible concepts) and showed someone with a tiny kitchen and
a large extended family how to put on a full T'day feed. I was
impressed.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Dave W wrote:
>
> I have a hard time getting past the ads for Dinner Impossible. It seems
> they all feature the "star" chef screaming at his crew that they need to
> get this and that done RIGHT NOW!!!!!!! I don't think I'd enjoy the
> program. (Isn't the chef on that show the one that was involved in a
> kind of scandal a year or so ago re. his credentials or lack thereof?)

I dropped cable, so I don't watch it anymore, but I did enjoy Dinner
Impossible. Yes, he did have a scandal about padding his resume, however
since he does actually cook in the show it's pretty clear that he does
have culinary ability. I also note that while the teasers may play up on
him yelling as his assistants, in the actual show that is rare, and what
yelling he does do is good natured, very unlike mr Hell's Kitchen.

sf wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:33:07 -0500, Kate Connally >
> wrote:
>
>> Doug Freyburger wrote:
>>> sf wrote:
>>>> As far as I
>>>> could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
>>>> basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
>>>> intimidation. Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
>>>> lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
>>>> wash your hands.
>> Well, I thought that whole thing was unfair. Usually one doesn't
>> have to *memorize* a recipe. They never told them to memorize it.
>> They assumed, as would I, that the recipe would remain up there for
>> them to refer back to. Yes, you read the whole recipe through before
>> you start but, if you don't know you're supposed to memorize it why
>> would you? And then they take it away without warning? That was
>> totally unfair, even if they had been experienced cooks.
>
> They don't have to memorize the recipe. The problem is the cooks
> don't refer back to it enough!

Actually, they did. The chef erased it from the blackboard a short
while after they started preparing the dish. If they had copied it
into their notebooks at the beginning they would have been okay. But
they weren't told the recipe would be "taken away" so they would have
assumed they could continue to refer to it as they worked.

> My motto is "if you can read, you can cook" - after you understand
> basic terminology, like what "beat" or "cream" means. Sure there are
> some things that you may need to have hands on tutoring while
> learning, like pie crust or bread dough, but you can make most things
> taste great the first time you make it if the recipe is written
> properly. The contestant's main problem is they don't read the recipe
> for comprehension - meaning knowing what order the steps are in and
> how long each step takes. Some of that is experience, some is common
> sense. You can't teach common sense, so they have to learn by
> experience.

That's true.

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:25:58 -0500, Kate Connally >
wrote:

> Actually, they did. The chef erased it from the blackboard a short
> while after they started preparing the dish. If they had copied it
> into their notebooks at the beginning they would have been okay. But
> they weren't told the recipe would be "taken away" so they would have
> assumed they could continue to refer to it as they worked.

I didn't see that one. In the episodes I saw, each person had their
own recipe on their own recipe card and it wasn't taken away... they
just didn't refer to it as much as they should have. IMO: the erased
recipe was an object lesson in "you can't make the dish if you haven't
memorized the recipe and you never refer to it. I guess the chef's
should have articulated the concept behind why they erased the recipe
better so the audience wouldn't feel so sorry for the contestants.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Feb 2, 7:32*pm, sf > wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:56:21 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
>
> > wrote:
> >I think the judges on Chopped ruin the program but I like ICA, Top
> >Chef, Project Runway, Dinner Impossible, Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, and
> >shows like that - learn something/see something new.
>
> Never heard of ICA and Project Runway; I must have seen Top Chef but
> don't remember it... probably a chopped twin; hate all the cake shows,
> but I do like Dinner Impossible - not that it's appointment
> television, but I don't turn the channel if I blunder into it either.
>
> --
> I love cooking with wine.
> Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Top Chef is on Bravo, and it isn't at all like "Chopped." ICA = Iron
Chef America.

"Never heard of Project Runway?" You must be living in a cave. ;-)
It's Heidi Klum's fashion designer competition - with fashion
professional judges (like Michael Kors) and Tim Gunn as mentor.

Each to own, and all that.

N.

On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 20:36:03 -0500, Zeppo wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:04:58 -0500, Zeppo wrote:
>>
>>> "Kate Connally" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> These people are so bad, or were so bad at the beginning, that
>>>> I wonder it they are "faking" their incompetence to make the show
>>>> more interesting.
>>>>
>>>> Very entertaining for a reality show. And it makes me feel
>>>> like a cordon bleu chef. ;-)
>>>>
>>>> Kate
>>>
>>> Having my own 'worst chef' at home give me great insight into what these
>>> people are going through. It's mostly not a matter of skill. Most people
>>> can
>>> learn anything. Its more a matter of self confidence.
>>>
>>> My SO never learned to cook while growing up. Her mother never cooked and
>>> her father thought that army food was high cuisine. In her previous
>>> marriage
>>> any attempts she made at cooking were med with scorn and derision, so
>>> this
>>> just reinforced her phobia of even trying. She's an accomplished manager
>>> and Actuary with an Ivy league education.
>>
>> <snip>
>>>
>>> BTW, my wife is doing GREAT in the kitchen. She's graduated from grilling
>>> and sauté and is making pies from scratch. She will now try almost
>>> anything
>>> from a recipe and is starting to try to see what the results are when she
>>> switches up the flavor profile a bit.
>>>
>>> Jon
>>
>> you must be a good, or at least a patient teacher. your wife is already
>> beating me in the pie department.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> Ha Ha! I had to show her that one and we both cracked up. This is the only
> time I'm anything close to being patient with her. But then I have an
> ulterior motive. I'd like her to be able to handle dinner once in a while so
> I can take a break without having to pay a restaurant tab.
>
> Jon

your motives don't have to be pure to produce a good result.

your pal,
blake

On Feb 2, 2:20*pm, WTF > wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>
>
> > I was amazed at the apparent stupidity of the guy who left and
> > said was would continue "attempt to try" to learn to cook on his
> > own? *Aren't rhere cooking schools out there? *Doesn't he know
> > someone who could tutor him. *Sheesh. *He made it sound like he
> > was left totally on his own to try to teach himself to cook.
>
> > Kate
>
> My wife looked into a local cooking school as a hobby. After the sales
> pitch she got the numbers. It was to be eleven thousand dollars a
> semester, yes, semester, not year...
>
> My biggest problem with the cooking shows is the way they try to make
> time such an issue so folks really can't just cook. Seeing someone work
> so hard just to have to leave half the plate on the stove is stupid.
> That would be like throwing a handfull of nails out on the track while
> my daughter was racing, "just to make it more exciting"? Stupid, and
> boring... I started watching the cooking channel just about the time I
> started posting here, about a month ago. I got bored out of my skull and
> stopped watching the cooking channel about two weeks ago
>
> Scotty

Did your wife look at any community colleges for cooking? I went to
South Seattle Community College for Specialty Pastry/Baking- it's one
of the best Pastry schools in the country, and it didn't cost a
ton......

In article <600fa9a0-b940-45d6-b02f-0e96b2c0d641
@u15g2000prd.googlegroups.com>, says...
>
> On Feb 2, 2:20*pm, WTF > wrote:
> > In article >,
> > says...
> >
> >
> >
> > > I was amazed at the apparent stupidity of the guy who left and
> > > said was would continue "attempt to try" to learn to cook on his
> > > own? *Aren't rhere cooking schools out there? *Doesn't he know
> > > someone who could tutor him. *Sheesh. *He made it sound like he
> > > was left totally on his own to try to teach himself to cook.
> >
> > > Kate
> >
> > My wife looked into a local cooking school as a hobby. After the sales
> > pitch she got the numbers. It was to be eleven thousand dollars a
> > semester, yes, semester, not year...
> >
> > My biggest problem with the cooking shows is the way they try to make
> > time such an issue so folks really can't just cook. Seeing someone work
> > so hard just to have to leave half the plate on the stove is stupid.
> > That would be like throwing a handfull of nails out on the track while
> > my daughter was racing, "just to make it more exciting"? Stupid, and
> > boring... I started watching the cooking channel just about the time I
> > started posting here, about a month ago. I got bored out of my skull and
> > stopped watching the cooking channel about two weeks ago
> >
> > Scotty
>
> Did your wife look at any community colleges for cooking? I went to
> South Seattle Community College for Specialty Pastry/Baking- it's one
> of the best Pastry schools in the country, and it didn't cost a
> ton......

Hummm, I know she has looked into different courses, but I am not sure
if she saw or considered the local CC for cooking.

Scotty

On Wed, 3 Feb 2010 11:44:12 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> wrote:

> On Feb 2, 7:32*pm, sf > wrote:
> > On Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:56:21 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
> >
> > > wrote:
> > >I think the judges on Chopped ruin the program but I like ICA, Top
> > >Chef, Project Runway, Dinner Impossible, Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss, and
> > >shows like that - learn something/see something new.
> >
> > Never heard of ICA and Project Runway; I must have seen Top Chef but
> > don't remember it... probably a chopped twin; hate all the cake shows,
> > but I do like Dinner Impossible - not that it's appointment
> > television, but I don't turn the channel if I blunder into it either.
> >
>
> Top Chef is on Bravo, and it isn't at all like "Chopped." ICA = Iron
> Chef America.

Oh. Then I probably haven't seen Top Chef and hate "ICA". Stoopid
show.
>
> "Never heard of Project Runway?" You must be living in a cave. ;-)
> It's Heidi Klum's fashion designer competition - with fashion
> professional judges (like Michael Kors) and Tim Gunn as mentor.

Nope. Never heard of it. What channel is it on, The Shopping Network?
>
> Each to own, and all that.
>
Yeah.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:43:08 -0600, Kris > wrote:

> The lady who ended up winning the whole enchilada started the show
> with no confidence whatsoever.

I only saw two shows. Was that the edgy girl who said she decided she
wanted to be a professional chef?

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:40:39 -0800, sf > wrote:



>
>Nope. Never heard of it. What channel is it on, The Shopping Network?
>>
>> Each to own, and all that.
>>
>Yeah.


Bravo TV

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:37:28 -0600, Kris > wrote:

> That sounds like you're thinking of Jenny. Long, black hair? Heavy
> makeup and a few tattoos? If so, then no. :-) But she was one of
> the final two.

Yes, she had tattoos. There was an older contestant who looked like
she had possibilities.
>
> Rachel won. I don't know how old she was, but she looked young to me.
> Younger than she sounded! Big 80's glasses, dark hair with a page-boy
> cut. "Tasty but sloppy." :-D

Thanks, now I need to look up the winner - it was over fast! I like
that. Wondering if they'll do a Worst Cooks marathon (or whatever
it's called when you show all the episodes back to back) during the
superbowl?

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:39:52 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:40:39 -0800, sf > wrote:
> >
> >Nope. Never heard of it. What channel is it on, The Shopping Network?
> >>
>
>
> Bravo TV

I guess I never watch bravo!

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:12:12 -0800, sf > wrote:

> Thanks, now I need to look up the winner -

Ok, I remember her. The dorky one with the big glasses.
http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/wor...-test-0004-wmv
Congratulations to Rachael and Jen.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:55:21 -0600, Kris > wrote:

> On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:47:32 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
> > On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:12:12 -0800, sf > wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks, now I need to look up the winner -
> >
> > Ok, I remember her. The dorky one with the big glasses.
> > http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/wor...-test-0004-wmv
> > Congratulations to Rachael and Jen.
>
> Well, I was going to call her "nerdy" but wasn't prepared to deal with
> the backlash. :-D

Chicken!

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
news
> On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:40:39 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>
>
>>
>>Nope. Never heard of it. What channel is it on, The Shopping Network?
>>>
>>> Each to own, and all that.
>>>
>>Yeah.
>
>
> Bravo TV

Not anymore. It is on Lifetime now. There was some big fight over the show
last year and the season didn't get shown until late last fall. There's a
new season running right now.

Ms P

> > "Never heard of Project Runway?" *You must be living in a cave. *;-)
> > It's Heidi Klum's fashion designer competition - with fashion
> > professional judges (like Michael Kors) and Tim Gunn as mentor.
>
> Nope. *Never heard of it. What channel is it on, The Shopping Network?

It used to be on Bravo, but has switched over to Lifetime because of
disputes - it's a Weinstein production.

N.