Fall's Newest Cooking Shows

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

26 Sep 2007 09:00 AM

Kitchen Nightmares

If you're never planning on eating out again, you'll have to tune in tonight to watch Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. The premise of the show is that people who are struggling to run a restaurant invite Ramsay to come and revamp conditions and turn the restaurant into one of the premier venues in town. It seems like a pretty good deal--for the price of utter humiliation and having the equivalent of a drill instructor yell at you for a few days--you get a total rejuvenation of your business.

You may remember that Ramsay was actually sued by some of the restaurateurs who claimed that conditions in their restaurants were really not as bad as was shown on camera and that Ramsay had paid actors as customers during the taping. Whatever--if you have a roach infestation in your kitchen does it really matter whether or not Ramsay hired actors?

I will probably watch tonight (which is actually the second episode), but I have to admit, I'm not a Ramsay fan. There's something about that constant beeping noise my television emits whenever he is on. It's annoying to listen to.

Just Cook This

Who'd have thunk it? The Discovery Channel hosts a show on cooking! Just Cook This, I think will become a popular favorite among cooking show junkies and word will spread. Why?

The show is hosted by non-chef Sam Zein. That's right--he's not a chef. Just a regular guy who thinks that if you cook more, you'll eat out less, and then you'll be healthier. (Did I mention it's the Discovery Health Channel?) I have to say that I think he's pretty funny. But what I like about the show is that it's intended for regular folks. My husband could follow this show and go whip something up in the kitchen.

If he makes a mistake, they leave it in. After all, it's still food, it all goes to the same place, and being the wrong size doesn't make it less food like. If they drop something, they leave it in the take. . .and hopefully wash it off. He goes to great lengths to demystify cooking (his own words) and make dishes that a) you'd actually make on an average week night and b) that use ingredients you can actually find in a regular aisle in your grocery store. Cooking plain and simple.

Have a new favorite food show? Tell me about it!

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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