Food Network picks and pans

By Sarah

I think it probably goes without saying, we all watch Food Network. I write for a food website and you're here reading a food website, so I don't think this assumption is incorrect. (Although if it is, you know what they say about those who assume...)

Throughout the years, Food Network has made some changes -- a few too many cake and competition shows for my liking -- but it's still the first channel I put on when I turn on the TV. Here are some of my favorite (and not so favorite) shows.

Two Fat Ladies, an older show which is now being replayed on the new Cooking Channel, has always been a favorite of mine. I doubt I would ever make anything Jennifer and Clarissa make, but they're just so entertaining, it doesn't matter. The motorcycle (or should I say "motorbike"?) and the smoking cigarettes in the kitchen -- it's just so over-the-top. Entertainment at its best.



As much as it pains me to admit it, I really do like Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. I cannot stand Guy Fieri, but I look past my hatred, because I do really like the premise of this show. I like that he visits anywhere and everywhere throughout the country, so no matter where you live or where you travel, you're bound to have a recommendation for a great greasy spoon.

Even though I think she's a freak of nature, I must admit, I love Giada (I watch either of her shows, Everyday Italian or Giada at Home.) Her recipes are relatively basic and use easy-to-find ingredients and she puts together combinations I never would have though of.

My all-time favorite show on Food Network has to be Down Home with the Neelys. I think maybe it's because Pat Neely comes from a family with four brothers (just like my husband) and one or more brothers is always "stopping by" to see what they're cooking, so I feel like I can relate. I'm not really into barbecue, which is the Neelys niche, but luckily, they do make a lot of other dishes. My favorite of theirs is Neelys Baked Ziti.

Some honorable mentions: Secrets of a Restaurant Chef with Anne Burrell, Iron Chef America, and Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee (leave the table-scape, take the cocktail time.)

Some dishonorable mentions: I already mentioned I don't dig the cake shows or the competition shows (I especially dislike the cake competitions shows), and you know I don't like Guy. Rounding out the list of shows I could do without is anything with Bobby Flay.

What are your favorite and least favorite shows on Food Network? Have you gotten into the new Cooking Channel at all? Any likes and dislikes there? Please share them in the comments!

{Photo credit: cookingchanneltv.com}

Comments

[Christina]

I like chopped, I could never come up with anything out of what they pull out of those baskets. What do I not like. I HATE the Bitchin Kitchn lady- she is just terrible. Like, is she even for real?

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

I love Iron Chef America and Triple D. (Although I too am not a big fan of Guy Fieri and his stupid hair.) And I adore Ina Garten's show and Paula Deen's, just because those ladies are a kick and a half to watch.

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

Oh! And I do not like that show where Bobby Flay tries to take on a local chef. It makes me feel terrible for the local chef - especially when Bobby (ha - I just typed out "Booby" by accident. Hi, I am an 8-year-old-boy.) wins. That seems so wrong on so many levels.

[Jessica]

Hate Bobby Flay. He is cooking's Tom Cruise. UGH.

The Bitchin' Kitchen chick? OMG. She is a train wreck that I can't look away from! So horrible and yet I find that if she's on? I am watching and screaming at the tv. So horrible.

The $10 Dinners Chick? BALD FACE LIAR. Ahem.

Love Chopped except when they have the judge on that gets his panties in a twist about red onions.

I have many more strong opinions about Food tv shows...like I could hijack your entire comments section. We watch way too much of that channel around here.

[JennC]

I ADORE Ina Garten. I want her life, for serious. Plus I think she just makes fantastic (even though not exactly diet-friendly) food. I also like Alex Guarnischelli & Claire Robinson as well - the 5-ingredient fix lady. I'm not a huge fan of the Neelys, Sandra Lee, or Chopped. I like the Cooking Channel, but I don't watch it regularly. From what I've seen of Bitchin' Kitchen, I wholeheartedly agree with the rest of the class. She seems totally fake to me -- much like her Food Network counterpart, Guy Fieri. As much as I enjoy Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I sometimes wish I could watch it on mute.

[Jennie]

I too love DD&D for the same reasons you list. GUY, TAKE YOUR SUNGLASSES OFF THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD, MY GOD.

Also, I love Rachael Ray. Sorry, but I do. Her recipes never steer me wrong and I identify with her dorkiness somehow. I also love Giada and Mexican Made Easy and Tyler Florence, oh yum.

I kind of hate Sandra Lee and I'm not a big Paula Deen fan, either.

Oh and I LOVE Best Thing I Ever Ate.

[Dani]

This is really funny... I think you listed all my least favorite shows. :) I still like you though. :)

I LOVE Barefoot Contessa. LOVE. Her recipes are intense, but honestly what's the point of being a foodie if you get intense now and then, amirite?! The only thing we agree on is that I love the Neelys, too.

I LOVE Tyler Florence, (Great Food Truck Race, anybody?) and have recently gotten into the Next Food Network Star. But I hate the way Giada talks and Sandra Lee's all-blue/pink/insert-color-here kitchens creep me out.

[K]

I can't stand the Neely's. And I agree with your take on Triple D - Guy is horrible but the concept of the show is great.
I love Iron Chef and chopped except how Alex Guarnischelli sticks up her nose at what people come up with. I think she should compete on that show sometime and people can pick apart her dishes.

[Jessica]

Jennie: I used to totally HATE, in all caps with lots of STABBY, hate RR but now that she's had to many shows and so much going on and has gotten a bit tired? I can tolerate her much better. Her recipes were never the issue for me, even when I couldn't watch her, I would look up her stuff and cook it, it was all the manic all over the place-ness of it all. Now that she's worn out? I can deal all the better :)

[Kari]

Jennie - was that "yum" for Tyler's food or just for HIM? Haha. I am a huge, dorky, Alton Brown fan myself. I love learning all the science behind cooking & enjoying food, plus he totally seems like someone I would actually be able to talk to, unlike cute little Giada and her Intimidatingly Perfect Everything. Love RR (see "dorky" above) but can't stand Ina's shows...who lives like that, really?!

[Christy]

ALTON BROWN. I love that man. I don't mind Guy or Anne Burrell, but Bobby Flay and the Neelys make me want to gouge my eyes and ears out.

I agree that there are way too many competition shows. I miss the old days when there would be a cake decorating competition shown on like every other weekend and it was always Duff, Bronwen Webber, and people who were interesting to watch decorate. Not this silly drama fluff they have now.

[Theresa]

I actually like Guy F. He seems fun to hang out with. The Bitchin' Kitchen chick is HORRIBLE! At first I thought it was a joke and then sadly realized it was a for real show. Love Chopped minus red onions guy. Still enjoy Iron Chef America even though the "chairman" drives me crazy with "words of my uncle" and "allez cuisine"! I also like the original Iron Chef. Asian people are so funny. (see *I'm Asian so I can say that*;P)

[Daisy]

Alton Brown is my favorite, hands down, but I also enjoy Bobby Flay - he seems to have a lot of haters but his Throwdown show always gives me inspiration for flavor profiles. That said I LOATHE SEMI HOMEMADE WITH SANDRA LEE. I hate it. Hate.

[Jen L.]

I was a big fan of Double Dare back in the day, but now I want to punch Mark Summers whenever I watch Unwrapped. (It was my late-night-go-to during the early breastfeeding days.) I also abhor Bobby Flay. Like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives a lot. Cannot stand Sandra Lee. Have y'all read her book? The guy she calls her husband is actually her brother in law! (My mom told me--I didn't read it.)

I enjoy Iron Chef America, unless Bobby Flay is on it. Cat Cora is totally cute. I like how funny and dorky Alton Brown is (most of the time). I also LOVE Chopped.

[Holly]

I think Sandra Lee just needs to end it all because honestly: PRE CHOPPED ONION??? I mean what the hell are you doing cooking if you don't "have time" to chop an onion. Order some freakin' take out. And the amount of cool whip that she uses in various incarnation just creeps me out. She probably bathes in partially hydrogenated oil on her face as part of her beauty routine. "But it's FAT FREE and I just mix in some extract! YAY!"

OY. I get so ragey over Sandra Lee -- my apologies.

I like Claire Robinson's food but she does this weird nostril flare thing when she likes something that kind of bugs.

Ina is my messiah. Love her or hate her the food she cooks is DAMN GOOD.

Giada -- well I have mixed feelings on her. The food is generally simple and good, which I like. But she does rank pretty high on the obnoxious scale for me. The thin is, if she just let me live in that house that she cooks is on Giada at Home (think it's really hers?) we could be cool. ;)

I could go on and on about this for days. My god!

[Holly]

Could I have posted a more typo laden comment.

I need a cappuccino pronounced in an obnoxious Italian accent. Where the hell is Giada when I need her?

[jennielynn]

I love Paula Deen and Ina Gartner. I've never gone wrong with any of their recipes. I hate Sandra Lee and Rachael Ray. Other than that, I skip Food Network, because I need to think less about food and more about skinny jeans.

[Melinda Lewis]

From the Food Network, Giada is my all time favorite, but Bobby Flay is a close second. I love how Giada's food is usually simple and her desserts often include chocolate. Girl after my own heart.
Sandra Lee and Rachel Ray make me want to kick my television.

I love love love the Cooking Channel. It's what the Food Network was before all of the competition and cake shows.

[steph]

Sandra Lee pisses me off. So does Bobby Flay with his pompous attitude (I'm convinced he has some deal with Food Network and has arranged to win a certain VERY HIGH percentage of all the shows he competes in), but I can tolerate him better than Sandra Lee because at least he's technically sound.

LOVE Ina Garten. She's adorable. And I love, love Iron Chef! I find Giada a little too obnoxious, but, again, I can tolerate her because at least she produces LEGITIMATE food (Sandra Lee, opening bags DOES NOT constitute cooking!).

I'm surprised no one mentioned Best Thing I Ever Ate! Love that show! I like to plan my travel around the food recommendations. :)

And you're SPOT ON in regard to DD&D! Spot on! It's great; he's not.