You know I've been hearing a lot of critiques coming out of my Food Network circle of friends lately with all the new kitchens the FN has rolled out for it's 'stars' in 2008. Ina got a new place (better IMO), RR got a new show and 15 new endorsement deals, and Jamie Oliver broke in on the scene with the 'rustic' cooking.

I think it's all what your watching for. I used to be a big hater of these 'Look where I live' shows where you really aren't learning any kind of new technique or even see half of what the cook is doing for that matter. I used to hate on these REAL BAD! Then I realized something. Something big.

I have a friend who's REALLY into cars. Me, I see the paint and the wheels, he sees engines and horsepower and Cadillac converters. My point here is this, some people just like to watch people who cook well - it's a form of entertainment. Others like to learn how to cook better - it's a different level of the same entertainment.

I prefer Alton Brown because I want a deeper understanding of my ingredients. But I guess, when I need a break from the everyday Jamie will be waiting :)

Oh! And that is a nice album of finds you have discovered on Ebay! My favorite is the olive wood cutting board.

~Tablebread
http://tablebread.blogspot.com

I have to agree. I think there was a blog post somewhere about where Mario Batali got bounced from Food network because they want more entertainment shows. I want more shows where they teach me how to cook well. I ocassionally like to watch some of those glitzy shows, but shows like Alton's are much more useful to me as a cook. Some of those shows you will never be able to replicate their work in the kitchen.

"the naked chef takes off" was the first cookbook that i cooked from on a regular basis. i hadn't actually looked at it for the past several years until i recently remembered a cumin butter carrots recipe from it that i loved. i missed the first episode of jamie at home, but i have recorded the second and third, and i really like the show. i think they give a lot more camera time and focus to the food as opposed to the person - i especially like it when a dish is finished, and they zoom in straight on the food as it's assembled and don't waste the two minutes making us watch the cook eat it.

there definitely are the purely entertaining moments like when jamie oliver says, "don't use button mushrooms, because, well, i hate them." but i don't think you learn nothing from watching it - you just learn less per minute than in a show like good eats, which i also love.

i actually just made his squash soup with parmesan croutons for dinner tonight, and it was great (i'd actually never made butternut squash soup before, so can't compare to the many other recipes out there.)

i love it too! i love his emphasis on healthy, balanced food - the butternut squash muffins for his girls looked so yummy and he didn't even peel it! i love that and his energy. he's got a whole program to improve the food in UK schools, getting back to nature, yet his "hippie-ness" is balanced by his obsessive chef's nature and training, and by his super little-boy energy. He's great fun!

love the ebay slide show! great feature!

does anyone know when the American version of Jamie At Home comes out?

CWeingarten, are you asking about the cookbook that accompanies the TV show? I'm curious about that, too.

I'm enjoying the shows so far - I like that he's taking simple food and re-introducing it to viewers, emphasizing fresh ingredients and simple techniques. That steak and guiness pie from last week looked fabulous, although I looked for the recipe on the FN site and it wasn't listed (which I think is lame). He obviously loves food and that comes across.

i've really wanted to see this show, but i've been having to schedule my dentist appointments on saturdays (it comes on saturday mornings, right? or am i imagining that?) but i did watch something yesterday that was really unnerving - my mother and I were talking about the chefs that we hate-on-less-than-we-used-to-for-deserving-reasons and she said something about how sandra lee had a terrible childhood and that she doesn't get on her nerves quite as much because this is how she's dealt with and pulled through - so good for her. having seen one part of a show where she made a cake that i think she just iced and put some seashells on top, i have never watched her show - for obvious reasons - but i was watching FN yesterday as I cleaned up (it is really the only channel i watch now) i saw her cooking in "her" kitchen - has anyone SEEN this kitchen? it's all white and pink and frilly with spoons hanging from the windows - it looks like a gingerbread house or a doll house or something!!!! - and then she had her "super easter tablescape" of miniature bird houses out... i tried and will never be able to take this woman seriously...

Elizabeth - I was on a blog the other day where someone was talking about Sandra Lee and how it was kind of creepy that she is always color coordinated with her 'kitchen'. Me? I want to learn to be a better cook so pouring ANYTHING out of a box is well, cheap. What pride to you get from that? "Hey look everyone, I added two eggs and a cup of water - VOILA?!?" no, from scratch is for me...or at least what I look for in a TV show.

yeah noig. If you go on jamie's website they have the book for UK delivery only.

TableBread - I agree with you WHOLEHEARTEDLY - I was just today talking about this at lunch - this was last week and it is STILL bothering me! I have only seen two of her shows - the second one was after my mom told me about her childhood, etc. That's great that she's pulled through all that, and that people like her, but not for me!

I love "Jamie at Home". I think it's his best show yet...I'm learning a ton from it.

The Food Network has been going downhill for years...I'm shocked they are showing such a good show with a chef in it instead of yet another home cook in a scoop neck shirt who doesn't have any knife or cooking skills. They must have some multi-year contract with him that they are forced to honor.

Jamie Oliver makes me want to go and cook his recipes as soon as the show ends. No other show makes me feel that way although America's Test Kitchen and Good Eats come close.