Alton Brown

[cbabbman]

He's my favorite of all of them. I feel like I actually learn about something rather than just putting things together.

Plus, he's entertaining as hell.

[Drama Queen]

He's my favorite of all of them. I feel like I actually learn about something rather than just putting things together.

Plus, he's entertaining as hell.

I like his recipes for the most part. Too much silliness and fooling around for my money. Is all that really necessary? I DVR his show at take out all the stupid stuff he does along with the everlasting commercials.

[Marzipanlily79]

I like his show too. I've tried a few of his recipes, including the brined turkey. Put it this way. The holidays used to be when I'd have an obligatory slice of turkey just to complement the stuffing and mashed potatoes, but with his turkey I went for thirds. I want to try his apple pie, but the darn pie plate thingy I ordered off amazon is backordered.
I feel like I learn something when I'm watching him too. I feel like I'm learning a way of thinking about cooking that might help me improvise along the way. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but if I know the science behind why something works a certain way, I'll know how to put things together myself... :-)

[TheAutomaton]

Blasphemy Drama Queen.
His recipes are great, his information is excellent and he's the most entertaining person on television. But my husband and I are both goofy, silly people. So his nonsense is right up our alley.
I LOVE his show. And on top of everything else I love that he actually shows you ways that you can save money! Most celebrity chefs act like you should be willing to fly to France twice a month to pick up your salt. I like that Alton appreciates that not all people can afford to spend $2,000 on groceries and useless kitchen gadgets a month.

[Drama Queen]

Blasphemy Drama Queen.
His recipes are great, his information is excellent and he's the most entertaining person on television. But my husband and I are both goofy, silly people. So his nonsense is right up our alley.
I LOVE his show. And on top of everything else I love that he actually shows you ways that you can save money! Most celebrity chefs act like you should be willing to fly to France twice a month to pick up your salt. I like that Alton appreciates that not all people can afford to spend $2,000 on groceries and useless kitchen gadgets a month.

Blasphemy you say? Well okay, maybe so to the millions who love all the dramatics and silly stuff. I will admit that his recipes, techniques and information are very good and valuable. But I have to fast forward the goofy stuff. Am I forgiven?

[TheAutomaton]

Hmm. I guess I have to forgive you. My mother-in-law, who is in every other respect a delightful human being, also doesn't like all his shenanigans and carrying-on and I still love her.
Alton has a special brand of humor that's not for everyone and I don't think I would like another show if the chef carried on in the same way. He is able to make it work for me when another chef would probably irritate me horribly. Ha.

[kodiak]

And the funny thing, he is an actor, not a chef by proffession. I have learned a lot from his show and they even use it in the culinary programs in our high schools here.

[Drama Queen]

And the funny thing, he is an actor, not a chef by proffession. I have learned a lot from his show and they even use it in the culinary programs in our high schools here.

Well, I had no idea he was an actor. That explains the "ham."

[Kitchen Ninja]

And the funny thing, he is an actor, not a chef by proffession. I have learned a lot from his show and they even use it in the culinary programs in our high schools here.

If I recall correctly from the Food Network bio, I think he was also a cinematographer for years, and he apparently writes and produces Good Eats himself.

It's my absolute favorite show on Food Network. I'm a goofy guy AND a science geek AND I love to cook, so it's just about perfect programming for me. Plus, every Alton Brown recipe I've tried has turned out awesome.

[miseenplace]

AB just plain rocks! He's the best thing on Food Network :) )

I manage to learn something from his shows, all of them, and that's probably the reason I think he's so great. Yeah, I've yet to have one of his recipes to disappoint. He teaches us well :

I've met AB several times and he's such a nice person. He takes time to actually talk with you at the book signings and events. He has a wicked sense of humor and if you're not careful ;) he lower the boom on you. I'm sarcastic too, so I love bantering with him. But the first time I met him, I forgot my own first name. LOL

He's cool, if you like any of his shows and have a chance to attend an event do so. You will not be disappointed. And FYI, there's a Good Eats cookbook coming out in Oct and a book signing tour too :)

[Zippy]

Alton is about the only reason I watch FN anymore. Most of the other shows are "dump and cook" shows. They don't give you the info like Alton does. They are just like following a recipe and give none of the information you need to learn to be a better cook.

[Big Daddy's House]

Alton is alright. I mean, I like the guy, but I'm not crazy about him.

Though he has made some very good stuff.

Most of the cooks on the network DO make good things. Alton just seems a little brainy and eccentric at times.

[miseenplace]

Alton is alright. I mean, I like the guy, but I'm not crazy about him.

Though he has made some very good stuff.

Most of the cooks on the network DO make good things. Alton just seems a little brainy and eccentric at times.

Alton's 'brainy' approach to cooking is exactly what drew me to Good Eats in the first place. Watching the show, I realized that I could follow a recipe but didn't know a lot about hows and whys of cooking. Most cooking shows give you a recipe and go though the process so quickly you don't have time to learn much. I have learned things from other TV chefs, but AB has taught me the most. And for that I am very grateful. I wanted to attend culinary school, but never could. Watching Good Eats (and AB's other shows) has been like the culinary education I've always wanted.

The other thing about Alton is he makes such informative and entertaining shows. Coming from the other side of the camera and not being a chef really influences the production value of his shows. I like that. :D

[Zippy]

Most of the cooks on the network DO make good things. Alton just seems a little brainy and eccentric at times.
YES, some of the cooks on FN do make good things, but all they do is say "now add this, dump this in, mix this, etc." It's like listening to someone read a recipe from a cookbook. I want to learn. I want to know why I should do this, and not just because someone tells me to. YES, Alton may seem a "little brainy and eccentric" to some people, but it's what makes Good Eats fun to watch and makes the lesson that he's teaching stick in your head.

I do have to say, that the only other person I've learned stuff from on FN is Emeril. But not as much as Alton.

[Whoopie Pie]

YES, some of the cooks on FN do make good things, but all they do is say "now add this, dump this in, mix this, etc." It's like listening to someone read a recipe from a cookbook. I want to learn. I want to know why I should do this, and not just because someone tells me to. YES, Alton may seem a "little brainy and eccentric" to some people, but it's what makes Good Eats fun to watch and makes the lesson that he's teaching stick in your head.

I do have to say, that the only other person I've learned stuff from on FN is Emeril. But not as much as Alton.

This is the exact reason that I am such a fan of alton! I also miss Sarah Moutlon very much, she was such a wealth of knowledge.

Some of my non-cooking friends don't "get" cooking shows because they say "why do I want to watch someone making a recipe?" What separates the good shows from the useless ones are the ones that actually teach you, not just silly spins on recipes.

[Zippy]

I enjoyed Sara's show too and miss her greatly on FN. The network has gotten away from the instructional shows and have gone more toward the entertaining side. :(

[Big Daddy's House]

Such as those cake challenges and contest shows.

The Food Network that we know of today is not the Food Network that we once knew several years ago. Many things have changed - seemingly and particularly for the worst.

We had David Rosenburg, Michelle Urvater, Sara Moulton, Ming Tsai, Martha Stewart and others. Chivalry in this case is certainly dead! Honestly, just what on earth can anyone learn watching those cake challenge and contestant shows? They're a turn-off.

To me, it's just a pure waste of time, in my book. The nighttime line-up has practically certainly gone to hell in a hand basket!

[miseenplace]

We had David Rosenburg, Michelle Urvater, Sara Moulton, Ming Tsai, Martha Stewart and others. Chivalry in this case is certainly dead!
:confused: What the heck does that mean? :confused:

Food Net isn't nice to women?
or
Food Net isn't upholding the ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love?

:D

[Whoopie Pie]

:confused: What the heck does that mean? :confused:

Food Net isn't nice to women?
or
Food Net isn't upholding the ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love?

:D

LMAO!

[Big Daddy's House]

I NEVER said that.

Stop assuming the worst. Read the post again. You'll both get it.

[miseenplace]

I just do not get your usage of the term chivalry in your statement:

We had David Rosenburg, Michelle Urvater, Sara Moulton, Ming Tsai, Martha Stewart and others. Chivalry in this case is certainly dead! Honestly, just what on earth can anyone learn watching those cake challenge and contestant shows? They're a turn-off.

chiv⋅al⋅ry
  /ˈʃɪvəlri/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [shiv-uhl-ree].
1. the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms.
2. the rules and customs of medieval knighthood.
3. the medieval system or institution of knighthood.
4. a group of knights.
5. gallant warriors or gentlemen: fair ladies and noble chivalry.
6. Archaic. a chivalrous act; gallant deed.

Seriously, what does that have to with Food Net not having better chefs and hosts?
Food Net might be brain dead for shifting from quality cooking instruction to entertainment shows. The instructional cooking show might be dead in Food Net's lineup. But chivalry?

[Big Daddy's House]

Don't try to.

You wouldn't understand.

[miseenplace]

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/miseenplace08/AB_knight.jpg

[Big Daddy's House]

Which one is Alton?

[miseenplace]

The knight

[Big Daddy's House]

Doesn't look like him to me. Looks like someone different.

[miseenplace]

It's him. From the episode on making granola bars. He's talking about the history of such items. The practice of making high energy bars came from the knights heading off to the Crusades.
Now what other cooking show would teach you that! ;)

Seemed an appropriate pic ;)

[Zippy]

Don't try to.

You wouldn't understand.

That's for sure. I didn't get the chivalry comment either. :confused::confused:

[Whoopie Pie]

I don't think that there is anything to "get".

[Big Daddy's House]

Don't try to.

The irony behind that is that, when they started out, and for several years, the Food Network USED to have mostly educational qualities in their shows.

Over the years, the educational value in the shows had diminished and became fewer and fewer, until now, there are probably only about one or two shows that provide any educational values or quaulities.

And most of those shows that provide it are on during the weekends. Prime time has practically gone by the wayside and has practically nothing worth watching now - which is why I've happily gone back to watching the REAL educational channels like Animal Planet, Discovery & History Channels, Nat'l Geo & TLC.

[miseenplace]

And AB's show are just about the only ones left with and educational value what so ever. Good Eats is the lone show that teaches cooking techniques and food science. Plus throw in history and nutritional anthropology to the mix.

AB's Feasting on shows explore the cultural connection with food. And there too, he added history.

On Iron Chef America, he gives us information about food, cooking and culture too.

Even if Food Net has steered away from quality instructional programming, as long as AB keeps making his shows like he always has I'll be happy. And I can't wait for his new one on foods that changed the world!


PS:
The chivalry comment is still dumbfounding because is has nothing with Food Net changing its programming.

[Big Daddy's House]

It DOES have a lot to do with it!

In time, you'll get it.

[Zippy]

It DOES have a lot to do with it!

In time, you'll get it. I don't think I have that much time! :D

[samue1eb]

Alton Brown is my biggest inspiration as regard to cooking. Just watching him and learning from him has changed the way we eat. I cook many more things myself now than I did before.

[missy]

I like his show too. I've tried a few of his recipes, including the brined turkey. Put it this way. The holidays used to be when I'd have an obligatory slice of turkey just to complement the stuffing and mashed potatoes, but with his turkey I went for thirds. I want to try his apple pie, but the darn pie plate thingy I ordered off amazon is backordered.
I feel like I learn something when I'm watching him too. I feel like I'm learning a way of thinking about cooking that might help me improvise along the way. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but if I know the science behind why something works a certain way, I'll know how to put things together myself... :-)Really?!?! That is great to know. I was considering his brine recipe but wondering how it would actually taste.

Your post was a big help to me

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac347/missynme/flower/thankyou.gif

[Bacchus]

Brining or injecting Turkey makes all the diffference in the world, whether it be AB's recipe or not. In Fact, Trader Joes has shrink wrapped brined turkey's for $1.59/lb this year which I fully intend to take advantage of.

Oh, I love Alton Brown also. He's gonna be near me for a book signing soon and I may go.

[missy]

Does that mean it has already been brined? Have you ever tried Trader Joe's turkey before?

[Big Daddy's House]

Alton has been doing this. I've seen him do it the last two T'giving seasons.

[samue1eb]

I really want to have his brined turkey on Thanksgiving, but I am not in charge of making the turkey. The best I can hope for is showing up early enough to at least get a therometer in that bird, which I was able to do last year to save my mom from really overcooking the turkey, she had already gone too far as it was and was planning to keep it in the oven a while longer.

[Bacchus]

Yes it is already brined in the Shrink wrap packaging. They sell alot of marinaded and brined meats. All that I have tried are excellent. I have not had the turkey but Im sure its great.

[mars777]

And AB's show are just about the only ones left with and educational value what so ever. Good Eats is the lone show that teaches cooking techniques and food science. Plus throw in history and nutritional anthropology to the mix.

Even if Food Net has steered away from quality instructional programming, as long as AB keeps making his shows like he always has I'll be happy. And I can't wait for his new one on foods that changed the world!


I could not agree more. Alton's the best! :)

Mike