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The Throwdown ended in a tie, 7 to 7
The best Food Network chef is, oh bother, Alton Brown!
Jaclin Hyde said
From the science and fun of "Good Eats" to the originality and fun of "Feasting on Asphalt" to the fun (yes Alton is a lot of FUN) of "Iron Chef America" Alton is the most unique chef I think I have ever seen on any channel. He took his background as a cinematographer and director (he was responsible for REM's video "This is Dedicated to the One I Love" among others) and his education as a chef and merged the two into "Good Eats." I have just read that people who apply to many of the best culinary schools write on the form that they want to learn to cook like Alton Brown. He inspires and teaches at the same time. "Feasting on Asphalt" is imho the best short series that Food Network has ever done and it is all Alton from conception to execution. Alton is THE MAN!
RealityWrites said
That statement is outrageous and limited and untrue. Alton is creative but overuses his nerd appeal to the point where I crave a little Bill Nye in my life. Instead of making cooking easier and an attainable skill he shows us the most complicated ways to cook almost everything. Did you see him try to teach us how to make a good hamburger...jesus! Also, he strikes me as someone who plays fun-loving in front of the camera but is actually a total jerk to everyone else, you can see it in the way he interacts with his occasional guests, half the time he looks at them like they are complete morons. If I had to pick the best food network chef I'd choose Ina Garten. Not only does she make delicous, simple foods with prime ingredients but she's genuine and calming. Sure, she's pretentous but she doesn't pretend to be otherwise, she owns it! She brings food away from the science and back to the baisics proving that you don't have to be technical. Instead of spending your money on gadgets you should be spending your money on really good ingredients!
Jaclin Hyde said
Forfeited Turn
RealityWrites said
My defense of Ina is of course based purely on my love of Ina and as an example of another great food network chef. It just seems too reductive to claim that Alton is the be-all-end-all of the Food Network chefs. Sure, I may be quite wrong about his off-screen personae, but his food never blows me away. I feel like he could be the "greatest chef" on say TLC, but on The Food Network there is just too much competition. LIke her, or not Giada makes great looking food, as does Emeril, Bobby Flay, Paula Dean, the Iron Chef competitors, and yes, even Sandra Lee (although hers can only claim to be semi-great).
Jaclin Hyde said
Forfeited Turn
RealityWrites said
well....okay....i don't want to forfeit because that's no fun! So, yea....I stand by my position. You can love Alton Brown and he can be YOUR greatest chef on the Food Network, but the Network is full of greatness (otherwise it wouldn't be much of a network at all) and Alton might be the best scientist there but is in no way the best at handing or creating food...which is really what it all boils down to.....pun intended!
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Comments
shaggydan 03/24/08
Hooray Alton! Hoo-ray!
ConfidenceMan 03/24/08
ALTON. <3
seven-ate-9 03/25/08
Come on now. Giada's got the most talents of anyone on that entire network. Sorry, talent.
Mr. Strong 03/25/08
Love Alton, but look at what he cooks. He'll teach you how to make a basic omelette, and sure, it'll be great and easy and fabulous, but he's really not the BEST chef. He is in fact the best teach-you-how-to-actually-use-the-recipe-you-see-on-the-show chef, but not the best chef out there. Love the guy, though.
ConfidenceMan 03/25/08
I definitely see your point, Mr. Strong, but I think approachability is important too. I worked on a cooking show this past summer, and having a personality is just as important as ability - in fact, it's easier to fake talent than a sense of humor.
I can totally see what you're saying, though. To paraphrase my favorite, Tom Colicchio, it isn't about being a cook, it's about being a chef.
Giada just personally grates on my nerves, though. FRITATTA.
bklynproud 03/25/08
Giada??? GIADA???? I totally agree on the grating factor. Someday her breasts are going to pop out while she is bent over a plate of pasta and the culinary world will never be the same (at least for the men.) ::Cough:: back to Alton, this one has to go to him. I think they are all good but Alton is very different and special. I challenge you to name one other cooking show like Good Eats. All the other cooking shows are just that: cooking shows. Granted they each have their own 'hook' but they are the same none-the-less. And you are so wrong about him not being a nice person off camera. I had always liked him (and in fact liked almost all of the FN chefs) but what sealed it for me was a chance meeting. I was living in Weaubleau, MO (lord help me) when he road through during his Feasting on Asphalt season 1. My hubby, who rides a bike as well asked him how long he had been a motorcycle enthusiast. He told my hubby that he has loved riding 'as long as he can remember' and that if he had a choice between cooking and riding he would pick riding. He also made a cute comment to my then 13 year old son whose dream was to be a chef someday that they don't allow big chains in most culinary schools (he had his bicycle chain around his neck at the time.) I ran home and grabbed my copy of his book and brought it back to him to sign. He looked over at my son, smiled and wrote "May the food be with you! Good luck and remember to leave the chains at home....Alton" I didn't quite get the first part until I realized it was a Star Wars reference. My sons name is Luke. Anyway the point is he is as nice as you think he pretends to be. He didn't have to stop and sit with us; he was tired and probably just wanted to find a place to rest up and be alone for awhile. He cared enough about the feelings of a 13 year old boy and that, in my book makes him one hell of a good guy.
charinator 03/27/08
Rachel Ray is my choice. The thought of a beautiful woman who is an expert at cooking. Yummy
Mr. Strong 03/28/08
Giada's definitely got the most something on that show, but it ain't talent.
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