To answer the question about the term "Chef" and its relationship to cooking schools.
The classic definition of Chef is:
"A chef is a person who cooksprofessionally. In a professional kitchen setting, the term is used only for the one person in charge of everyone else in the kitchen, the executive chef."
Training is a key to being a Chef, but that has traditionally been done in professional kitchens, not schools, by other professionals.
In the last 20 or 30 years cooking schools have started to appear with great frequency. They train cooks and food service professionals. They do not graduate "Chefs".
By these definitions, Alton is a trained cook, Mario is a Chef, Wolfgang is a Chef, Ina, Sandra, Rachelle, Paula are cooks, Tyler and Bobby are Chefs
The title doesn't effect their ability to cook, teach and entertain on TV but the cooks may not have the depth of skills, honed by hours of professional work in a commercial environment.
That doesn't mean they are not fun to watch.
I'm with Jeanne, I don't think anyone was upset by your original post ibcheft we were trying to answer your question
In my first response, I wanted to clarify your statement that Alton didn't have a culinary degree. I know he does, so I pounced on that one.
Then, I wanted to further the question you posed about one having a culinary degree. I've heard this debate of what makes a chef on other bbs I frequent and thought I'd get some perspectives from here
I think Clove has it, traditionally being a chef was an apprentice-type occupation that has now included a formal education component.
BerryBaby, you have an interesting idea there with the rating of shows.
Thanks, I do think it would be helpful. The true fans would emerge as well. I mean, I wouldn't watch a beginner's show because I know I am way beyond that. They could use this to their advantage and really hit their target audiences with each show.
As the type of viewer the FN wants -- someone who rarely cooks but is trying to learn -- I don't want a network full of culinary degrees. Then again, Florence and Flay are great because they make it easier. But, I wouldn't want all "chefs"...I think the mix is good. That said, I think the FN should spin off a new network so more of "both" varieties -- cooks and chefs...can have their shows.
Host that I like but are not chefs: Alton (of course ), Ina, Paula and I'm really starting to like Ellie Kreger the healthy eating show gal.
Hosts that are chefs: Emeril, Mario, Michael Symon.
I like Michael Chiarello too. I know Jeanne said he has a culinary degree. I believe he has a restaurant, right? Chef then?
So I'm fairly balanced on this. But, I'm not looking for the same things that ibcheft mentioned with plating, etc. So, I'm open to watch non chefs as well as chefs.
I guess this is like the question, can't we all just get along
I think there's room for both types of shows to coexist
Yes Michael is a chef and he has restaurants, plus his family owns a winery. I like him because he really details what can make a meal spectacular, everything from what flavors support other ingredients down to the textures and how they enhance other parts of the meal. I love his show too.
It is not that we can't get along but it is with what the network has done, we have one instructional chef during the evening hours and that is Alton, the rest of the shows are competition or traveling shows and that's my whole point, the network has changed to the point, that I am going to start looking else where for what I need and I have been watching them almost since the onset of the network. I think they will find that the loyal viewers like me once gone will not be back and that is a shame. I give credit to what they have accomplished but also to the fact that it was people like Emeril, Bobby, Mario, and chefs that grabbed the interest of the people and brought them back to the kitchen, some never left and some were always there just looking for ways to improve. Maybe what the network sees is a nitch that needs filling and I agree we do need to get back in the kitchen and cook, it instills confidence, it brings the family together, it shows love, it finds compassion, it helps with intelligence, it teaches us truth, and most of all it awakens all the senses that we should be using. I have no problem with people doing cooking shows, but the network chose to do away with what I was needing. so with that may I say Live to love and love to eat, awaken your senses
My can't we get along comment was a little sarcasm slipping out
But, I'm with you on the whole too much challenges and other non-cooking stuff on FN right now.
I'm hoping it will pass. I remember when I first got my digital satellite and watched a lot of FN, there seemed to be tons of low-carb cooking shows. Those are gone now. Maybe we can hold out for the downfall of the challenge shows!
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