Saturday: Anthony Bourdain & Mario Batali @ The Paramount

[Food Network Fan]

When they weren't picking on subjects like Gwyneth, Paula Deen, and vegetarians, Bourdain and Batali chatted about how restaurant workers could get ahead in ...

Saturday: Anthony Bourdain & Mario Batali @ The Paramount
Seattle Weekly - Seattle,WA,USA

[BerryBaby]

Anthony was either just here, or going to be here this week. Think this is their PNW tour. They got lucky...no rain and temps in the 80's all week.

[CuppaSoup]

I beg to differ with Mr. Bourdain, I love FN, usually don't eat anything while watching and I cook from my heart. While watching FN in the evening, I more likely than not, can be found with a glass of wine, lol. Gosh darn it, I wish I could meet Mario and Alton.

[ibcheft]

Me too, wonder what Chef Bourdain would have to say about people who watch FN and his shows also ? And I do not eat Cheeto's, nor do I drink soda, well maybe 12 cans a year of ginger ale.

[BerryBaby]

Well, he has to have an act and that's all it is. Gets people to talking and all ralled up. I enjoy his show on Fine Living is it or the Travel Channel? I any case, I enjoy him.

I know he still works for a Scripps owned station and they also own Food Network. Guess they are all fine with what he says?

[rolltide002]

I think the observation Bourdain was trying to make was the number of FN personalities who cut corners when cooking, by using store bought combo ingredients. I know he's made that complaint before.

[Food Network Fan]

I have noticed many chefs seem to dislike vegetarians. They drive Gordon Ramsay nuts too. I think they want to get people to eat what they make ... and nothing else.

[ibcheft]

I think a lot of the vegetarian thing has to do with that vegetables have been seen as a side dish and not the main focus of the meal. It always seem like there has to be some protein dish in all the cooking, chicken, fish, beef dishes as the entrées. All the classical training is centered around dishes that use proteins as entrées. Although I know there are places that are working toward training for vegetarians, just not many, and nor many for the commercial world.

[scottcolbath]

From the article:

"The evening's most astute observation however, came from Bourdain, who opined that nobody who watches the Food Network actually cooks. "The people who watch the Food Network are the ones with a gallon of soda and a bag of Cheetos going, 'oh, I could make that.'"

He's mostly correct, but there are exceptions, and I'm one of them. I learned to cook by watching FN. I have now reached a point though, where there's not much more the network can teach me, unless they drop come of the reality show BS and put good, proper cooking shows in their place.

I'd love to see more Good Eats, the return of Molto Mario (used to be on FN, right?) and even old French Chef and Galloping Gourmet episodes.

S.C.

[Food Network Fan]

I learned from my Grandmother, but I have learned more watching the Food Network. I have high hopes for the Cooking Channel that will replace the Fine Living channel later this year. I just hope it will be what I am expecting. It's going to be a real downer if they don't target it to people who really love to cook and want to see new ideas.