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Melissa's debut on FoodNetwork

14 years ago

I am looking forward to seeing Melissa's show today. During the competition I always thought her personality was well suited for TV.

Not sure why they pigeon-holed her into 10.00 meals but should be interesting.

Sue

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Comments (11)

claire_de_luna
14 years ago
Well, someone other than Sandra Lee had to do it, and at least Melissa has some credibility since she's cooking for her family. They don't really have a show like that, and I think it's good the FN is actually addressing the fact that we're in a recession.

I hope it works out well for her.
pkramer60
14 years ago
Since the temps on my shady patio hit 98 at 11:30 this morning, I wnet in and watched the show. Not bad, I did not find her annoying, like RR or the "get a room" Neelys. And the recipes were good. I know the potato tart would go over in this house.
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I had cable for a while and now watch it when I am home. I had FN on almost constantly. I loved the cooking shows, but most of the ones I love aren't being produced anymore. I still get a lot of recipes off the FoodNetwork Web site. My all time favorite Food Network cook to watch is Michael Chiarello, for so many reasons! I have tried some of his recipes, they are mostly good, but not ones I will come back to, most are too elaborate for single me in my tiny kitchen to pull off. But I can dream . . . As for Ina, I love watching her show, she clearly loves to cook and entertain. But I have NEVER made a single recipe of hers. They all start with, "Take a 1/2 lb. of butter . . . " Nothing wrong with that as far as cooking and taste is concerned. Butter makes everything taste good and is one of the secrets of French cooking. But I simply cannot eat or cook like that. This is not a criticism of Ina or her recipes, she is what she is and makes no apologies. But if the question is what recipes do I use, it would not be hers. But she is a great cook, so if you need a "reliable" recipe that will taste great, yes, Ina can do that. Butter is a reliable friend in the kitchen, that's for sure! :) I greatly enjoy Giada and Rachel's shows too. My experience with their recipes has been mixed--some are fantastic and some are not good at all. Being vegetarian there are only certain recipes of theirs I can make. As for Rachel, as I once heard Mario Batalli say, "This is how America cooks." Since so many of us are trying to pull together a meal quickly when coming home from work exhausted, I find her approach fun and inspiring, particularly for newer cooks. Two men whose recipes I often like are Bobby Flay and Tyler Florence. Most of Bobby's stuff I do not make since it is meat, but I find that the man has a real way with other ingredients too--he's a mean vegetarian cook. Tyler just seems to cook the kinds of things I like to eat--emphasis on Mediterannean flavors. Now, that said, my favorite cooking shows are on PBS, and these are ones I use VERY often for inspiration. My ALL TIME favorite is Lidia Bastianich. Her show comes on Saturdays and I cannot tell you how many times I have been inspired to make something after watching her show. I also love Sarah Moulton's show, "Weeknight Meals." She has great guests, and lots of good vegetarian fare. And MS Everyday Foods show often has a recipe I'm inspired to try. Nothing fancy, just great versions of the classics. I love watching Jacques Pepin of course, but have not made many of his dishes, again, mostly due to the meat issue. I enjoy the "America's Test Kitchen" show, but again, mostly meat, and the recipes I have tried have been OK, but the blather about these being special secret definitive ways to do things just doesn't wash in my experience. I have one of their cookbooks and nothing in it so far has been fantastic. I did have a pumpkin cheesecake at a friend's house from their recipe and it was by far the best I have ever had, in fact the ONLY recipe for that concoction that I have liked. Alton Brown is Too Much Information for me, although this is not a criticism. Again, I just don't cook that elaborately. I've also enjoyed Steven Raichlin or some such spelling, he has a barbecue show, but I don't barbecue. I like a lot of shows I don't cook from, like Rick Bayless' show, etc. But I just don't use their recipes. I think Emeril is really a very good chef, but like most of you, I find his recipes are just too fussy. But that's the way great chef's cook--it's the little extra steps and attention to detail that make their food so great. NOT my style though. I have to stick with simple things that still taste good for recipes I will actually use.
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My DH was watching and I finally got sucked in for the last few episodes -- so I didn't watch all the lead-ups. One thing that occurred to me . . . until recently, and for the last 32 years, I lived in a small resort town. We had one grocery store, except for a glorious 2-year period with a real supermarket, with specialty foods -- it closed. So if my one store didn't carry an ingredient, or was out, I faced a 40 minute trip to find it, or change my menu -- which in reality, is what I did. For out-of-the-ordinary ingredients, I just had to plan ahead -- for my out of town shopping trips. Harissa -- not a chance! I wonder how many other fans live in areas where Jeffrey's exotic ingredients would be difficult to obtain. Incidentally, I'm now in a town with 4 (count 'em!!) supermarkets, the smallest of which is larger than my former one!! Oh, my!!!
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My cat(s) aren't allowed on the counter normally and the current one obliges but I don't get paranoid about it if it happens. They're far cleaner and less bacteria laden than many things people take for granted. I get grossed out when people set babies on tables and counters with their always leaking diapers. And I don't want my plate anywhere near where most womens' purses have sat without spraying it down with Lysol at least. Those things are generally filthier than a dog's butt. I don't like people tasting with the stirring spoon either. People who are wiping/scratching their noses, rubbing their eyes while cooking. Might as well scratch your butt and crotch too. And when I see food handlers handling cash, that bugs me.
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yeah, I forgot the guys name, Aaron won and has a cooking show Big Daddy's or something like that......the other guy has more of a travel show, Will Work for Food or something, I've never watched it. It came along later, just happened to see an ad one day. Another guy from last year that was eliminated earlier seems to have something with the travel channel.
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annie1992
14 years ago
Well, she would have more credibility with me on her $10 meals if she didn't spend the entire show talking about how she lived in Paris and ate at the little cafes.

So much for the "Mom cooking for her kids" angle. She wasn't as annoying as the Neelys, I agree, but I get the feeling she's never had to worry about how much her grocery bill is.

I just didn't really care for her (which means nothing, I didn't like any of the contestants very much). I'll have to watch her a couple of times to see if it's first impression or if she's going to be tolerable long term.

Her potato torte sounded pretty good, although I'm not sure how she could possibly make that meal for under $10. Do they not count anything you should already have, like potatoes or olive oil for the salad dressing? The frozen apple sauce stuff just didn't sound good at all to me either, but I'll bet the Monkey Princess and Bruvver would eat it.

Plus she's talking about "if you're on a budget, buy Grade B maple syrup". Huh? Even the cheap maple syrup is $7 or $8 for a small bottle, and that's here in Michigan where we tap the trees and make the syrup!

Annie
teresa_nc7
14 years ago
Don't most foodies know the Grade B maple syrup has the most flavor? I wanted to see this show but missed it. Hoping they will show the video on the web site soon.

Teresa
cookingrvc
Original Author
14 years ago
I liked the show but felt it a bit rushed. I also don't like that she can't show off some of her more elaborate (expensive) type recipes due to the 10.00 limit.

I know that viewers can figure out how to ramp it up, but I think the restriction will ultimately rule out perhaps some of her finer dishes.

I think they should have explained that allowing the torte to rest will result in something less oozy (at least I suspect that was the problem). The still picture of the torte was far more what I would expect and enjoy than the goopy mess that she cut into.

In all I like her personality. I just wish that they didn't think they have to talk so loudly and be so energetic. I kind of like Ina because she is soothing and don't believe one has to be frenetic to keep a viewer engaged.

That's why I like Jacques Pepin and the others on PBS, they're calm and make me as a viewer feel more relaxed making it much easier to absorb their message.

Hopefully she'll hit her stride as I think she has very good potential.

Sue
annie1992
14 years ago
Sue, I agree, she's almost manic at times, I'm sure she was told to be "animated".

Annie
jessicavanderhoff
14 years ago
"I just wish that they didn't think they have to talk so loudly and be so energetic. I kind of like Ina because she is soothing and don't believe one has to be frenetic to keep a viewer engaged."

I couldn't agree more! Cooking, for me, is supposed to be relaxed, comforting, and low-key. The minute I hear an annoying catch phrase spoken in a a high, squeaky voice, I feel my blood pressure start to rise and change the channel. I like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson. The Brits don't seem to be quite so nauseatingly theatrical about their cooking shows.
Marigene
14 years ago
Too much like Rachael Ray...don't need two loud, gabby fast moving people on the same network.
lyndaluu2
14 years ago
I'm so glad Melissa won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to see her debut!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linda
eileenlaunonen
14 years ago
Seen it and it was exactly what i expected...wont be watching often.
sally2_gw
14 years ago
I totally forgot to watch or tape it. Maybe I'll think of it next week. Actually, I've rarely watched any of the shows done by the winners of The Next Food Network Star. I don't know why, but I think it's the time slot. I'm just not thinking of watching t.v. in the middle of the day on Sundays - I've got too much other stuff to do.

Sally

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