topic Re: Something I have never understood... in Kitchen

Something I have never understood...

gulf coast girl — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 04:02:27 GMT

If it's the same exact identical show, why is America's Test Kitchen and Cooks Country given two different names? Same people, same concept, what am I not getting?

Re: Something I have never understood...

drizzellla — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 04:11:49 GMT

When Christopher Kimball left America's Test Kitchen the name of the show changed to Cooks Country.

His show is called Milk Street.

Re: Something I have never understood...

gulf coast girl — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 04:17:14 GMT

Oh okay, now I remember him the tall skinny man, thanks drizzella.

Re: Something I have never understood...

drizzellla — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 04:20:19 GMT

The bow tie makes you remember him.

Re: Something I have never understood...

loriqvc — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 04:27:37 GMT

@gulf coast girl - Each show has a slightly different focus. America's Test Kitchen explores global cuisine, attempting to introduce it to home cooks and find ways to stay true to the essence of each recipe while making it accessible enough for everyday cooking/baking. Sometimes, this means they're making things we know and love in the USA as well, especially when they have "theme" episodes. Cook's Country features American cuisine, replicating and improving on popular favorites from across the nation as well as individual regions, sharing the origins of recipes that have been around for years and the ways they shaped or were a result of events in our history.

Re: Something I have never understood...

LizzieInSRQ — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 11:34:18 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
When Christopher Kimball left America's Test Kitchen the name of the show changed to Cooks Country.

His show is called Milk Street.

@drizzellla sorry, no disrespect but this is incorrect. Both shows existed when Chris Kimball was around.

Re: Something I have never understood...

deeva — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:50:23 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
When Christopher Kimball left America's Test Kitchen the name of the show changed to Cooks Country.

His show is called Milk Street.

Wrong. Christopher used to host Cook's Country as well as America's Test Kitchen. I still have older episodes of Cook's Country that I recorded with Chistopher as the host.

He left the show over a salary dispute and started his own show called Milk Street.

Re: Something I have never understood...

Toot1920 — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 14:07:33 GMT

@LizzieInSRQ is correct. They both were around when Kimball was on. I've been watching for years. My understanding is that he and Jack Bishop started the whole concept.

Re: Something I have never understood...

Melzie — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:54:59 GMT

@deeva wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
When Christopher Kimball left America's Test Kitchen the name of the show changed to Cooks Country.

His show is called Milk Street.
Wrong. Christopher used to host Cook's Country as well as America's Test Kitchen. I still have older episodes of Cook's Country that I recorded with Chistopher as the host.

He left the show over a salary dispute and started his own show called Milk Street.

@deeva wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
When Christopher Kimball left America's Test Kitchen the name of the show changed to Cooks Country.

His show is called Milk Street.
Wrong. Christopher used to host Cook's Country as well as America's Test Kitchen. I still have older episodes of Cook's Country that I recorded with Chistopher as the host.

He left the show over a salary dispute and started his own show called Milk Street.

While it well could be due to a salary dispute, or both, I thought he left the show because he wanted to take one of the shows in a different direction but others involved with the shows didn't want to go that route so he left. Milk Street is a really different show in comparison with a lot more exotic and foreign foods. It also seems to have a travelogue of those foreign countries incorporated into the show.

Personally, I don't like the cooking shows that go to vineyards, markets, dinner at people's homes, restaurants, etc. It's a cooking show! I prefer that the whole show be involved in actual cooking, techniques, new ideasproducts, etc. Cooks Country and America's Test Kitchen have, so far, stuck with that and I really enjoy watching those and shows like that. Wish Food Network would go back to the early days.

Re: Something I have never understood...

Sooner — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:01:07 GMT

In Milk Street, Chris seems to have discovered that the cuisine of the rest of the world is pretty interesting. It features a lot of things some of us have been acquainted with and using a long time.

He acts like he discovered this or something. He didn't eat anything spicy before. I also think there was some personality conflict, maybe a girlfriend at some point--not sure when.

He comes across to me as a very self centered and prickly guy to deal with. Although I think he is trying to lighten up some on the new venture.

The chicken spice they well is wonderful!

Re: Something I have never understood...

deeva — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:07:17 GMT

I really don't care for Milk Street either. It reminds me of Anthony Bourdains cooking show.

But to answer the OP questions. America's Test Kitchen is more technical.

They test equipment, perform taste tests and different cooking methods.

While Cook's Country focuses more on improving recipes.

Re: Something I have never understood...

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:12:20 GMT

He may be hard to deal with. He's on his third wife.

Re: Something I have never understood...

deeva — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:27:03 GMT

He's old enough to be her father.

Re: Something I have never understood...

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 17:13:13 GMT

I saw what appeared to be a fairly recent episode of "America's Test Kitchen" yesterday on the local PBS station. I find that episodes of "Cook's Country" feature classic American recipes. Some episodes of "America's Test Kitchen" feature recipes with a foreign flavor. Just my take.

Re: Something I have never understood...

LizzieInSRQ — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:01:26 GMT

With all due respect...Christopher Kimball is no Anthony Bourdain and never will be. Try as he might, nah.

Re: Something I have never understood...

Sooner — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:53:15 GMT

Jack Bishop is way more fun on the tastings. Chris I guess is difficult--because everything on those shows seems more relaxed since he left.

Re: Something I have never understood...

781Florist — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 14:56:27 GMT

I like both of these shows for the most part, and think that Bridget and Julia are way more enjoyable than Chris.

I prefer Cook's Country because it seems that ATK feels that in every recipe they must

come up with a "hack" (ugh) or improvement on the original recipe.

Either the old tried and true took too long in some steps, or it needed a boost in flavor or a reduction or substitution with a new modern ingredient......

" We decided that in order to give our chocolate almond bundt cake a lighter texture and

a more interesting crunch, that we are adding 1/4 cup of Castrol Motor Oil for a silkier mouth feel and 1 and 1/2 cups of shredded Tempur-Pedic foam to give it a lighter, springier consistency....and 3 tablespoons of capers for crunch!"

Sometimes what they end up doing severely alters the original intended product.

Both shows have given me some great recipes and I enjoy the taste testing and the

product testing very much.

Re: Something I have never understood...

ValuSkr — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:01:43 GMT

@gulf coast girl Thank you for asking the question. I never understood the difference either; they seemed like the same show.