Community Chat

[Msmeerkat]

Just listened to an interview of the author of a new book about the history of the Food Network channel. I'm sure anyone who has watched it over the years is aware of the changes in programming. My first experience was PBS Julia Child, which I watched with my mother.

All the great chefs are gone, Batali for one. Research showed that the audience wanted simple stuff by chummy cooks, e: Rachel Ray. Thankfully a lot of chefs moved to the Cooking Channel! Then came the competitions, which I never really had much interest in. Now it seems every time I flip by the channel, it's Guy Fieri! Their research showed that people didn't want to learn how to make the best meatball...but to know where the best place near them served it! I don't understand the point of watching Fieri scarfing down food!

The only show I watch now is America's Test Kitchen and I printout out recipes that I would like to make.

Cooking/baking is such a wonderful art with such personal safisfaction. And is sure helps with food shopping..having something in mind that you want to make. And its so inspiring to learn about food 'science' from Alton Brown. But Food Network goes for a mass audience and want to make gobs of money. Wonder what will happened to Food Network Magazine which is essentially all recipes. Maybe DIY food is going the way of the dinosaur.