A Rachael Ray Confession

Free Rider · #1 01-05-2007, 10:58 AM

Okay, I've heard the criticism of Rachael Ray, but have no first-hand knowledge of her recipes or talent. So when her show started, I watched an episode. Her recipe turned me off. Then I watched her guests taste the food. It was hilarious! They gamely smiled and took a bite, had trouble swallowing and then the smile turned totally fake. Then they sat there in front of this food that she had served like a real dinner and she encouraged them to keep eating. They looked dismally at the food.

Anyway, I went in search of a trend and found one. I happen to get home at about the time her show ends. I quickly turn on the tv just in time to see her guests sitting at that dinner table trying to avoid eating the food. It's my giggle for the day.

... confession over...

Stewey · #2 01-06-2007, 03:05 AM

You are not alone...I know there are many of us who watch her (or Sandra Lee, or Flay or any of the FoodTV hacks) just for shiz and giggles.

I like watching just to see how long it takes for her to perform a trifecta of arm movements or give out one of her forced-giggles ("eh-huh-huh").

There was a great Youtube video collage of Ray on $40 a day. It was a great demonstration of her broad vocabulary

--

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1WxP6MGvO_s
(i think this is the link-enjoy!)

aguynamedrobert · #3 01-06-2007, 02:46 PM

Poor foodnetwork stars....Just because they have some things people might not like about them doesn't mean they are no good...are you telling me that MOST of her meals are not good at all? I think that for the most part, the food networks stars are pretty good. I have a few I don't really care for but a lot that I like...

Robert
www.chocolateguild.com

Mezzaluna · #4 01-06-2007, 04:40 PM

At least she doesn't talk with her mouth full! What else can you say when you're eating besides "Mmmm" if you keep it closed?

I used to watch her shows but lately she's using more processed foods so I've lost interest. Still, she's nowhere close to Sandra Lee territory.

Stewey · #5 01-06-2007, 05:13 PM

And for what it's worth, it is not just food network stars. I remember thinking that Paul Perdomme was "THE MAN!" until I actually saw him cooking on TV.

He was guest hosting on another person's show (don't recall who) and I got disgusted watching him. Look...there is nothing wrong being a large person...but if you are a professional chef, at least try to act like it.

While cooking, Paul repeatedly would stick his unwashed dirty hands into the pots and pans of food that he was cooking. Why? Because, "Oh...oh...that just smells sooooo good I just gotta...I just gotta [chew chew smack chew]" and with his mouth still full "oh...that is good man..."

I know his recipes to be flavorful, but I lost a degree of respect for him after that one.

Entropy · #6 01-06-2007, 11:42 PM

I love Unwrapped myself!

Rachel's alright. She used to annoy me but I don't mind her, she's seems like a nice lady and obviously people love her. The food network's got a lot of personalities to choose from which is great.

AprilB · #7 01-07-2007, 07:29 AM

Have you watched it without sound? I don't have my speakers hooked up. Got tired of Yum-O, EVOO and delish and oh...whatever...

I had the misfortune to tune in to her tv show the other day. She literally looked like she had way too much holiday cheer. Oprah was on and asked how to make the pizza dough for the dish she served. (since Rach is Ope's little project like RR really needs yet more media exposure or HELP? Seriously, why doesn't Oprah help people here who are struggling to start a business under way less than optimal circumstances...why doesn't she help kids here instead of building a multi-million dollar school in So. Africa? But I digress...)

"Oh, I don't MAKE it!" She apparently buys the dough from a local pizza shop. The 'surprise' on Oprah's face was pretty clear.

By her definition she's a 'cook' not a 'chef'.

The pizza looked like a giant ugly crostata and Oprah mentioned "it's very gooey" <read: polite definition of soggy>

Sorry, but I don't think she even qualifies as a 'cook' unless you consider being a cook someone that can throw stuff that's been prepped and measured by someone else in a pan, pull a finished product out of a fake oven, that's ALSO been prepped and cooked by someone else, or come up with all kinds of lame catchwords. <sorry but my sister was using the term "delish" 30 years ago>

April

Have

cakerookie · #8 01-07-2007, 08:39 AM

Boy! I have tried my best to stay out of this but enough is enough. I agree with most everything that has been said to this point. And it really shocked me when I heard her say she was a cook and not a chef. Does that destroy her reputation in terms of what viewers see and hear on her shows? I think it gets down to basics really as far as Food Networks concerned. Shes bubbly, full of life to say the least and her personality attracts viewers like her or not what does it equal $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thats all they see.

SushiGaijin · #9 01-08-2007, 01:54 AM

she's a TV personality. she probably hasn't cooked a real meal in years, she's definately not a Chef. I've seen her interact with her crew and the staff at restaurants at shoots, and I can't even say I came away with a positive opinion of her offscreen personality.

BUT, she's making big money, has at least 8 or 10 cookbooks out, people love her, and she has 3 or 4 TV series. She's probably done more for the advancement of cooking's profile in the last five years than any single other person. She (and the other food network people) have made cooking a legitimate job choice in the states, rather than the "better not seen or heard" mentality towards cooks that prevailed barely 15 years ago. Many of today's cooks probably wouldn't be around without the food TV people's influence, and doubtless Rachel is responsible for some of that.

Good, bad, I'm not trying to quantify - she's a celebrity, before she's a cook or a chef. She's a brand name. She's consumer loyalty. She's consumer confidence, and she brings the idea that "food is important" into millions of homes...It doesn't matter if the food tastes good or not.

Erik.

chef.assassin · #10 01-08-2007, 08:08 PM

i have to say that i really admire the fact that she is adamant that she is not a chef - nothing even close to a chef. she said as much during that iron chef america battle between she and giarda de laurentis (with mario batali and bobby flay at their backs, ha). at least she isn't trying to be something she is most definitely not, and for that she has my admiration.

Stewey · #11 01-08-2007, 09:22 PM

true..she admits she is not a chef. Yet, wouldn't her career based upon cooking be similar to that author that Suzanne Summers is promoting? You know, the lady who graduated from community college who is going around giving medical advice?

Ray on $40 bucks a day is fine. I'd even be fine giving Ray her new talk show just for her spunk and charisma. But her cooking fad? that has got to go away someday. Try her recipes...you will be very underimpressed--the Walmart of the culinary world so to speak.

And yet, if I was a TV exec, I would be loving her success.

Jayme · #12 01-14-2007, 02:40 AM

I must confess that I have never seen Ray's show (working during that time of day). But I sure am getting sick of seeing her face EVERYWHERE!! She's got her own magazine, cookware line and now she's on Nabisco cracker boxes. My sister (who watches the show and loves her) was telling me one of her recipes- take a deli rotissarie chicken, debone and shred it, add canned chicken broth, (and some other stuff- sorry, I was grocery shopping at the time- thinking more about MY recipes than Rachel's) and then thicken it with crushed Fritos. All's I was thinking was SODIUM!! chicken- in brine, broth- more sodium, and then Fritos- do they even make a chip with more salt on it? My sister concluded that she knows that type of dish wouldn't have enough presentation for ME to fix but for lazy housewives, it's great! I had to laugh at that.....
Like she thinks culinary folks fix 4 star every nite at home....... it was omlettes tonite!

JackButler · #13 01-14-2007, 06:17 PM

When asked, Rachel Ray says that she's not a chef, she's a sports journalist who fell ***-backward into a cooking show. I love $40 a Day (though I think Bourdaine does a better travel show) but Christ I can't watch the woman cook. And I'm saying this having met her and acknowleding that she's an absolute sweetheart in person. At the very least, she's a much better human being that that total tool Bobby Flay (And Flay, if you're reading this, the restraining order is still in place! Just try me!)

My problem is I'm not sure I'm a safe person to criticize her. If someone were to back a dumptruck full of ten dollar bills to my house and ask me to sell out like the FoodTV people have, I think my first response might be "Where the heck do I sign?"

JackButler · #14 01-14-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayme

Like she thinks culinary folks fix 4 star every nite at home....... it was omlettes tonite!

Heh... Mac and cheese... out of the blue box.

What? I was tired and had a headache and didn't want to get complicated.

Jayme · #15 01-16-2007, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackButler

Heh... Mac and cheese... out of the blue box.

What? I was tired and had a headache and didn't want to get complicated.

LOL Jack--- the Original mac n cheese...... my kids tried to talk me into buying the kind that turned green (or something like that) once- yuk! just couldn't do it. Any hot dogs to go with it? lol