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PBS or Foodnetwork

post #1 of 18
4/27/06 at 2:40pm
Thread Starter 
I don't have cable but when i get the chance i watch some of the foodnetwork but mostly watch the cooking shows on PBS. I think the Foodnetwork shows are more for entertainment while the PBS shows i find more intresting. WHich do you like better and what do you think of Americans Test Kitchen and Cooks magazing in general?
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post #2 of 18
4/27/06 at 2:46pm
I watch Food Network. Do not get to see PBS a lot.

Regards Cakerookie
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post #3 of 18
4/27/06 at 3:38pm
Dagger, I'd have to say that for the most part I agree with your observation. By definition Food Network is a commercial enterprise. On the other hand, PBS started out as "educational television" and to a good extent I believe it remains so.

There are exceptions to any rule, and I'd have to say there are exceptions to that description on Food Network, chiefly Alton Brown. In his early years appearing on PBS as Julia Child's and others' guest, Emeril Lagasse was, too. Now... well, I won't go there. :rolleyes:
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post #4 of 18
4/27/06 at 5:10pm
I agree that most of FN's stuff is SUPPOSED to be entertaining but I find very frustrating with some of the junk they put out. I do like Alton but find I have better success Bobby Flay's recipes. Re: America's Test Kitchen, they are my newest favorite cookbook....I love all the research they do and then let you in on their findings...very helpful in understanding how and why a recipe works.

Cookiejar
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post #5 of 18
4/27/06 at 5:54pm
I must say I much prefer PBS cooking shows. They mostly take a more serious approach and actually try and teach the viewer something. That said, some of the shows on PBS are questionable - borrowed from FN I think. There is one guy who calls himself the Fairway Gourmet. He spends half the show playing golf. I wish he would make up his mind - is he playing golf or is he cooking?

I have access to 2 PBS stations - KQED in San Francisco and KTEH in San Jose. KQED is a more prosperous station and it shows in the quality of the cooking shows compared to the San Jose station.

Jock
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post #6 of 18
4/27/06 at 7:21pm
I don't see so much in the way of cooking shows on PBS anymore. With Fn it seems all you get is Emeril and now Rachel Ray is on ad nauseum.
I miss seeing on PBS people like Julia Child, Pierre Franey, Justin Wilson, Ken Hom, Martin Yan, Jeff Smith, The Great Chefs series, whatshisname and his daughter (Sorry I can't recall it) But there were so many great cooking shows that FN just can't hold a candle too! Sad too, because it held such great promise at the beginning :cry:
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post #7 of 18
4/27/06 at 9:26pm
I completely agree, Dagger. When Food Network was taken over by... I think it was the Discovery Channel people? ... viewers saw an instant difference in the look and feel of the network--new sleek graphics and commercials, and a decidedly deliberate slant towards entertainment over instruction/information in the programming.

I miss shows like Taste with David Rosengarten, Sarah Moulton (she's been relegated to off-peak times), and Dining Around with Nina Griscom and Alan Richman.

That's Jacques Pepin and his daughter Claudine.

In regards to America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Magazine, I think they both kick a**. :)
Health, schmealth. Give me the beef!
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post #8 of 18
4/28/06 at 3:10am
I wish they wouldnt show so many reruns. They have the foodnetwork challenges where the chefs, bakers make sugar sculptures and cake decorating. Dont get me wrong I think they are great but showing it 5 times a week. Oh and does anyone watch that show called A Cooks Tour, i know i know not many like Anthony Bourdain but i take a liking to this show i like the crazy adventures he goes on to vietnam and jamaica and stuff. It is on thursdays 4/3 am central time. I enjoy his show very much.
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post #9 of 18
4/28/06 at 9:35am
Arrghh....that's it! I wanted to make a note to watch that. I saw it last week for the first time and loved it. I knew I should have written myself a note! For the life of me I couldn't remember it! Thanks!
And TXFOODIE thanks too. I felt bad I couldn't remember Jacques name just when I posted.
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Also
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post #10 of 18
4/28/06 at 11:20am
i like the shows on pbs much better for their informative layouts. however, good eats and, as mentioned above, a cook's tour are also very interesting to watch. on another note, that bravo show, top chef, is just plain funny to watch lol. that guy dave with the bleached hair, lol, every other word is s**t this and s**t that. lol. i was sure he would win the gay wedding planning.
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post #11 of 18
4/28/06 at 2:17pm
It's getting harder all the time for me to watch the food network. The local PBS station doesn't show many cooking shows, but it does air America's Test Kitchen which, along with Good Eats is one of the few shows I'll bother to tape, to watch again. I also confess to a crush on both Bridget and Julia, the two cooks. That skinny bespectacled guy reminds me of the kid who went to the prom with the girl I was too bashful to ask.
just an old guy learning to live off his own cooking
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post #12 of 18
5/12/06 at 6:20pm
I grew up watching, Jauque, Martin and Jeff, don't have cable either, but love Alton and Anthony...did you see the one he went to Napa and had tobacco brulee? Funny. That said I like PBS better, feel like home, Bittman is fun. On Saturdays I switch from one channel to another.
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post #13 of 18
5/13/06 at 5:49am
I agree PBS is the best for serious education. Particularly Americas Test Kitchen, Simply Ming, Mexico One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless(for cooking plus travelog).
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post #14 of 18
5/13/06 at 9:56am
I am a fan of PBS.

There offshoot channel, CREATE, has a pleathera of knowledge based food shows. Everyone from Rick Bayless, to Bert Wolf.

Yall should also check out "The Splendid Table", with Lynn Rossette O'Casper, it is a foodie talk show on NPR. I LOVE NPR TOO!
Like all good meals, this too shall pass
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post #15 of 18
5/20/06 at 8:48pm
I'm a fan of the PBS type shows. I agree with some people on here as well...Food Network is pretty much all entertainment...but interesting. I watch both...but for some reason...the PBS shows just seem to be more original in terms of how they cook.
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post #16 of 18
5/22/06 at 1:54am
Definitly PBS for its more educational angle. Food network has some fine shows, but sometimes it can get a bit silly with the overblown personalities.
Cajun Food REsource
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post #17 of 18
5/26/06 at 7:23pm

Enjoy PBS more now.

It wasn't aware, until I read TXFOODIE's comment, the Discovery Channel purchased the FoodNetwork Channel.

That must be the reason my interest shifted to PBS and another little odd channel just above my local TV channels.

The Test Kitchen, Jacque Pepin, and this show that highlighted Charlie Trotter providing instruction... those are very good as far as I am concerned.

On PBS I watch the Everyday Food because I know it is a Martha Stewart thingie... Katie Brown I record, but I think she is on another channel entirely.

Living Fresh from the Discovery Channel is one I record often. I buzz through it with the TIVO to hit that which is most interesting.

If Food Network were to add shows, I would want to find more shows about entertaining. Entertaining larger crowds and actually how to proceed in more difficult culinary activities. Heck, I even record David Tuttera for some of his stuff. I miss Sugar Rush's highlights of bakers and their concoctions. I would also watch more of Gia Laurentiis' BASH if there was/were more entertaining ideas and less fluff.
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post #18 of 18
5/27/06 at 1:44am
I am very surprised that no one mentioned Mario Batali on FN.
I find both his shows very comprehensive. I love the regional (Italian) approach to Molto Mario.
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