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Best TV cooking show?

2K views 11 replies 11 participants last post by  theculinarykid 
#1 ·
Is there any better TV cooking show than Americas Test Kitchen? I don't want to sound like a schill for the program, but putting ATK on my DVR is one of the smarter things I've done.
Seriously... is there any better cooking program?
 
#3 ·
I'm totally  in love with Bridget Lancaster.
I do enjoy watching it because I like the personalities of the presenters, and it is a great show for a home cook. Probably the best of all the home cooking shows, except for my beloved Julia whose birthday was last week.

But almost all the advice they give is worthless in a pro kitchen. As an owner operator, you should would never be able to afford to have your staff waste manhours with the several step processes they advocate.
They also do not show the public the important economies of scale that are involved with our industry or the issues of sourcing product, food safety, scheduling of resources like ovens, budgeting of manhours, dealing with breakdowns, dealing with personalities and call ins, dealing with front of house, etc that are so much a part of what a restaurant really is.

And while I love the cheapo victorininox chef knife, it really doesn't deserve the hype, and ATK was the start of all that hype.
 
#4 ·
I like ATK quite a bit and Mind of a Chef but still prefer Jaques Pepin. ATK sometimes make it so technical that they take the fun out of it. Jaques Pepin (like Julia Child) makes you feel like your cooking with an old friend who is sharing their secrets.

One thing I find disappointing about Mind of A Chef is it is only about food. I wish you saw more chefs focus not just on food but also the hospitality part of running a restaurant. Feels too much to me that it is all about the chef and his vision for the food and not enough about the hospitality end of things.
 
#5 ·
Obvously Good Eats reruns are probably the most nostalgic for me.

Lately have really been enjoying reruns of Great British Menu as well as Masterchef Professionals UK... Would recommend both to anyone working professionally... The level of cooking is just exceptional. Guess you could call me a bit of a europhile.
 
#6 ·
Greetings,

PBS used to broadcast a series called "Great Chefs" of course this is back in the day. The shows can still be watched on youtube, No entertainment and the crap surrounding today's shows have. This pure raw cooking. Personally I consider it one of the best ever televised.

Enjoy,
 
#7 · (Edited)
Thats the real thing I agree  .Those gentlemen are real chefs not celebrities. I get a kick out of the girl caterer from Baltimore on the chew show  she is awful. Jaques Pepin is one of the best.
 
#9 ·
JP is probably the best in terms of personality and serious kitchen knowledge.  His breadth of kitchen know how is amazing and he is as sharp today and he was 25 years ago.  Full disclosure, I worked on Essential Pepin and Heart and Soul, so I am a bit biased.  He is just an amazing person who has lived it.
 
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