Anthony Bourdain's culinary picks and pans

[Warpy]

http://tv.msn.com/culinary-picks-and-pans/?photoidx=1

"Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee" (Food Network)

It's safe to say that former infomercial queen Sandra Lee is not held in high regard by the culinary establishment. After all, Lee's "semi-homemade" cooking concept -- which calls for the use of store-bought, ready-made food... more -- runs counter to many of the beliefs espoused by serious chefs and food lovers, who believe that all Americans can and should prepare their own meals with fresh ingredients. Nevertheless, Sandra Lee's approach to cooking, in addition to her good looks and middle America appeal, has made her a popular TV host and successful cookbook author. Just don't expect her to appear as a guest on "Martha" any time soon.

Anthony Bourdain: She makes her audience feel good about themselves. You watch her on that show and you think, "I can do that. That's not intimidating." All you have to do is waddle into the kitchen, open a can of crap and spread it on some other crap that you bought at the supermarket. And then you've done something really special. The most terrifying thing I've seen is her making a Kwanzaa cake. Watch that clip and tell me your eyeballs don't burst into flames. It's a war crime on television. You'll scream.

(Lots more great snark: he loves Alton Brown and can't stand Rachel Ray)

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Ah, I love Mr. Bourdain

Thanks for posting, can't wait to read it!

And, I completely agree with his assessment of Sandra Lee and her horrifying Kwaanza cake. LOL.

[grasswire]

2. wow, Emeril has gained SO much weight

There's an MI waiting in the wings. He's got a triple chin now.

[troubleinwinter]

7. I really do not like Emeril's show.

I am so tired of his 'schtick'.

I told this to my son-in-law, who's an executive chef. He said he'd had Emeril as a 'guest chef' for a week some years ago, and said that he is a really, really nice guy, and a very excellent chef.

I do credit him for originally popularizing the Food Network, which has gotten more people interested in real cooking. And I enjoy many of their shows.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I'll admit that I've cooked dishes like Sandra Lee's in the past.

As my cooking skills improved and I gained more confidence in my abilities, I began to do more recipes "from scratch" and learned to adapt recipes to suit my taste. She probably encourages a lot of people to get in there and rattle a few pots and pans and make something for their families that's a lot more nutritious and tastes better than frozen dinners.

[Lucinda]

4. I love Bourdain but he can be a bit of an arse. I agree with you about

Lee encouraging people to get into their kitchens. I like the intent of her show a lot, even if I don't really cook that way personally.

[bicentennial_baby]

5. Nutritious? Errrr...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we2iWTJqo98

[Arkansas Granny]

6. Well, not everything we cook is good for us.

That cake really was a disaster, however.

[Warpy]

9. My eyes didn't hurt as much as Bourdain said they would

but ye gawds, there was a catch in the back of my throat that usually just happens when LIVER is mentioned.

Eeeeewwwww! That cake had everything: better living through chemistry, clashing flavors, ugly colors, and sweetening even a kid would rebel against.

How to take crap from the supermarket, throw in a bunch of clashing flavors, and spread it on other crap from the supermarket. Then desecrate it with more crap from the supermarket, completely out of scale.

Yum yum.

[Tesha]

13. simple...

...a desert like something you'd make with a small child.

[troubleinwinter]

8. I think we all have some short-cuts and favorite 'quickies'.

Heck, I still make tuna noodle casserole with canned soup!

Her table decorating segments are just unbearable to me. I keep thinking her friends must think she's insane... I do.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Hey, they're called "tablescapes", buddy

:rofl:

[Arkansas Granny]

14. I've done a lot of things in my lifetime, but tablescapes ain't one of them.

You gotta draw the line somewhere!

[supernova]

11. She works if you find yourself entertaining a group w/o help

if you find yourself hosting an event w/o any kind of help, then her way makes short work of it.

Thats about the only time I'd care to use her idea and "tablescapes."

[supernova]

12. Thanks for the link

I love reading and listening to AB!

I think the baby has made him kinder though. :-)

Monday night's show was really sweet. He has really fallen for Vietnam, though I hope he wasn't all that serious about moving there. :P

I agree with him about Alton Brown and Ace of Cakes. Both shows are really fun. Duff is just an adorable doughball. :rofl: