The last month or so has been awash in travelling and the preparations for that. We had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona and London with a day-trip to visit our friends in Dublin. Then, following a massive, pain-in-the-ass (but generally very successful) server hardware and database upgrade release, we went down to Houston for a few days for family visits.
There's some food-related stuff to comment on, but that will have be doled out in the next few days as I get organized and work more on my first draft of my Master's thesis.
However, there was a nice surprise on the way over. As you know, I am a huge fan of America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated. In American's in-flight magazine, American Way, I found this great article about the history and operations of the actual Test Kitchen. Good stuff.
Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Cooking Shows
I don't watch many cooking shows. Virtually none, actually. My addiction to Top Chef really stems from my reality TV addiction, not my interest in food.
Whenever I watch the Food Network, I get annoyed at the personalities, which really seem to get in the way of the interesting stuff. Alton Brown and that-cloying-Paula-woman-that-is-freaking-everywhere are the two most annoying right now. Rachel Ray comes close, but I've somehow managed to avoid her for the most part.
But I decided to give it more of a shot. I grabbed a few with interesting names from the TiVo on-line guide that I hadn't looked at before, just to check them out. I then added America's Test Kitchen, on PBS, when I noticed the mention on the cover of Cook's Illustrated (a magazine as good as everyone says it is, by the way).
So, while nursing a headache early last Sunday afternoon (weather change/sinus - NOT a hangover), I watched a few.
First up was Everyday Italian with some DeLaurentis. I assume that this Giana person is relative of the infamous Dino. Like with the others I've seen, her personality gets in the way. Too much gushing about how much they love a certain flavor or how easy something really is. I only lasted for 1/2 of the show. The Orange Pound Cake she made did look good, though. I can't find the recipe on-line, which is a shame.
I then caught two episodes of America's Test Kitchen. Wow, this is my new favorite show, particularly during the writer's strike. Informative, interesting and intellegent - this felt like going to a really good class. There's a lot of information packed in and they keep the pace moving. I quickly added this to my Season Pass.
Finally, I decided to give How to Boil Water a chance. In looking on-line, I think I'm the last person to find out about Tyler Florence. The guy has at least three shows, it seems.
The episode I saw was about Roasted Chicken with Roasted Root Vegetables and Gravy. This was prety interesting. Enough that I think I'm going to give his method a shot. It's a little bit different from my Chopping Block experience and lighter on the butter (which they love over there), which should make the gravy easier to deal with.
I don't know if it's having a "beginner" on set with him or what, but he's not as "on" as the other Food Network hosts. Granted, he is also easy on the eyes, so I may be cutting him some slack he doesn't deserve. It's getting a Season Pass for a while.
Whenever I watch the Food Network, I get annoyed at the personalities, which really seem to get in the way of the interesting stuff. Alton Brown and that-cloying-Paula-woman-that-is-freaking-everywhere are the two most annoying right now. Rachel Ray comes close, but I've somehow managed to avoid her for the most part.
But I decided to give it more of a shot. I grabbed a few with interesting names from the TiVo on-line guide that I hadn't looked at before, just to check them out. I then added America's Test Kitchen, on PBS, when I noticed the mention on the cover of Cook's Illustrated (a magazine as good as everyone says it is, by the way).
So, while nursing a headache early last Sunday afternoon (weather change/sinus - NOT a hangover), I watched a few.
First up was Everyday Italian with some DeLaurentis. I assume that this Giana person is relative of the infamous Dino. Like with the others I've seen, her personality gets in the way. Too much gushing about how much they love a certain flavor or how easy something really is. I only lasted for 1/2 of the show. The Orange Pound Cake she made did look good, though. I can't find the recipe on-line, which is a shame.
I then caught two episodes of America's Test Kitchen. Wow, this is my new favorite show, particularly during the writer's strike. Informative, interesting and intellegent - this felt like going to a really good class. There's a lot of information packed in and they keep the pace moving. I quickly added this to my Season Pass.
Finally, I decided to give How to Boil Water a chance. In looking on-line, I think I'm the last person to find out about Tyler Florence. The guy has at least three shows, it seems.
The episode I saw was about Roasted Chicken with Roasted Root Vegetables and Gravy. This was prety interesting. Enough that I think I'm going to give his method a shot. It's a little bit different from my Chopping Block experience and lighter on the butter (which they love over there), which should make the gravy easier to deal with.
I don't know if it's having a "beginner" on set with him or what, but he's not as "on" as the other Food Network hosts. Granted, he is also easy on the eyes, so I may be cutting him some slack he doesn't deserve. It's getting a Season Pass for a while.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Ratatouille
I'm a real stickler for staying on-topic in the on-line world, back from my Usenet rec.arts.comics days. So, this is really a reach of a post - watch how I do this.
But last night, Channing and I went to see the Comedians of Comedy live show at the Vic theater. This was really hilarious stuff and, if they come to your town, it's a must-see. It's a tight 2.5 hour performance by six comics with no filler. At only $29 (plus the stupid Ticketmaster fees), it's a great value for your entertainment dollar. Every performaner was great, but the standouts for us were John Mulaney and Eugene Mirman.
There was even an attention-seeking loser fanboy who was not only annoying in line, but by virute of having front-row seats (it was general admission), he literally put himself in position to be mocked by every single performer.
If you don't know already, the tour is organized by and stars Patton Oswalt, who was the voice of Remy in the Pixar film, Ratatouille.
Which, if you haven't seen it, is a hilarious movie about a rat who aspires to be a fine French chef.
And there you go. Topic.
But last night, Channing and I went to see the Comedians of Comedy live show at the Vic theater. This was really hilarious stuff and, if they come to your town, it's a must-see. It's a tight 2.5 hour performance by six comics with no filler. At only $29 (plus the stupid Ticketmaster fees), it's a great value for your entertainment dollar. Every performaner was great, but the standouts for us were John Mulaney and Eugene Mirman.
There was even an attention-seeking loser fanboy who was not only annoying in line, but by virute of having front-row seats (it was general admission), he literally put himself in position to be mocked by every single performer.
If you don't know already, the tour is organized by and stars Patton Oswalt, who was the voice of Remy in the Pixar film, Ratatouille.
Which, if you haven't seen it, is a hilarious movie about a rat who aspires to be a fine French chef.
And there you go. Topic.
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