Next Food Network Star 2009

[Chuck Engels]

The Next Food Network Star is returning in June 2009
http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-foo ... index.html

I love that show

[Bill Hunt]

I found it interesting, though not so much as Bravo's "Top Chef," or FOX's "Kitchen Nightmares," and "Hell's Kitchen."

It seemed to me that the "judges" were looking for Rachael Ray, but with different looks. I think that most of the contestants could just have easily been trying out of morining local weatherperson. The majority had that same overly "bubbley" personality. Now, the one contestant, who was Rachael Ray, just blonde, did go out near the end of the show, but I suspected that she could not cook - only giggle.

I'll be interested in seeing the next version of the series. I've caught the gentleman, who one, on his "Big Daddy's Kitchen." He seemed to be a lot like Emeril Lagasse, who the Food Network is trying mightily to replace. We like Emeril when he actually cooked, before the "live" interation of his show.

We have also dined at two of the "Hell's Kitchen" winners' restaurants and both were quite good in all respects. I'm sure that a lot of this has to do with Gordon Ramsey's corporate team behind them. We've also dined at two of his London restaurants, plus one there run by an earlier protege, and all were excellent. One might not like his personality, but we find his restaurants and those of his "students" to be top notch. I did get panned on Chowhound, after I did a glowing review of his "Gordon Ramsey at Claridges." Seems that some Londoners just do not like Ramsey, his food, or his restaurants. I get similar, when I do a positive review of one of Emeril's New Orleans restaurants. Some people can just not separate the persona that they know from TV with the real-life food from a quality chef. Their problem, not mine.

Thanks for the tip,

Hunt

[Chuck Engels]

I started watching the show the second year it was on, the year Guy Fieri won.
That was a great contest and lots of really talented contestants. The last two shows have really suffered for talent.
Two years ago a close friend of my sisters, Colombe Jacobsen, was on the show and was the 3rd or 4th one to get the boot.
That was the most fun to watch because we kind of knew someone.

Two years ago my daughter knew one of the American Idol top 12, Phil Stacey. He made it to the final 6 before getting voted out.
That was when I started watching American Idol, kind of hooked on it now.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

Mrs Twosheds is a big fan of 'Hells Kitchen'. Personally, though I think the programme is good, I don't watch it as I find Ramsey's foul mouth spoils it for me.

Yes, I know all of the words and I know what they all mean. I just don't need them spewing out of my TV set. Must be my age

[Chuck Engels]

Yes, I know all of the words and I know what they all mean. I just don't need them spewing out of my TV set. Must be my age

I'm with you John

[Bob]

Me too. I don't even care for them in books unless it's absolutely necessary for the character -- and it's seldom that necessary.

[Bill Hunt]

I also agree, though I have probably used worse language on the golf course.

Sometimes, there is so much "bleeping" on Hell's Kitchen, that it is hard to follow the other dialog. Still, I enjoy the other aspects of that program, and also his Kitchen Nightmares.

Just caught the semi-final (I think) round of Top Chef. Had to stay up way past my bedtime, but they moved from NYC to NOLA. We'll miss the second run of this episode, 'cause we're in a cabin in the Smokies. I'll probably DVR it, plus the finals, for later viewing, upon our return. Just got on a Top Chef "roll" last night and couldn't leave it - plus I still had some lovely Napa Cab to finish...

Hunt

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

I also agree.......Sometimes, there is so much "bleeping" on Hell's Kitchen, that it is hard to follow the other dialog.

At least you get to see the programme with 'bleeps'. Here it is 'unbleeped'. Personally don't understand why a producer can't just take Ramsey on one side and just tell him.....

[Chuck Engels]

Personally don't understand why a producer can't just take Ramsey on one side and just tell him.....

I didn't know they don't bleep that stuff in the UK, none of it at all?
Maybe the words have a different meaning

Do they have the show in Italy? Do they translate?

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

In Italy we use Sky so that we are able to receive some programmes in English. Sky broadcasts HK to Italy with no bleeps. In the UK HK is broadcast by one of the commercial stations and there are no bleeps there either.

[Bill Hunt]

John,

I did not realize that. We get to watch a bit of UK TV for 1.5 weeks, twice per year, but I had never noticed. Usually our evenings are spent entertaining board members, so our TV viewing is limited to the early AM, with little "prime time." I'll have to pay closer attention to things. The TV in our flat has rather limited channel selection, but it does pick up 2, IIRC, SKY boradcasts. When does Hell's Kitchen come on in the UK and on which SKY network? Maybe one evening we'll just pick up something from Tesco and stay in.

Hunt

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

Sky channel 109 in Italy, Bill. Can't help with the UK channel I'm afraid.

[Doreen L.]

I'll have to take a look at Next Food Network Star. I've never seen although I do watch a number of shows on that channel. I'm a big Top chef fan.