admich wrote:

"If Fieri has a lasting effect on American gastronomy, it’s in providing a platform for family-owned restaurants in so-called flyover states—places that would otherwise not have the marketing or P.R. budget to garner buzz. In fact, the type of places Fieri showcases are the very restaurants glossy food magazine like to devote multi-page spreads to flash their indie cachet. These aren’t cookie cutter chains or effete tweezer-composed food (though I have no problem with either), but battered, slow roasted, doused with sauce, wrapped with bacon and deep fried-American road food."

Sure, and this argument seems to be gathering steam across the internet these days. However, it's not like he invented this concept. He took over the Food Network travelogue food show gig from the Neeleys, who took it over from the Deans, who took it over from Bobby Flay, who took it over from whoever the heck hosted "The Best Of..."

And I'm probably missing a few other people along the way who also did a variation of this same show on this same channel. Which itself is just a filmed version of what Jan and Michael Stern started doing in print in the 70s. You can still support the concept and disagree with the delivery system.

I don't believe any one has claimed he invented anything...not even Donkey Sauce.

And the argument may be building on the internet, as you say, but we've been arguing around the topic here for several years.

David Hammond wrote:
I don't believe any one has claimed he invented anything...not even Donkey Sauce.

And the argument may be building on the internet, as you say, but we've been arguing around the topic here for several years.

Which begs the question . . . WHEN will lthforum.com be on the Internet?

I've been enjoying the very un-snobby food travel show on Big Ten Network called Campus Eats. I think the hosts are sports sideline reporters, and its clearly a filler program on the college sports channel. I think the whole production has a looser feel when everyone from the camera guys to the sound guys and the editors know its just filler. The camera work is decent and I had not heard of nor visited any of the places featured. The college town restaurants have some interesting characters and names like Stuff Your Face which has a connection to a famous successful chef from his college years.

I had to stop recording Cheap Eats with Ali Khan because the show was putting me to sleep and the food featured didn't look local or good or interesting. I Hart Food is a little bit better but not much. Food Porn had its second season this spring, and Man vs. Food is back with a new host.

Tyrgyzistan wrote:....
I had to stop recording Cheap Eats with Ali Khan because the show was putting me to sleep and the food featured didn't look local or good or interesting. I Hart Food is a little bit better but not much. Food Porn had its second season this spring, and Man vs. Food is back with a new host.

Ali Khan is just unwatchable to me, as are many of the current Food Network/Cooking Channel hosts. The seemingly forced, over the top, schtick and preening for the cameras just makes me turn the station. Cheap Eats, Carnival Eats, BBQ Brawl, Pizza Masters, etc, etc, etc. One of the only ones I find personable and watchable is Roger Mooking on Man, Fire, Food.

And can someone tell me why "Next Food Network Star" still exists? Other than Guy Fieri none of the "winners" has ever had a show that lasted long. Jeff Mauro, maybe, but he fits into the same category as Ali Khan and a bunch of the other current hosts.