Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Let the Food Wars Begins

It all began with Top Chef. I was in Boston for my first, last, and only semester of the PhD program from hades. One of my greatest joys was watching the third season of Project Runway. As the season finale neared, Bravo started bombarding me with commercials for the new season of Top Chef. I'd never watched a cooking show in my life, and I wasn't really interested.

But then Bravo did a brilliant thing. The showed the season premiere of Top Chef right after the season finale of Project Runway. I was feeling lazy and didn't want to walk back downstairs from the lounge to my room. So I stayed. And watched.


I was love at first Quick Fire. I've been a devoted Top Chef watcher ever since. And my newfound love for cooking-related shows has expanded to include some other terrific competitions.

Food Network Challenge ranges from building massive architectural structures out of chocolate to an ultimate pancake cook-off to cakes of unimaginable design and proportion. I'm halfway watching to see if something goes horribly wrong, and halfway watching to see the amazing edibles the contestants produce.


On the very first episode of Cupcake Wars, vegan baker Chloe took home the prize--much to the annoyance of the other more experienced chefs. (The rumors are true! Vegan cupcakes are better than regular.) Watching this show just makes me hungry and more often than not drives me to the kitchen to whip up my own cupcake creation.


My newest favorite is The Great Food Truck Race. Nine food truck teams from across the country drive from destination to destination, trying to make the most money in a given time period. There are challenges along the way and the team that makes the least money goes home each week. I totally want to have a food truck now.


There's a new show on the horizon. Top Chef Just Desserts premiers soon and it promises to be just like Top Chef on with DESSERTS! It's going to be hosted by Top Chef judge Gail Simmons and I think it's going to be amazing. I'm sure to be in a sugar coma by the time the season's done.


I'm still not a fan of the traditional cooking show (I think I don't like someone on TV telling me what to do or how to do it) but I'm definitely a food competition junkie. What about you? Do you watch any of these shows? Do you watch cooking shows like Rachael Ray or Giada de Laurentiis? Are you a wanna be chef or a hopeless disaster in the kitchen?

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

6 comments:

Alissa said...

I absolutely cannot get enough of cooking shows! Top Chef is brilliant - although I've found that the contestants can make or break how much I enjoy the season. I mean, I'll admit it: I like the drama of it all.

I'd also have to agree that The Great Food Truck Race is my new guilty pleasure.

sunnynikki said...

I am absolutely in love with Alton Brown! I love that his show revolves around not just telling you what to do but why you should do it a certain way. Once I see the science behind what he is talking about I'm usually like, "oh, so that's why it doesn't work when I do it, I'm ruining the molecules" or something to that effect.

stephhale said...

I love to cook but I don't partake of the shows. I just want to slap that Gordon dude. ;)

TinaFerraro said...

I like the shows where they take you to various out-of-the-way eateries. In particular, I enjoy Guy Fieri's programs. My son got me hooked on a season of Top Chef...but since I consider cooking to be a chore, even just watching it made me feel stressed!

Alissa said...

Have to say, I haven't gotten hooked on any cooking shows, but that could have something to do with the fact that I tend to avoid cooking anything that's going to take more than 10 minutes to prepare.

Marley Gibson said...

I adore all of these shows! As a huge foodie, I want to compete on all of them. LOL! Love the truck race, too. Since I don't have cable, you'll have to keep me posted. = )