Thank goodness I get Food Network Canada where I am - which oddly enough is in Canada!!!!

We have a much better selection of programming up here on the network - The government requires a major percentage of the programming be Canadian, and the network has been lucky in getting some top notch chefs and presenters to put shows together.

If I was forced to watch IronChef every night I would give up cooking and take up pot-washing!

I read this a few days ago after finding the link on another favorite website. I've been a Bourdain fan for years - love his acerbic wit, dry sense of humor, and absolute inability to pull any punches. I laughed out loud reading this post, because he really hit the nail on the head over and over again. While I think he's maybe a bit too nice to Emeril (ultimately a one-trick-pony), overall it's a great post. I would have loved if he'd kept going, however, and given an opinion about some of my other favorites such as Ina Garten and Nigella Lawson...

While I am not a fan of Bourdain (I find him just a little too brusque for me) I do usually find his assessment to situations to be spot on - this being no exception.

I miss the old Food Network. When it started 12 or so years ago, and it was REAL chefs making REAL food, no reality TV, no Johny-come-lately types who have some personality who think they can cook and then become a marketing genius with 3 shows and her face plastered on every box of Nabisco product in the grocery store (no, I am NOT a fan of the ubiquitous Rachel Ray either.) Anyway, I miss how the chefs had no real TV "personality" but that was part of the charm. We tuned in because they could COOK! And they cooked all kinds of wonderful things we only ordered in restaurants and we watched with a sort of "ah HA!" as we saw how those wonderful dishes were created.

I think the Food Network today tries to be too much for too many people. I watch PBS more than anything else these days. Commercials are non existent (for the most part) and no sell-outs hawking their latest pan, knife, cookbook or whatever sauce or boxed brownie mix they're peddling. AND it's the real cooking I miss seeing on the Food Network.

(O.K... I'm hopping down now...)

Not a fan of Bourdain's but everyone has an opinion.

I did get a quick giggle at his smiting of Sandra Lee, though, as I'm sure did anyone else who knows that flour tortillas are not crepes :)

Anthony Bourdain writes with verve and style, and yes, with a healthy dash of sarsasm. Like the use of hot pepper in cooking, it is perhaps not for everyone. I find I appreciate him, personally. I think you can find crud like Sandra Lee's show most anywhere, it's about a half step up from potato chip sandwiches in my not so humble opinion. Clearly someone watches that awful show.

True, he is name calling, but he does so with style. That's more than I can say for Sandra's cooking.

My wife and I watch the Food Network every once in a while. I find a few shows interesting... Alton Brown always give this science-perspective of things that make 'Good Eats' quite interesting for me, overall his tips are right on.

I don't care too much for other shows. Rachael Ray maybe grew up a bit too fast (she's everywhere!!!) and we agree that she keeps getting louder and louder. And everything is Yumm-o and Dee-lish... it gets tiring.

I, however, feel intrigued by Bourdain's style. There have been quite a few shows that I've found bold and makes people realize about the 'common' and popular meals in other countries, far from the 'touristy' restaurants. And packed along with it, tons of the social issues that many countries (mostly third-world) have, and he presents them (as cheesy as it may sound) with No Reservation.

Charles,

Yes, the remote does have buttons, but I think Bourdain is making these remarks because he doesn't want Food Network to lose or tarnish it's reputation. It's like being on a winning football team, and seeing new recruits come in that can't even catch a pitch. You start to worry about the reputation of your team because you remember how great last season was, and want to carry on that tradition. Bourdain obviously values chefs who cherish food as much as he does, and has a strong distaste for programming that undermines the value of real cooking knowledge and skills. While it may be "sad" that he uses name-calling to get his point across, as Housman said, 'the world has still much good, but much less good than ill.'

Yes, Sandra Lee is horrible. Trying to get through her show is like when I was little and had to get through Mr. Rogers in between
Sesame Street and Electric Company. I'd love to see more Ina Garten and less "quick fix" shows like Lee and Rachael Ray. But I guess they show what sells...

As much as I usually like freedom of speech I can only say that as great as Anthony may be himself as a chef, he is a poor writer.

Granted he can write in a verbosely beautiful manner but i don't think anything is ever gained in bashing, even if its your worst enemy.

I don't need to be told just how much FoodTV sucks, I can be the judge of that myself. That said, if you've got something better to suggest, by all means please do. Instead of bashing, promote!

If Anthony doesn't like FoodTV, why not respond by re-creating his own FoodTV ? call it GourmetTV! and show FoodTV that actual, real nice food still has a place.

I live in Canada so i don't get the US FoodTV but i can tell that, being a joe anybody, i like most of the shows on FoodTV canada, not that i watch all of them. Shows like Ricardo and friends and chef at home and even occasionally nigella feast (which i call "The Naughty" because there's just this "way" she does cooking that makes it look, well, naughty)

FoodTV is not the first channel to undergo this type of transformation, I can only recall the lost of my favorite channel, it was called "TechTV" a specialized channel like foodtv but for technology. Most of the shows were very good, not all for me but it was really techno oriented. Then at some point they merged with G4 - a more, hum... pop techno oriented channel. more for teens and gaming stuff. But, in a very short time, that merging killed all that made TechTV so nice and left us with shows that lets teens see their favorite porn stars play dead or alive volleyball on tv.

Bravo Bordain! His "rant" has hit the nail on the head! Bring back chefs who can cook! I want MORE Mario and Bobby. Bring back Two Hot Tamales and David Rosengarten! Julia Child must be rolling in her grave!!! When Emeril looks good, THAT's scary!!!!

BRING BACK THE FOOD NETWORK that foodies can stomach! Must the dumbing down of America ALSO become the destruction of quality cooking? If we wonder why our kids are getting fatter, just look at some of the YUMMO food that Rachel, Paula and Sandra are foisting of on an unsuspecting -- and increasingly tasteless -- public!!! I can't think of better food to clog the arteries and plump up the fat cells!!!

Wow. Another great read. I have been going crazy with what they call the Food Network for a few years now. PBS is still wonderful; however, where I live, it is not on often enough. I need someone who knows what's what to develop a new network of quality food programming. I'd pay; i'd pay for it. How do we go about doing such? Look at all the wonderful foodies on here yearning for true food education.... we found "entertainment" from learning and watching great, interesting chefs and those that love to simply cook. Help! We are drowning in Food Network crap. Excuse me... hum....I am passionate about this. Love this, Elise.

I don't have cable and don't watch FN too often, but when I do I have trouble understanding the appeal. Just what are these "chefs" teaching people? Open a can, doctor a cake mix.....this isn't cooking.

There is some credibility to some of the true chefs on the show, but I wouldn't group all of them in that category.

I like Anthony Bourdain but he is just another chef with an opinion, of which there appears to be many in this day and age. I personally watch the FoodNetwork almost exclusively to any other channel on TV. Being a new gastric by-pass patient, I need all the suggestions I can get on eating/cooking from scratch. I like Mario but Italian eating is NOT conducive to watching one's weight in this country. Maybe it works for them over in Italy. I like him as an Iron Chef, he's entertaining and fresh. I love Bobby Flay, Emeril, Rachel Ray......Paula Dean is alittle too froo froo for me personally. I'm glad that he likes Mario, but he doesn't have to put down the other stars of the network in order to uphold his friend. His friend stands just fine all on his own, in my humble opinion.

He sounds like a bitter old hack to me. Didn't they kick him off of there?

I think there are several good Chefs on there. I like Paula Deen too. If you notice, any cook worth their salt will use butter and not margarine because it is one molecule away from being plastic, bugs won't eat it, and neither will rats. I recently read in a magazine that butter has NO TRANS FATS while margarine does so which is the poison now? This rant is to those who are worried about their health and the way some Chef's cook. Everything in moderation.

Now, as far as opening cans you can do too much of that but who here makes all their ingredients they use in a recipe from scratch? You cook your own beans to go in your chili? How about your tomatoes? You use fresh every time? See where I'm going with that? Besides, it's a cooking network not some high faluting snobby chef show. While there are some Chef's on there (Emeril for one) the others are what is called cooks and cooks use short cuts most of the time. I like some and watch them at times and others bore me so I change the channel.

I can make anything any of those Chef's can make with the right directions.

My problem with the Food Network is that it's not diverse enough. It seems like the majority of the cooks are white. I just don't understand why it seems like the only ethnicity on the Food Network truly represented is Italian cooking. I used to love watching "Yan Can Cook" on PBS. Not sure if he's still around. I love all kinds of ethnic foods and would like to be able to tune into see a Thai chef making Thai food, a Greek chef making Greek food....the list goes on.

I do like a few of the shows on the Food Network, but they definitely need to change it up A LOT!! It seems like at night time all they have on is Iron Chef. How much of that can one possibly stomach?

I wrote to them in December and told them my opinion and got the automated response of
"Thank you for writing and we'll pass your response along blah blah blah." I think maybe if enough people start writing them to complain, maybe they will listen. Or, maybe another Network will pop up and leave Food Network in the dust.

Bill Buford wrote an interesting article about the Food Network and their change in philosophy and vision for The New Yorker magazine. The article is available online here.

I'm a fan of what is described in the article as "dump and stir" cooking shows but apparently the Food Network is broadening their viewer base by dumping shows of that format and concentrating more on "entertainment." But happily for those who like real cooking shows, PBS still has some great ones -- Lidia Bastianich and Rick Bayless most notably.

A couple of years ago I stumbled into watching the first episodes of the first season of Bourdain's "No Reservations" and gradually became hooked. Now my husband's gotten sucked into watching, and we often have lively side conversations about Bourdain's "without a net" approach and his unblinking, no B.S. opinions about food, culture, and engulfing as much of both as possible. Yes, he's not for everyone, but his approach always includes food for thought as well as food for the body. We're also "Iron Chef" fans here as well, and I had wondered why Mario seemed so underutilized on that show. I think Bourdain is right to rise to his defense and give the Food Network the stinging rebuke it deserves.

Alton Brown's various shows on FN are pretty much the only ones we regularly watch now - that Road Food one was awesome - and I wonder if he's noticed that a lot of other "chef shows" have disappeared from there. We miss Ming Tsai, and would love to see Martin Yan again, too. Apparently, Yan is still active, or was until recently - he made an appearance at a local Chinese restaurant a few years back.

Done!

Rachel Ray has specifically said she is a cook, not a chef. So, other than overexposure (of the bad, not good, kind), I think she is not the problem. I think there is room for both chefs and cooks on FN.

I hear you Tony....
I've watched food network since the begining and I don't understand what they are trying to do?
I agree with you about ace of cakes I like it and I usally hate cake and desert baking shows.
What they did to Bobby Flay makes me sick. And that Iron Chef crap IT'S RIGGED. My wife and I used to love it, till it seemed some of the chefs were being robbed. We love Alton and as for all this 30min meal crap. I'M a chef and my wife is my right hand women and this ain't cooking our 30 min meal is prepared night before and put in crock pot for 8hrs. FOR THE KIDS we work 2nd shift. Rachael should be the only fast cooked meal show on the network. It's the Food Network not the McDonald's network.
SORRY but I gotta love Emeril. He's like Dale Earnhart(RIP) and Nascar. Wouldn't be the same without him and it isn't!!!
I'm gonna cut this short cause it's getting late.
Here's the show I'd like to see, a reality show. It's Friday 4pm. 2 line cooks didn't show up; a prep cook is a no show; 2 dishwashers call off, and you're a very busy place. Tickets keep rolling in. YOU'RE IN THE WEEDS! Running middle (the line) but you have to stay focused. You get through the night. It's just a blur. You stink of sweat and food. You have to go bail the pit out (dishwashers). Can't leave till everything is clean. And finally it's 3am and you go drink the whole night off. So you can have the balls to come back in the next night to go through it all over again. BUT WE LOVE IT. THE RUSH. That's the kind of show I'd like to see. That's what it's like working in kitchens. Well, busy ones.
I miss your old FN show; your new show is pretty good.
BISOUS
RON AND MARTY

We are all not 5 star chefs & the food network appeals to the everyday chef. I do agree with his Sandra Dee comments. If you look at her recipes online they are the lowest rated, I remember her frosting truffles being compared to a lump of turd. I do agree with one writer stating they need a more then just Italian and American food.

I agree with most of the comments already published here. The food network has begun to slide in quality and variety. It is such a shame that everything falls to commercialism. I am an avid food network watcher but I find myself switching off the network more than watching these days. Please go back to something we can watch and learn something from.

Network and cable television exists for one reason alone: To Make Money (ie: sell advertising). And FN must've found it more profitable to get rid of chef-type cooks and replace them with this round of personalities.

I'm curious when people say they appreciate these time-saving cooking shows. But really, how long does it take to make good food? A roast chicken can be tossed with a broken up head of garlic and some herbs in less than 30 seconds. And how many seconds does one save by opening a bottle of pre-made salad dressing as opposed to mixing together a few spoonfuls of olive oil & vinegar? Is it really that much easier to rip open a box of cake mix than to drop a stick of butter in the mixer, add some eggs, then stir in some flour?

And don't homemade foods taste better, and are far healthier (and much less-expensive), than all those convenience foods? Other than as a gimmick, I don't see how how saving a few minutes is really worth sacrificing your family's health and well-being by using all these processed foods. While I don't begrudge any tv chefs cooking with real ingredients, it's quite a disservice to spray things with aerosol cheese and call it dinner. (Although I'm sure the advertisers like it, since it's far easier, and more profitable, to convince people that a packaged cake mix is a better choice than a bag of flour or a dozen eggs.)

It's sad that everyone's too busy to cook, when cooking and eating are two of the most basic, fundamental human functions.

Finally, it's been said! Sandra Lee IS evil. How in the world does someone like her get a show on television. Oh right, answering to the common denominator. It's not surprising what gets broadcast on FN, look at whom the network sponsors are. FN is not all bad. There are some entertaining and talented chefs still on the network, however many have left, Bourdain being one of them. Yes, he can be caustic and arrogant, but he really speaks the truth.

I agree with many of the posts here. Too many people want quick solutions to food. They think that restaurants like Macaroni Grill serve good food and are authentic. It's understandable given many circumstances at home, two jobs, late nights, etc. However, it really doesn't take too much time to make a good meal from scratch. It just takes effort and a little planning. Shouldn't we take care of ourselves and our loved ones this way?

On the flip side, there is a growing culture in the U.S. that wants to eat good, fresh food and are willing to take the time to make it and/or buy it. Remember, it should be a rare occasion when you open a can, and when you do, it should not be the main ingredient of the meal.

While I agree with just about everyone that's responded - Sandra Lee just seems lazy and her cocktails are made for people who start drinking at 9AM; Rachel Ray gets old after 2 episodes; Giada, Ina, Alton, Mario, and Ellie are worth watching - I have to admit that I started watching the Food Network because I found out how easy it was to make a meal, thanks to Rachel Ray. I have always known that I am a good cook, but after getting a real job and having a real schedule, 30 minutes was about all I thought I could spare for cooking. Then as my taste progressed, and RR's show became more like learning to read through Hooked on Phonics rather than the alphabet. I was moving up from cook to foodie.

I can understand why Food Network has people like Rachel Ray and Sandra Lee on the schedule - it attracts people who originally thought that cooking was reserved for chefs. However, the network does need to improve the programming for those who have already discovered their love for cooking and need something a little more challenging and engaging to watch.

Karen,

You make an excellent point. I think that Rachel and Sandra may be useful to bring in new "cooks". But I think a lot of people will grow beyond that and want to see real chefs cooking REAL food. There is a place for both.

I'd still rather them free up more space on their schedule by dumping all the competition shows and other shows that aren't about cooking. Who ever learned a single dish watching a Food Network Challenge show?? One challenge a quarter was entertaining. One or more a week just takes up space.

Bourdain is a culinary hero to nearly everyone in the business. If you don't like him, then you're probably just a little too "betty crocker".

He personifies many aspects and traits common to "real" chefs. If you don't like him, you probably wouldn't like too many chefs :)

I know Anthony's face but that's about it. For some reason his image brings something to mind and its not a good something....

But he definitely hits the nail on the head with his review of Sandra Lee and the Food Network. She reminds of the women in the OC - plastic, plastic, plastic! Not only is her food artificial but I'm sure other things are as well... wink, wink ;0

The only shows that I find a appealing are Giada, Ina, and now Nigella. The PBS stations are interesting as well.

I used to love Rachel but the whole YUM-O/EVOO thing are just too annoying for me. She should have steered clear of the O.

I'll have to give Anthony a try and see if he really is as good or as bad as the comments say he is.

Thanks for posting this Elise - it's always good to hear other peoples opinions and get a fresh point of view.

There is criticism and then there is vicious criticism. With the usual elitist and disdainful attitude that chefs have for the average home cook, Mr. Bourdain went way beyond common decency with his vitriolic attack on the “home cooks” of the Food Network.

I believe that the intention of SRP (Sandra, Rachel and Paula), was to share what they know, much like I share with my friends. They are not demanding that you agree with them but they encourage the viewing public to at least try something new. Mr. Bourdain’s intention seems to be bringing attention to himself.

I’d personally prefer SPR’s approach, “This is what I’ve done, if you would like to try, I will help you” to Mr. Bourdain’s approach “This is what I’ve done”

I have to admit I’ve never actually seen him cook.
Eat grasshoppers – yes;
Act as sous chef to a woman making mole – yes;
overindulge in alcohol – yes;
offer his contemptuous view of people around him – yes,
guest on Mario’s show – yes;
cook - no.

The screed about the trials in his life did me in, remote in hand, the channel was changed, and thus I denied myself the wonderment of his culinary skills. He has done an informative cooking show, hasn’t he?

I remember 20 years ago when it was real people
doing the cooking not want-to-B's in the "SHOW
BIZ'' with yum yum and all the cutsie sayings ...

I retired from the Fireservice and enjoyed cooking in the house and now in my HOUSE.

You keep them stright Tony...
Thanks Ray { formally fron NJ]
[ now Nags Head]

I love Bourdain! I also love Mario Batali!! Too bad they cancelled his show.
I hate Food Network...especially Sandra Lee. She must be having sex with the producers to keep that show on because all of my girlfriends hate that show as well. Food Network is going downhill...

While most of intlligent people like me live in the politically correct or fake world and don't have a guts to tell truth because of fear of crucification;
Anthony Bordain, a non-intelligent, rough on the edges construction type person, is a breath of fresh air.

Anthony is halarious, witty, and kinda' sexy in a strange rock star way. I dig cynasism, and truthfullness. He isn't always sarcastic, but he tells it like it is or how he sees it. I used to watch Rachel Ray, then I grew up and moved onto PBS and discovered a world of great cooks and commentators to learn from. Rachael Ray is not a chef, and she admits it. Sandra Lee, in my humble opinion, is sophmoric at best...I want to learn how to cook like a pro, whether in a commercial kitchen , or at home!

Thanks for the great education Anthony!

Bourdain? I'd like to drink with the man, personally. I'm not sure he could keep up. He's a soft, TV manifestation of personality that can and will quickly fold under the weight of reality. Let's dissect it. Bored Dane. I don't know his lineage, personally, but his words seem to indicate the bored part more often.

Here's what's fun about a TV personality berating a TV personality. First, it's the medium in which they operate. A travel channel guy lambasting a few women food network gals. Interesting. If it was reality, one could ask him why he picks on women. Is that a personal character flaw? Or is it routine? If you probe deeper, you know that the Bored Dane had a Food Network show, but it isn't shown anymore, is it? Tends to make one wonder about motivation. You can couple that with his Top Chef appearances, and might find a direct and competitive reason why he might lash out at girls on a different network. There's a motive, obviously, but there's also a little twinge of... How to say this... Something from his past that may provoke him to rage against women.

Not saying that's the truth, it's my speculation. I do think it's curious, though.

All that said, Bourdain is an enigmatic fella. I've enjoyed the things I've seen from him. He's a personable, but detatched figure.

I'm not going to defend Lee or Ray here. I think each have their place. I will say that when it comes to food, it's a finite medium. How many times do you want to be told to salt the water of your greens or pasta? How many times do you want to hear the 'secret' when simmering greens is a little nutmeg? Anyone that is a longtime viewer begins to get redundancy as a matter of course.

Bourdain is a chef. He needs to shut up about convenience food. There are probably 7/10ths of humanity that rely on that. When you start calling out folks that open cans, you might find those empty cans thrown directly at your upper occipital lobe incased in skeletal matter that may protect it. Place little portions of food on a plate with your artistic flair, Ant, but DON'T think that THAT is some nutritional marvel, nor is it an excuse for providing calories to a body.

When it comes to actual process and consumption of food, this rant posted is weak. Above all, food is fuel, not something to be marvelled at. It only becomes so when opulence divides a hungry man from a 'taster'.

Anyone for grilled cheese?